Residents vow to revive Riverdale business

By Kate Pastor

A health food store, organic bakery and places for kids are just some of the businesses local residents think are needed to revitalize Riverdale’s dismal commercial districts.

Tired of seeing the number of shuttered storefronts along Riverdale Avenue in the central business district grow, more than a dozen Riverdalians gathered in Kathy Goldstein’s living room on Sunday to start brainstorming.

The group, which first met on an online discussion group for Riverdale families, had one simple, albeit steep, goal: “Revive Riverdale.”

“I have money and I’d like to spend it in Riverdale and I don’t. I have to leave Riverdale on a daily basis,” said Alana Ezderman, a stay-at-home mom who moved to the neighborhood three months ago.

Everyone had their own ideas about what would be best for the neighborhood, but there was one common complaint. Riverdale newbies and oldtimers both grumbled about the lack of a decent supermarket, and many said they often drove to Manhattan or to nearby Westchester to do their food shopping.

“I think we should act. Act now,” proclaimed Josh Land, who moved to the neighborhood six months ago from 17th Street in Manhattan.

But what could they do exactly? The gathering’s participants ranged from self-proclaimed neophytes in the ways of economic development, to people like Mr. Land, who has worked on issues like these in the past and took a leadership role in the discussion.

He took notes on two pieces of paper fastened to the wall. On the list of desired businesses was an organic bakeshop, playspace for children and healthy eateries. Mr. Land wrote his own opinion about Riverdale: “Ex-Manhattanites — Nowhere to go, nothing for adults to do.”

Robert Fanuzzi, chairman of Community Board 8’s economic development committee, and Tony Cassino, chairman of the traffic and transportation committee, both attended to help put the issues in context.

“I see a landlord class totally divorced from retail,” said Mr. Fanuzzi, explaining that some commercial landlords seemed not to mind if their storefronts remained empty for long periods of time.

For the past two years, Mr. Fanuzzi said, he has been trying to start a merchants association on Riverdale and Johnson avenues to no avail. He also tried to set up a trolley that would cart residents to Riverdale’s commercial corridors, which are devoid of public transportation.

But, he said, “I couldn’t get anyone in the same room.”

But Ms. Goldstein’s living room was full that day, and brimming with new energy. Attendees threw out ideas ranging from educating each other about organizing practices, getting existing community institutions and schools involved in revitalization and asking the government to offer economic incentives to draw businesses to Riverdale. Mr. Land even ambitiously proposed creating an economic development plan to overhaul Riverdale by 2012.

The meeting ended with the start of a steering committee, a second meeting scheduled for next month and the announcement by Mr. Fanuzzi that the group would be given the chance to present its vision at a community board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26.

“People have had it and they’re concerned,” said Mr. Cassino. “River-dull. That’s what I keep hearing.”

This is part of the January 22, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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