When, where credit is due

To the editor:

When we moved to Riverdale, it was a considerably greener, bucolic neighborhood than it is today. Large apartment buildings have popped up where low-density housing used to be.

Unfortunately, the history of development in Riverdale is that community efforts to thwart new high-rises are rarely successful.

I remember Villa Rosa Bonheur clearly and fondly as a remarkably charming structure that was knocked down in 2020, and since replaced with another boxy building. While “progress” of this sort could not be prevented, one of our newer residents, Stephanie Coggins, decided to snatch a victory for local history by ceremonially naming the intersection of Bradley Terrace and Palisade Avenue as John McKelvey Sr. Way Villa Rosa Bonheur.

McKelvey, a lawyer, was the visionary behind the effort to create an attractive alternative to large-scale, high-density buildings.

This street naming could not have taken place without the unanimous support of Community Board 8 and our councilman, Eric Dinowitz. However, Riverdale would be remiss not to acknowledge Stephanie Coggins’ initiative and hard work. The concept was hers, the documentation was hers, the various presentations were hers.

She even tracked down McKelvey family descendents, who were present at the naming ceremony.

Kudos, Stephanie! Riverdale is grateful!

Sura Jeselsohn