PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Leslie Himmel, Principal of Himmel and Meringoff Properties
3:06:02
·
175 sec
Leslie Himmel, Principal of Himmel and Meringoff Properties, testifies in support of the proposed Metro North rezoning, highlighting the potential for their 8-acre site at 1601 Bronkstell to be transformed into a mixed-use development with significant housing and community benefits. She emphasizes the project's alignment with the city's goals and the need for the proposed height and density to make the development viable.
- The site could potentially deliver 2,300 housing units, including nearly 700 affordable units under MIH option 2.
- Proposed community benefits include a pedestrian connection to the new Metro North station, 1 acre of public open space, a new public school, and a supermarket.
- Himmel stresses that the proposed height and density are necessary to offset the estimated $40 million cost of community benefits and make the project viable.
Leslie Himmel
3:06:02
Good afternoon.
3:06:04
I'm Leslie Hemmel, and thank you for having me here.
3:06:06
I'm principal of Hemmel and Mirangoff Properties.
3:06:10
We are owners our nearly 8 acre site at 1601 Bronkstell that's located within the city's proposed Metro North rezoning.
3:06:20
This site is currently occupied by an active warehouse.
3:06:23
I'm here along with my colleagues and team members who have been working on this project since 2019 David Kornovsky of Fried Frank's zoning council and Oprah Moon from FX Collaborative.
3:06:35
Their proposed rezoning represents a once in a generation opportunity for the Bronx and for the city and for our site.
3:06:44
This is an ideal location for the development given the proximity to a brand new commuter train station that will deliver a direct connection to Penn Station and the capacity to deliver almost a third of the tow total potential housing units possible within the zone rezoning's boundaries.
3:07:01
And you've heard today an awful lot about the metro North station.
3:07:05
When we purchased this property back in 2019, we were in the umbrella rezoning of city planning.
3:07:13
And we're delighted to be a part of such an important infrastructure project being able to deliver a fast track train from the Bronx to Penn Station.
3:07:24
We now have an opportunity to transform this very old industrial site into potentially 2300 units of housing, including nearly 700 affordable housing units built under the MIAH option 2.
3:07:39
As well as a pedestrian connection to the new Metro North station that will cut people's time to walk to the station from 12 minutes to 4 minutes or less.
3:07:49
1 acre of publicly accessible programmed open space and a brand new public public school, as well as a supermarket, branded supermarket for the neighborhood.
3:08:02
We also have a 90 foot wide new city Boulevard.
3:08:07
Our firm has been long term owners of properties, and we own things for over 40 years.
3:08:14
We want to work with the city and embrace the city, the neighborhood, and the city council to deliver on this desperately needed housing along with all the other community benefits and amenities I've outlined above, which come at a significant cost.
3:08:29
That metro North pedestrian connection the creation of the new 90 foot city boulevard, and the public open spaces are estimated to cost nearly $40, 000, 000.
3:08:41
In order to deliver these community benefits and make the mixed use development of our site viable, we need the height and density proposed by the city.
3:08:50
We'd like to help the city deliver on this once in a generation opportunity.
3:08:54
We thank you for your time, attention, consideration, and support.
