WEST FARMS, The Bronx (PIX11) – Since 1981, the population of the Bronx has grown more than 18%and in the last decade or so, parts of the borough have had some of the highest rates of new construction in the city.
Now, that pace of development has some residents of this central Bronx community calling for part of their neighborhood not to be developed, in the interest of feeding the community and creating a green space. They say River Garden, a community garden operated by the NYC Parks Department, could be compromised by a proposed development right next to the half-block long space, which plays a key role in the well-being of residents.
“This has really given back to the community,” said Magda Mary Marcano, referring to the garden, “whether it’s growing food, having events for children here, and [for] adults”.
Marcano, who has lived around the corner from the garden since 1968, said she knows firsthand that the garden has been a neighborhood improvement since the Parks Department created it from neglected land. in 1978.
Next to the garden, on its south side, is an empty lot.
It was a gas station in the 1940s, and later became a car repair garage, until about six years ago. That’s when developer Abingdon Square Partners broke ground, and, neighbors said, discussed plans to build a 13-story residential tower.
Longtime community garden members, including Ariel Lucré, said the building would compromise the garden’s mission.
“We won’t have enough sunlight to grow things like tomatoes and peppers,” he said, in an interview in the garden, “all the beloved things we have for the community.”
Laura James, the garden manager, explained more. “Let’s eat,” he said.
From late spring until fall, he said, the garden gives fresh produce to all residents who show up. The neighborhood has no supermarkets, she and Lucré said. There is a variety of fast food, to which his garden is the only healthy alternative.
So now, residents like them are calling on the city to stop the development next door. They pointed out that there is another skyscraper under construction just fifty meters away from the community garden, as well as a recently completed skyscraper a block past the one being built.
“That’s two out of seven,” said James, pointing to the nearly finished hill nearest the garden. “There will also be one here,” he said, pointing to a catercorner for rent from the garden, a few hundred meters away, “one across the street,” he continued. “There will be one on the block, and two more on the block.”
“So can we have this little space?”
She said she and many other residents welcome the revitalization of the Central Bronx, especially in recent years, but that more space has been filled with new buildings than new parking.
Because the City Parks Department created this community garden, she, as well as other members of the community garden, and the local Community Council want the department to try to buy the land nearby and expand the garden
The owner of the lot, Abingdon Square Partners, has not yet responded to a request for comment from PIX11 News. It is not yet clear if the developer is willing to sell, and even if it is, if the city can afford the lot, for which Abingdon Square paid millions of dollars.
However, the leaders of the community garden said that growing in their space is a vital mission and that growing more than their space can be an important addition to that mission.
“It’s really important for the community to have the sun,” said Lucré, “[and] for the river to maintain its health,” he said of the garden, which is bounded on the west by the Bronx River.
The Parks Department commented on the situation in a statement Saturday.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance and expand our green spaces and community gardens,” the statement read, “including those along the Bronx River. We are reviewing the Community Council’s request regarding this site.”
