PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brett Buehr, Representative of Parkchester Preservation Company
2:33:01
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164 sec
Brett Buehr, representing Parkchester Preservation Company, presents testimony in support of the Bronx Metro North rezoning proposal. He discusses the company's ownership of two garage sites in Parkchester and their plans for redevelopment, emphasizing the need for increased building height to accommodate parking needs and affordable housing.
- Highlights the company's long-standing presence in Parkchester and recent development of affordable senior housing
- Emphasizes community engagement and positive feedback on proposed development plans
- Advocates for increasing building height from 175 feet to 260 feet to meet various community needs
UNKNOWN
2:33:01
That's it.
2:33:02
Alright.
2:33:02
Hello?
2:33:03
Yeah.
2:33:04
My name is Brett Buehr, representative park just preservation company, the owner of 2 garage sites at 19902040 East Tremont located along the south side of East Tremont Avenue, new at the north end of the Parkchester Neighborhood.
2:33:19
Our company has been an owner in Parkchester over 25 years.
2:33:23
The Bronx metro North rezoning is a positive step towards achieving several long standing community and city wide goals, and we thank all the elected officials and agency staff that have been involved in this process.
2:33:35
Our sites are occupied by 2 garages and an office building, both of which are very old, and I'd say subsolute in today's environment.
2:33:44
These sites are separately owned from the rest of Parkchester Residential Buildings, which are owned as individual by individuals and entities through a condominium form of ownership.
2:33:55
An affiliated entity of our company recently opened of Parkchester Gardens, which is a 221 unit low income affordable housing, senior housing development in the Parkchester neighborhood.
2:34:08
We appreciate majority leader Ferris' dedication to the needs of the Parkchester Residence and are working with her team.
2:34:16
And her staff and our condominium boards on the needs within the greater purchaser community.
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Though we are here today to talk about parking garage sites.
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Over the last several years, our team is engaged with various communities stakeholders.
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And throughout these conversations, we have heard that there is a need for zoning to unlock greater increases in affordable housing, parking, retail and neighborhood connectivity and street activation along the Parkchester garage sites at recent community out reach sessions led by the majority leader.
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We heard generally positive feedback from local residents who viewed a scale model of our development and rendering such as these that we've shown here.
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Parking was the number 1 issue that was expressed by the residents.
2:35:08
These renderings depict varied architecture in a total height of 260 feet.
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In scale versus a 175 that's currently within the zoning text.
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We believe that this height is needed to accommodate the parking needs of Park Chester, the parking needs that will be generated by the new development and the train station.
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As well as creating activation along Tremont Avenue and building a meaningful amount of affordable housing.
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We intend to continue to work with the majority leader and our staff on these issues.
2:35:45
Thank you for your time.