Plan to remodel Riverdale draws praise, protests

For six months or so, the North Riverdale Merchants Association has been collecting public comments on its wide-ranging plan to remodel, renovate and restructure parts of Riverdale – a project known as the Smart Growth Plan. 

The proposals would go into forming a second draft, which is expected to be completed early next year, said Christopher Rizzo, who has been working on the plans with the  Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation – another party to the project, together with consulting firm VHB Engineering. 

“We received many positive and highly critical comments,” Mr. Rizzo said in an email. 

The Riverdale Smart Growth Plan is the product of a $100,000 grant from The New York City Regional Economic Development Council to conduct a study of ways to improve traffic patterns on Broadway, as well as Riverdale and Mosholu avenues.  The plan also proposes means of improving north Riverdale’s business district, which in 2015, when the grant was awarded, featured a litany of closed shops and vacant storefronts.

Some highlights of the plan, as detailed in the first draft, include a median with bushes and shrubs on Riverdale Avenue and a reduction of traffic on all three roads to one lane in each direction in some areas. 

But some in the community have take issue with various aspects of the draft. 

Residents of River House, a co-op on 5355 Henry Hudson Parkway, submitted a petition with 104 signatures protesting a plan to relocate a bus stop on Riverdale Avenue. 

The petition argues that the new bus stop—located just in front of River House—would worsen traffic and disturb residents. 

“The current bus stop and shelter are suitably sited on a grassy area set apart from Riverdale Park apartment building, causing minimal disturbance,” the petition read. “In contrast, the new site will result in a ‘stop and go’ traffic pattern in front of River House, greatly increasing noise and exhaust pollution.”

The problem, according to the petition, would not be limited to busses. Another unwelcome fallout would be the increased traffic from cars coming off of the Henry Hudson Parkway onto Riverdale Avenue will also suffer, the petition said. 

“More pedestrians would need to cross [W.] 245th [Street] with increased accident risk, as most ridership originated north,” it read. “River House land would be needed for erection of a bus shelter (requiring excavation and retaining wall—all detracting from the park-like appearance). ‘On-street’ parking would also be lost.”

Mr. Rizzo declined to discuss the specific complaints residents have made during the comment process, as the second draft of the plan is not yet complete.

“The business association was thrilled with the public response to the first draft report on how to revitalize the business district and turn Riverdale Avenue and Mosholu Avenue into safe, inviting main streets for residents,” he said in the email. “As for the bus stop at West 254^th Street, the second draft will eliminate that idea based on comments from River House.”

To read the draft plan, go to www.riverdalebronx.nyc

To leave a comment, visit www.riverdalebronx.nyc/comments.asp