UPDATE Tracey Towers Management & Department of Buildings Dispute DOB Violations Status

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The public relations firm representing Jerome Park’s Tracey Towers housing complex, responded to a Norwood News story published in our April 21-May 4 edition, in which we reported on a wall collapse and stop work order in place by New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), which temporarily shut the Tracey Towers playground. In the statement issued by Bill Corbett of Corbett Public Relations, with copy to a second PR firm representative, Don Miller of West End Strategies, on Monday, May 2, Corbett wrote, “The safety of residents and the public remains the number one priority of Tracey Towers Associates.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An affordable housing lottery has launched for units at 1985 Honeywell Avenue, an eight-story mixed-use building in the West Farms section of the Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Designed by Fred Geremia Architects & Planners, and developed by Durgaj Properties, the property yields 33 residential units, according to YIMBY. Available on NYC Housing Connect, the online portal for NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development are 10 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $60,000 to $187,330. Amenities include assigned parking spaces, bike storage, elevator, digital intercom system,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, four-story, residential building at 2621 Grand Avenue in the University Heights section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between West 192nd Street and West Kingsbridge Road, the lot is two blocks west of the Kingsbridge Road subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Franc Gjini of 2625 Grand Avenue Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications. According to YIMBY, the proposed 40-foot-tall development will yield 20,716 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 34 residential

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 25-year-old male driver has died in a single vehicle accident in Eastchester after allegedly losing control of his vehicle on a bend, overshooting a ramp, and driving into a home located beneath an elevated thruway. On Thursday, May 26, at approximately 6.57 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a motor vehicle accident on the southbound New England Thruway near exit 14, in Eastchester, located in the 47th precinct. Police officials said, “A preliminary investigation determined that a 2009 black, Mercedes Benz C300 sedan [was] travelling southbound on the New England Thruway.” They said the vehicle

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An affordable housing lottery has launched for units at 6375 Broadway, a seven-story, residential building in North Riverdale, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Designed by Marin Architects, the structure yields 65 residential units and 36 parking spaces. Available via NYC Housing Connect, NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD)’s online portal, are 23 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $61,715 to $187,330. Amenities include assigned parking spaces, a shared laundry room, gym, community center, elevator, and an on-site resident manager. Units come equipped with energy-efficient

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Two people were transported to hospital last week following a road accident on Sedgwick Avenue in University Heights. The NYPD said that on Thursday, May 19, at approximately 9.05 p.m., the collision took place in front of 2300 Sedgwick Avenue. A police official said, “An 18-year-old male of The Bronx was operating a 2000 Mercedes-Benz at a high rate of speed, and turned around a bed and lost control of the vehicle, striking three, parked, unoccupied vehicles.” The police official added, “The driver and [an] 18-year-old male passenger were removed to St. Barnabas Hospital for medical treatment.”

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed to expand a 2-story structure into a 5-story residential building at 3537 Bainbridge Avenue in the Norwood section o the Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East Gun Hill Road and East 212th Street, the lot is near the Woodlawn subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Isaac Kritzler is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 50-foot-tall development will yield 18,992 square feet designated for residential space, according to YIMBY. The building will have 44 residential units, most likely condos, based on the average unit scope of 432 square

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Following the City Council’s May 19th vote on the first package of fire safety legislation to pass in response to the Jan. 9 Twin Parks North West fire tragedy, a group of primarily Bronx council members in the form of Council Members Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), Amanda Farias (C.D. 18) and Carmen De La Rosa (C.D. 10), have introduced a further bill which aims to to expand the city’s Heat Sensor Program (HSP). According to the councilmembers’ offices, the program identifies buildings with recurring heat violations for enhanced monitoring and enforcement. The councilmembers said the program,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson announced on Saturday, May 21, that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx in ZIP codes 10452 in Highbridge and 10456 in the Melrose neighborhood. Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia. “Four people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease since May 9, 2022, and results for other individuals are pending. To date, there have been no deaths associated with this possible cluster,” Gibson said. “The NYC Health Department is sampling and testing the water from all cooling tower

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Housing

UPDATE Tracey Towers Management & Department of Buildings Dispute DOB Violations Status

West Farms: Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for Units at 1985 Honeywell Avenue

University Heights: Permits Filed for New 4-Story Building at 2621 Grand Avenue

Eastchester: Driver Dies After Overshooting Ramp and Crashing into Home

North Riverdale: Housing Lottery Launches for Units at 6375 Broadway

UPDATE University Heights: Two Injured in Collision as Driver Crashes into Parked Vehicles at High Speed

Norwood: Building Applications Filed with DOB for 3537 Bainbridge Avenue

Bronx City Council Members Introduce Bill Expanding Heat Sensor Program to Track Building Heat Requirements

NYC Health Department Investigating Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease Identified in Highbridge, Melrose