The Metro-North expansion will connect the East and South Bronx with Manhattan’s Pennsylvania Station to the south, as well as Westchester County and Connecticut to the north.
File photo/Aliya Schneider
The wide-ranging Bronx Metro-North station plan was recently approved by the City Planning Commission, bringing the megaproject one step closer to final approval from the mayor. The plan now heads to the City Council for review.
The proposal to build new stations in Morris Park, Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest and Co-Op City has already been over six years in the making and was crafted with input from 16 city, state and federal agencies, as well as the general public.
In addition to the new train stations, rezoning changes in those areas would pave the way for an estimated 7,500 new homes and 10,000 jobs in Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest.
The plan aims to capitalize on proximity to existing large employers like Montefiore Hospital, Jacobi Medical Center, Calvary Hospital and Hutchinson Metro Center, since Morris Park and Hunts Point are already two of the city’s top job centers.
Under the current proposal, Co-Op City and Hunts Point would not receive new housing but would receive investments towards potential business development. A number of infrastructure upgrades are planned around all four stations to ensure that increased foot traffic and population density would be supported.
The new stations will be “transformative” for the Bronx and entire region, according to Dan Garodnick, chair of the City Planning Commission and director of the Department of City Planning.
“It’s common sense to pair them with such a thoughtful plan that expands housing opportunity, creates jobs, and benefits local communities,” he said.
While the new train stations have been generally met with enthusiasm, the proposed rezoning has seen criticism from some local residents.
Community Board 10, which includes Co-Op City, voted the…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply