Community Garden to be Relocated to an Adjacent Site
Strengthening the City’s Industrial Sector is a Key Component of the Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking development for an approximately 100,000-square-foot site in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. NYCEDC is looking for a developer to acquire and redevelop the site for industrial uses. The site is comprised of two adjacent City-owned lots at 535-537 Zerega Avenue. The site is part of the James J. Lyons Urban Renewal Plan, the Zerega Industrial Business Zone and the Hunts Point Empire Zone. Currently, there is a GreenThumb Community Garden on the site which will be relocated.
“Supporting and expanding our industrial base is vital to diversifying the City’s economy,” said NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky. “This RFP is intended to identify industrial users that would maximize the potential of the property by creating quality industrial jobs, and in so doing, help companies expand and thrive in the City. I am pleased that we will also be able to accommodate the GreenThumb Community Garden at a location nearby.”
NYCEDC will use a variety of criteria to evaluate responses to the RFP, including economic impact on the City’s economy; land use and design; development team qualifications; financial feasibility; and relationship to the surrounding community. Respondents must also submit a Green Building Plan identifying the project’s sustainable design goals. NYCEDC is dedicated to furthering the participation of Minority and Women-owned Enterprises (MWBE), and to maximizing permanent employment opportunities for the City’s local and disadvantaged residents. Proposals should include a plan that addresses MWBE participation, as well as participation in the Targeted Hiring and Workforce Development Program.
The Zerega-Castle Hill section of the Bronx is generally characterized by industrial land uses interspersed with some retail, as well as substantial residential uses immediately to the west. A variety of uses surround the site, including the Castle Hill Houses, a NYCHA housing complex, and a Best Way Food Store. A City-owned parcel abuts the site that will be subdivided into three lots that will include a private residence, a New York Fire Department facility, and the relocated GreenThumb Garden which is maintained by the Havemeyer Garden Association.
To obtain a copy of the complete RFP, please visit www.nycedc.com/rfp. Responses are due no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2009.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City’s primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC’s mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City’s competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City’s many opportunities.
About the Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan The Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan is a comprehensive strategy to bring New York City through the current economic downturn as fast as possible. It focuses on three major areas: creating jobs for New Yorkers today, implementing a long-term vision for growing the city's economy, and building affordable, attractive neighborhoods in every borough. Taken together, the initiatives that the City has launched to achieve these goals will generate thousands of jobs and put New York City on a path to economic recovery and growth.
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