New building could tip scales for zoning change

The proposed building at 3501 Fort Independence St. may lead to more development west of Jerome Park Reservoir. But the Kingsbridge Heights development could also be the tipping point that gets Community Board 8 to consider rezoning parts of the area.  

Galaxy General Contracting Corp., based on Albany Crescent in the Bronx, filed plans in the fall to build a 54-unit, six-story affordable housing building with a 27-spot parking garage at the corner of West 238th Street, Orloff Avenue and Fort Independence Street. 

For decades, there were three single-family homes in the lot. Two were demolished in recent years, but one of the house’s owners held out until last summer, eventually selling for $560,000, according to city property records. The 102-year-old house was demolished in May to make way for the new building, according to the documents.

Nearby residents, including members of the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association, have been fighting back against developments like this for decades. They are concerned too many big buildings will turn the neighborhood — known for its winding streets and mix of one- or two-family homes and historic housing complexes — into a bland line of big apartment buildings with more traffic congestion, less parking and overcrowded local schools.

“I think development is great if it’s done properly,” said nearby resident Raymond Yee. “However I think if you overdevelop an area like they are doing in Van Cortlandt Village, it could lead to a severe deterioration to the quality of life for all current residents.”

In 2004, Community Board 8 initiated a major downzoning west of the Jerome Park Reservoir. A strip of small homes, between West 238th Street and Orloff Avenue, was rezoned in 2004 to prevent a developer from buying them up, knocking them down and constructing a massive building.

But the new building will be built across the street from the downzoned area. Because the proposed building complies with zoning, Galaxy has as-of-right building privileges and does not need to come before Community Board 8.