Dinowitz irks neighbors

Northwest Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz came under criticism from people at a Community Board (CB) 8 meeting last week who suggested he is putting the interests of his co-op ahead of other buildings that stand to be affected by construction on West 238th Street and on Blackstone Avenue (see story). Mr. Dinowitz strongly denied the accusation.

On Aug. 12, a developer unveiled plans for an eight-story building at 640 W. 238th St. that neighbors say will reduce their property values and destroy some of their views. The presentation came after news that Abraham Strulovitch is also planning to build at 3707 Blackstone Ave., though details are not yet known. Mr. Dinowitz lives across the street from the latter address, at 3701 Henry Hudson Parkway.

CB 8 member Robert Press insinuated the assemblyman has a conflict of interest by telling an architect for Mr. Strulovitch, “I live across the street from the site, at 3800 Independence Avenue. I do not own an apartment there. It is a rental. So I have no vested interested in opposing your plan or forwarding it, unlike some other people who might have co-ops nearby.”

Later in the meeting, a resident of the Bonnie House at 3720 Independence Ave. — where residents have signed a petition against construction at 640 W. 238th St. next door — wondered aloud whether Mr. Dinowitz had asked the developer to lower the height of any construction across the street from his co-op in exchange for raising the height of a building on West 238th Street.

“Let me point out this to you,” Bonnie House resident Katerina Genceva said, citing conversations with the developer’s lawyer. “Assemblyman Dinowitz was complaining about the Blackstone Avenue development with the same owner, that his apartment view would be blocked and its value would go down.”