PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx Borough President, on Bronx Metro North Rezoning Proposal
2:02:25
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11 min
Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx Borough President, expresses strong support for the Metro North expansion project in the Bronx. She highlights the project's potential to improve transit access, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in East Bronx communities. Gibson emphasizes the importance of affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and community benefits across all station areas.
- Addresses specific considerations for Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, Co-op City, and Hunts Point neighborhoods
- Stresses the need for current residents to benefit from the development before new residents are added
- Calls for capital investments in schools, healthcare, public safety, and green spaces to support both current and future residents
Vanessa L. Gibson
2:02:25
Alright.
2:02:26
Good afternoon.
2:02:27
Share, Kevin Riley.
2:02:28
Thank you to you and your colleagues, the members of the zoning and franchise's sub committee is good to be back virtually at the city council, and so all of my colleagues who are there.
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Thank you so much to the administration that just testified.
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I wanna recognize DCP, DEP, DLT, Parks, the mayor's office, and the MTA.
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I am Excited that today's hearing is happening, and we are moving forward on what I believe is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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That will dramatically increase transit access for the Bronx and the city of New York as well as parts of our upstate region.
2:03:08
Providing for the future development both residential and commercial for many of our East Bronx communities.
2:03:15
I want to start my testimony by, of course, recognizing our chair, Kevin Riley, as well as my colleagues in the Bronx delegation, majority leader, Amanda Fanias, Council member Rafael Salamonta junior, Council member Kevin Riley, and council member Christine Murano.
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These 4 elected officials have been working closely with our office and our team on the Metro North proposal.
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So I'm grateful to be here.
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Also wanna recognize I would chair Dan Goratnik at the Department of City Planning, as well as our commissioners at the city planning commission.
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I am here to express my support for the transformative Metro North expansion project.
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Particularly focusing on the crucial additions planned for Alvaro through the Penn Station Access project.
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This project is not just about Transit And Transportation Equity, but it really represents an incredible and enormous opportunity to expand our communities and drive economic and smart growth.
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The prospect of linking coxcity Hunts Point, Morris Park, and the Park Chester Van Ness communities to regional train services is really monumental.
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It has never happened before in the history of our bureau at such a profound time for us in the history of our bureau and the city.
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Residents and families of these neighborhoods have long been supportive of bringing transit and train access to their communities and this project will help address transit equity file with East Bronx Communities, many of which are transit deserts today.
2:04:59
This new rail access will save up to an hour on trips to Penn Station and 75 minutes to Connecticut on the east side returning valuable time to many of our commuters fostering community engagement as well as personal well-being.
2:05:16
These new stations promise economic vitality with this project projected to generate about 10, 000 jobs 75100 residential units, including 1900, which will be permanently affordable, and we hope and anticipate affordable for low income working families, older adults, and our veterans as well as home ownership opportunities.
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I have long advocated every opportunity I get.
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I'm always talking about opportunities for homeownership.
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For Bronx residents and families, and this project can really be a pipeline and a pathway to prosperity for many of our working class families.
2:05:57
This proposal will also add about 1, 200, 000 square feet of commercial space and nearly 1, 300, 000 square feet of community facility space underscoring our commitment to inclusive and holistic growth.
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To support our neighborhoods, our residents, families, and our businesses.
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Current residents must truly, truly gain benefits from this development before we add development and bring on new residents.
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I stress that this proposal must add value to our valuable communities already.
2:06:33
In addition to the new transit access, we know that we intend to accomplish goals around local jobs, local hiring, stimulating the economy, and creating access to MWA contractors and businesses that truly want access to jobs and programs and contracts.
2:06:51
So now I want to specifically address quickly considerations for some of the broader community impacts on this project.
2:06:59
For Morris Park, aligning development with job centers like the Hutchison Metro Center, the Montefiore Einstein Medical Campus, Mercy University is truly essential.
2:07:10
I support strategic growth along many of our key corridors like East Chester Road And Stillwell Avenue, fostering a vibrant business and commercial hub.
2:07:20
The 1 concern I do have in this area is the C4 3 District by Seminole and Tenbroke Avenue really should be removed as it's not contiguous with the largest study and it doesn't make sense to rezone an area without a planned project.
2:07:36
I also put this in my recommendations to CPC as well as to the city council.
2:07:41
I'm incredibly supportive of the future at Marconi Street.
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To Pelham Parkway connection that I believe will alleviate congestion and traffic from the local streets, which is 1 of the top concerns that we consistently hear for our civic associations, as well as residents and families.
2:07:58
This connection is a game changer, and we need to prioritize this as a major capital commitment.
