Kingsbridge to get its parking lot back

By N. Clark Judd

The city Economic Development Corporation has agreed to re-open the dormant city-owned parking lot at West 230th Street and Broadway after recent meetings with Community Board 8 and local elected officials. The announcement was jointly made by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, City Councilman Oliver Koppell and Rep. Eliot Engel on Oct. 30.

The parking lot has been nothing but a cracked, weed-strewn concrete void in the landscape for about a year, since the city kicked out the last operator of the parking lot to make way for a mall. But the mall developer, Ceruzzi Holdings, has been holding out for more money, sources say — wanting a reduction in price from as much as $15 million to no more than $9 million for the land and possibly less. A source has said Ceruzzi wants to pay less money in part because the Related Companies is paying only $5 million for the massive Kingsbridge Armory just a short drive away. Deliberations have been stalled for months.

Meanwhile, the Kingsbridge parking situation is so frustrating that some merchants under the elevated subway tracks say they are losing business to pesky traffic agents and a dearth of parking spots.l

If the EDC can reopen the lot before the holidays, it would be great news for the merchants on that stretch of Broadway, said Kingsbridge Business Improvement District Manager Katherine Broihier.

“I’m thrilled because it really will be great because of the season coming up, and the merchants and everything, oh my goodness sakes that’s wonderful.”

This is part of the October 29, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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