Carrion: Yanks to stay 5 more years

By Steven Gnagni
Managing Editor

Last Wednesday, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. gave his second annual State of the Borough speech. In it, he announced a couple of new efforts that will impact the Highbridge community: First, he announced that the Yankees have signed a new five-year lease, and that his office is working with the Yankees to plan more developments around Yankee stadium. Second, he announced plans to reopen the High Bridge as part of a broader effort to open passageways to and from the Bronx and create a waterfront park.

“One of the most prominent areas of economic development opportunity is the Yankee Stadium community,” Mr. Carrion said. “Today I am very pleased to state, without hesitation, after extensive discussions with my good friend George Steinbrennner and my friend Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees … the Yankees are staying home in the Bronx.”

The Yankees have continually said that they would like to build a new stadium or dramatically renovate the existing stadium. Carrion said that in order for that to be a consideration, other developments would have to be included.

“The Yankees will join us in the planning process for the Yankee Stadium area,” he said.

Carrion’s demands: a hotel and convention center, a ferry landing on the Harlem River waterfront, a Metro North station, and a Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum. Carrion for some time has been pushing a Yankee village, which would bring restaurants and retail to the 161st Street area.

In his speech, he also pushed for a new high school—the Bronx High School for Sports Medicine and Sports Industry careers, which would be linked with a City University of New York program centered around sports management and careers—in the area.

Carrion’s other mention about the area surrounding Highbridge was the waterfront to the west of Highbridge, next to the Major Deegan Expressway.

“In the northwest Bronx we must preserve the Hudson River waterfront,” Mr. Carrion said. “Along the Harlem River there will be a waterfront park and esplanade from the Target retail development on 225th Street to the area immediately south of the historic High Bridge. We will reopen the High Bridge, a unique piece of urban architecture that should be part of the larger greenway network.”

In addition to these projects, Mr. Carrion touched on a few other big plans for the South Bronx:

· Mr. Carrion would like to bring the New York Flower Market to Hunts Point.

· Mr. Carrion would like to get the city to review a plan to develop residential and work live spaces for artists in Port Morris

· Reconstruction of the lower Grand Concourse, and reduction of truck traffic through Hunts Point.

· Plans to improve Soundview Park in Soundview/Castle Hill, including a waterfront esplanade, playground, and skate park.