2:08:04
For the pod Chester Van Ness zoning changes along East Tremont Avenue, Bronxdale Avenue, and White Plains Road, we believe will help to spur development that meets our local needs, the future growth of the area through transit oriented development must be aligned with infrastructure improvements that all of my colleagues have consistently talked about that are vital for accessibility and livability.
2:08:30
I will continue working with our majority leader, Amanda Farias, and her team, on the added height for the Park Chester preservation Corporations parking garages on East Tremont.
2:08:41
This conversation is still ongoing, and I wanna thank our majority leader for engaging with the shareholders and homeowners at Parkchester Condominiums that have truly been concerned about high growth and the impact it's going to have on their everyday living.
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We're listening to people.
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We're having engagements on the ground, and we wanna make sure that everyone's voices are really apart of this conversation.
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Thank you, majority leader, and your team.
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Coop City, section 5.
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The unique challenges there demand innovative solutions from parking strategies to public private partnerships, shuttle service, council member rides, that you talked about is absolutely critical to this work ensuring that robust bus connections and prioritizing the 0 emission Transportation for our buses aligns with our commitment to environmental justice.
2:09:31
We hear a lot from our coop city residents, as well as Cheah Riley and his conversation.
2:09:36
So we do wanna make sure that we are prioritizing some of their needs when we've had meetings on the ground.
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Folks have been very consistent about what they believe they deserve to take on a Metro North station in the coop city community.
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In Hunt's point down in the South Bronx.
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We must prioritize pedestrian safety amid increased traffic, Brooklyn Boulevard, the local streets, service role, and the main role.
2:10:02
Additionally, investments in electric vehicle infrastructure will really help mitigate air pollution benefiting the residents of this vibrant yet underserved community.
2:10:11
I wanna recognize all of our community boards, community board 2, down in Hunt's point who really was involved in having dialogue on the ground with organizations like the point CDC and many others We are excited about the opportunities in the Hunt's Point, Full Distribution Center as well.
2:10:28
All of these projects that are happening simultaneously are even adding more value to our neighborhoods as we look to see our new Metro North stations.
2:10:38
Across all station areas, affordable housing, is really a cornerstone of our work, development, investments in schools, as the council member talked about, 3 KUPK, adding school seats to our local school district, addressing health care, public safety, the local precincts that represent these areas, green spaces, open spaces are absolutely essential to sustaining our residents today as well as our residents and families of tomorrow.
2:11:07
Of the Hunt's Point and the Mars Park Communities.
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As many of you know, 2 of the top 10 business hubs in the entire city of New York.
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Coxycity and quarkchester Van Ness communities are home to some of the largest planned community driven projects that we have today.
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And we wanna ensure that these communities have the infrastructure investments that they need right now that we're already talking about before this project is approved because we wanna make sure that residents are listening or hearing us when it comes to some of their needs.
2:11:43
What I'm excited about with the Hutch Metro Center, Montefiya Einstein Mercy.
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I'm excited about the planned site of our Bronx STEAM School, Science Technology Engineering Architecture And Math.
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And you all know I'm adding a second m, which is for music.
2:12:00
Since we are the birthplace of hiccup, we wanna make sure that we are training our young people with career pathways.
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We're focusing on health care, life sciences, research.
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And we're really building on our young people's talents and skills and giving them the opportunities that they deserve.
2:12:16
The capital investments are going to be critical in this moment And so I'm pulling on my delegation and my colleagues to make sure that the communities are not forgotten when it comes to schools, recreation, community centers, We have to make sure that these investments are a part of this conversation.
2:12:34
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the 5 public info sessions that we held in partnership with our council members, with the majority leader, with then council member, Marjorie Velasquez, the chairs, Kevin Riley, council member, Salamanca, 1 for each station, and we did 2 remote.
2:12:52
I thank everyone, hundreds of people that came out to testify both in person as well as all of our host partners.
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Thank you to Montessori Einstein.
2:13:01
I wanna recognize my predecessor, the 13th BP, Ruben Diaz Junior, and his team at Montefiore Einstein, Doctor Philip Oslaw, and everyone who has been a part of this conversation because we see this as a mutually beneficial project that will transform our economic hubs, our residential.
2:13:22
I wanna also thank the business improvement districts because many people have been a part of these conversations from the beginning.
2:13:31
And so in conclusion, if I wrap up, I wanna say thank you again for the opportunity.
2:13:35
I'm recommending approval of this proposal anchored in our shared commitment and aspirations to develop our neighborhoods, support our families, and make sure that the Bronx stays as a global destination for all to live and work and raise our families.
2:13:52
Again, it's an important historic moment.
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Let's seize this opportunity.
2:13:56
Thank you so much, Cheah, Kevin Riley, and to all my council members.
2:13:59
I appreciate the chance to testify this afternoon.
2:14:02
Thanks so much.