City Planning Commission Approves Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan - DCP

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For Immediate Release
June 26, 2024

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

City Planning Commission Approves Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan

Commission Voted Overwhelmingly to Bring Thousands of New Homes and Jobs to the East Bronx

Proposal to Revamp Land Use Around New Metro-North Stations Now Heads to City Council for Review

NEW YORK – New York Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick today celebrated the City Planning Commission’s vote in favor of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a once-in-a-lifetime plan to complement new Metro-North stations coming to Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City with new homes and jobs. The first neighborhood plan certified during Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, this proposal looks to create nearly 7,500 homes, including permanently income-restricted housing, and 10,000 jobs, as well as improved public spaces, enhanced transit access, and other community benefits.

Today’s vote follows favorable recommendations on the plan from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the Bronx Borough Board, and Bronx Community Boards 9 and 11.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow and strengthen a community around a historic investment in new transit infrastructure. The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan matches that investment in scope and ambition, bringing thousands of new homes, jobs, and amenities to these four neighborhoods,” said New York City Deputy Mayor of Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Thank you to the team at the Department of City Planning for leading this six-year-long planning effort. I look forward to working with our colleagues at the City Council to get this over the finish line.”

“With today’s vote, Bronx residents are one step closer to getting the homes, jobs, amenities, and infrastructure improvements they need. These four new Metro-North stations will be transformative for the borough, the city, and the entire region. It’s common sense to pair them with such a thoughtful plan that expands housing opportunity, creates jobs, and benefits local communities,” said Dan Garodnick, Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning. “Thanks to the City Planning Commissioners for their support.”

“Today’s vote is a tremendous win for our borough with the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan promising to bring housing, union jobs, and transportation options to the East Bronx that will further enhance our Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City communities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank New York Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick, as well as my colleagues in government, community boards, and local leaders who have played a crucial role in helping to move this important project forward.”

“The Bronx Metro-North plan is an opportunity to potentially employ thousands of Bronxites, significantly decrease travel times with direct access to Penn Station, provide more community and green spaces, bolster our small businesses, and most importantly- build new housing. After hosting several comprehensive community input sessions and speaking directly with my neighbors, I stand firm in saying that this project is in the best interest of our collective community and its future. I am glad to see the City Planning Commission has voted this plan through to continue progressing through its phases of approval and implementation,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías.

“The Bronx Metro-North Station plan represents another crucial investment for the Bronx and the creation of vibrant community neighborhood space,” said New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Accessible public spaces strengthen the social fabric of neighborhoods, and this ambitious plan will expand public space access for Bronx residents while connecting them with thousands of great jobs, public transit, and affordable housing. The Adams administration continues to provide opportunities and make investments that will benefit the Bronx and New York City for generations to come, making our communities more livable, accessible, and equitable.”

“It is essential to expand sustainable and safe public transportation options so we can bring better access to education, economic opportunities, and housing, while also making it faster and easier to get around without a car,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We are proud to work with the City Planning Commission towards advancing projects that will make these Bronx neighborhoods a hub for vibrant public space and improved quality of life.”

“The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan is a clear example of the positive impact of transit-oriented development – creating the opportunity for thousands of new homes and jobs in true 24/7 live, work, and play neighborhoods.” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “This plan has been years in the making and NYCEDC looks forward to working with DCP and other partners on bringing these station areas to life.”

“It’s great to see Bronx communities capitalizing on the investment in Penn Station Access,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “This project brings four new stations to historically underserved communities in the East Bronx and will stimulate the regional economy, reduce daily commute times, and now create opportunities for more jobs and housing with these actions.”

The Bronx Metro-North Plan
By allowing residential uses in some parts of Parkchester/Van Nest that today are limited to commercial and manufacturing uses, the Bronx Metro-North Plan will allow for the creation of nearly 7,500 new homes, including 1,900 permanently income-restricted homes through Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. The plan will also expand the amount of housing permitted in some residential districts in that neighborhood and parts of Morris Park.

To ensure the borough’s continued economic growth, the plan aims to create 10,000 jobs in Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park by strengthening commercial corridors, establishing workforce training programs, and supporting prominent institutions and job centers, including Calvary Hospital, Hutchinson Metro Center, Jacobi Medical Center, and Montefiore Hospital. With a total of 37,000 jobs, Morris Park and Hunts Point are already two of the ten largest job centers in New York City today. To further enhance Morris Park’s key role as an educational and health care hub, the plan is also exploring siting a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) school to set high schoolers on a path to success in these growing sectors.

The Bronx Metro-North Plan will support the new Metro-North transit hubs, homes, and jobs with investments in infrastructure and new pedestrian-friendly public amenities. These proposed public realm improvements include: new and/or upgraded public plazas and open spaces, bus shelters, improved lighting for sidewalks and streets, wider medians for pedestrians, and local retail that cultivate a strong sense of community around these stations.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for the Bronx as we celebrate the approval of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a transformative initiative promising thousands of new jobs,” said Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “The Bronx Chamber is thrilled to witness this commitment to enhancing our borough’s infrastructure, commercial corridors, and community resources. The new Metro-North stations will not only improve transit access but also invigorate local economies, creating vibrant neighborhoods where residents and businesses alike can thrive. We commend the City Planning Commission and all stakeholders for their dedication to making this visionary plan a reality, ensuring a brighter future for Bronx residents.”

“The Morris Park Business Improvement District applauds NYC Planning Commission for approving the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan. This transformative project opens unique opportunities for improved public space, better transit and new jobs, strengthens Morris Park's contribution to the Bronx economy and amplifies our impact as one of the largest life-sciences job centers of the city. Our thanks to the DCP team for the thorough and extensive community engagement process supporting this impactful project,” said Dr. Camelia Tepelus, Executive Director, Morris Park BID.

In the over six years leading up to public review, DCP conducted extensive outreach in the communities around the new stations to craft the plan. This included in-person and virtual workshops, open houses, weekly “office hours” to answer questions and take additional input, surveys, and small-group meetings. The agency met repeatedly with local elected officials, nearly two dozen community stakeholders, such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, and medical hubs, and 16 government agencies at the city, state, and federal levels.

Thanks to the new Metro-North stations on the New Haven Line, the residents of Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-op City will be connected to great job opportunities across the Bronx, Midtown Manhattan, Westchester, and Connecticut. The new stations will also help to reduce car use and traffic congestion.

The MTA anticipates the four new Metro-North stations will open in 2027.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.