A year is defined by a single day

2000

Twin tower terror

Census shows more diversity in the area

In every corner of the world, every corner of America, but especially every corner of New York, 2001 elicits memories of the destruction of the Twin Towers in a terrorist attack. It was felt everywhere, and this neighborhood was not immune.

Riverdale and Kingsbridge residents were among those killed on Sept. 11.

The Press was going into production that day, but still managed to include an editorial and coverage of the attacks.

Other events may pale in significance, but there was still much to report in Riverdale.

Census results revealed a changing, more diverse Riverdale/Kingsbridge area, with immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean bringing their own way of life to the neighborhood.

Crime declined for the seventh year in a row, The Press reported, while the effort to regulate growth in the area got ever more serious. A proposed development for enormous super-luxury houses near Fieldston was taken to court, and temporarily blocked.

Another effort to preserve the area's environment met with some success. From the ashes of the plan to establish a greenway path and park along the riverbank, Riverdale Park, near the Riverdale Metro-North Station, were announced.

Down the hill, the proposed site of MS 368, between Tibbett and Riverdale avenues at West 230th Street, was approved after teachers and parents had expressed concerns about possible chemical contamination at the site. Numerous tests confirmed there was no danger to human beings in the former rail yard, The Press reported.

In politics, Oliver Koppell won the race for City Council, and became Riverdale's representative Jan. 1, 2002.