Developer shows scaled-back plan for B'way mall

N. Clark Judd

Though Ceruzzi Holdings had dubbed its prospective mall at West 230th Street and Broadway "The Shops at Riverdale," the project was expected to include much more than just storefronts - until the developer revealed its latest plans last week.

Originally conceived as a palatial retail center complete with a 2,600-seat cinema complex, health club, restaurant and underground parking garage, the development may instead entail no more than two mid-sized retail stores and a parking lot.

Citing information from representatives of the developer, board Chairman Tony Cassino said at a Community Board 8 meeting last week that the company's latest proposal calls for a development just shy of 170,000 square feet in size and lacking any of its earlier attention-grabbing amenities.

The first phase of construction would see a two-story, 106,000-square-foot structure built to host a single "anchor" tenant and 106 parking spaces to accommodate its customers. The second phase would add an additional 60,000 square feet - for either an additional single tenant, several smaller tenants, or possibly even a supermarket - and another 60 parking spaces. Entrances and exits will lead onto West 230th Street and Verveleen Place.

A spokesman for Ceruzzi Holdings said he would not comment on the record until more briefings were conducted for local officials.

The underground parking idea was all wet from the start, Mr. Cassino said. The developers have found that the water table on their lot starts at about seven feet below ground level.

The rest of the project disappeared when Ceruzzi Holdings could not make deals for the properties adjacent to its prospective lot, Mr. Cassino said.

"As soon as they announced they were the winner of the bid, all the prices went up," he explained.

Board members remarked that public space in The Shops at Riverdale, discussed much earlier in its planning, also seems to have faded away.

The reduced scope of the project was discouraging to some board members, who seemed ready to trade the old face of Broadway in Kingsbridge - especially the old gas station adjacent to the project - for a new one. Charles Moerdler, the board's land use committee chairman, suggested board members prepare conditions for the developers to meet in order to gain their approval during the city's uniform land use review procedure, or ULURP.

That process begins when the Department of City Planning certifies the developer's application as complete. At its fastest, ULURP is expected to take 150 days from that date to the end of the approval process, but takes significantly longer if the mayor or City Council get involved or if the application is rejected or needs revision at any stage.

At the meeting last week, Mr. Cassino said DCP certification is expected to come in June and that the board may convene in July to play its part in the review procedure. However, he was skeptical that the project will go according to schedule.

This is part of the April 17, 2008 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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