A new scorecard unveiled by a coalition of environmental groups this week rates Mott Haven’s riverfront among New York City’s worst in all three categories measured to gauge the health and vibrancy of 39 waterfront neighborhoods.
Highbridge’s Community Board 4 last week voted 19-12 to approve the city’s proposal to build housing on Pier 5, a 5-acre parcel adjacent to Mill Pond Park. But residents who oppose the plan say the vote does not reflect the will of the community, adding they will keep fighting for existing parkland to be extended instead.
The city does need new housing, but in his thirst to reach his goal of 200,000 affordable apartments our mayor appears to be blind to the value of human scale, open space and community character.
Community Board 4 weighs city’s plan to build housing on waterfront site near Melrose South
Some day, the city hopes, a site near the 145th Street Bridge will become a waterfront park, an extension of Mill Pond Park to the north.
Now a guilty plea to felony charges of illegal dumping by the company that owns the site could bring that day closer.
Carlton Curry and his daughter Carleta sat on the lawn at Mill Pond Park watching a hawk displayed by the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy against a backdrop of a teepee, with the Harlem River beyond.
“We need more events like this, a lot of events,” Curry said.
