Riverdale's
Roots (continued)
City of New York", calculated that if fully built up, New York
City would be able to house about 70 million people and accommodate
a working population of about 300 million.
Development surged into Riverdale's Greenbelt following the opening
of the Henry Hudson Parkway and Bridge in the late 1930s and the end
of World War II. Small areas of single-family homes had been rezoned
to a more restrictive zone, but large expanses of green space remained
unprotected. In 1953, a shopping center was proposed for West 242nd
Street between Blackstone and Independence Avenues. The City Planning
Commission (CPC) urged the community to accept the shopping center.
Neighborhood activists recognized the need for a whole-scale rezoning
of the area — from Spuyten Duyvil to the city line and from
the Hudson River to Broadway. They united as the Riverdale Community
Planning Association (RCP) and campaigned throughout the community
for a revised zoning scheme. A new vision of Riverdale emerged: apartment
houses along the top of the ridge would be balanced by a wide ribbon
of single-family, detached homes and the existing institutions on
the slopes above the River, there would be a gradual transition from
single-family to high rise apartment areas, and commercial development
would be concentrated in areas where the traffic they generated would
not infringe on residential streets. All residents could expect to
enjoy an abundance
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Under the RCPA, the community developed a new
vision for Riverdale - Photo by Gilbert Kerlin.
of light and air and the peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
Based on the RCPA's efforts, driven by Gil Kerlin, Robert Morgenthau,
and Tom Thacher with the whole community's support, the NYC Department
of City Planning put forth a rezoning plan for the area in late
1953. RCPA president Gil Kerlin told the Riverdale Press that the
zoning changes were "very similar to those our association
has been working on for months", and he urged the "support
of the entire community" for them. Builders, however, argued
strenuously that their real estate investments were
Ice on the Hudsn River - Photo by Charles Cohn |
Asin jeopardy,
and the existing zoning must be allowed to remain.
Angered builders and a determined Riverdale community argued before
the CPC, which unanimously approved the rezoning and sent it forward
to the NYC Board of Estimate (BOE) for final approval. Bronx Borough
President Jimmy Lyons, a known supporter of the builders, opened
the BOE hearing by calling the rezoning the biggest land grab ever
to take place in New York City. Throughout the day-long hearing,
Riverdalians argued that their goal was to accommodate growth while
protecting the rustic aesthetic of existing neighborhoods, an aesthetic
that was unique in New York City. Finally, the vote was taken. The
first vote went to Borough President Lyons, but he passed. One by
one, the members of the Board voted approval for the plan. Finally,
the vote returned to Mr. Lyons. To the waiting crowd, he exclaimed,
"I'm going to make it unanimous". The community had won
the day.
Further reading: Zoning in New York, Home Title Guaranty Co.,
NY, 1948; Planning and Zoning New York City, Todd W. Bressi, ed.,1993.
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