City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden announced yesterday a rezoning proposal for 181 blocks in the Williamsbridge and Baychester neighborhoods in the north Bronx.
In response to community concerns about out-of-character buildings, this rezoning would protect lower density blocks from development pressure threatening the community. The rezoning would instead channel moderate new growth opportunities to wide corridors with better access to transit that can accommodate future growth, including White Plains Road and East Gun Hill Road.
The proposal would also reduce the depth of commercial overlays so businesses don't encroach on residential side streets. The proposal, which is the result of close consultation with Community Board 12, the 222nd Street Civic Association and local elected officials, would protect the neighborhood's character and ensure that future development is predictable.
Commissioner Burden said that "In keeping with our commitment to transit-oriented growth, this rezoning would direct development away from residential side streets with small homes to blocks that can accommodate new commercial and housing opportunities, creating predictability for residents and business owners."
"The proposal would also strengthen the area's major commercial corridors, helping them to become more vibrant and inviting for residents," she added.
The rezoning area is generally bounded by the Bronx River and Shoelace Park to the west, the New England Thruway to the east, 233rd Street to the north and East Gun Hill Road, Lurting Avenue, Givan Avenue, and Hammersley Avenue to the south. Several bus lines cross the area, including Bx30 and BxM11, as well as two MetroNorth train stations and three subway lines (the elevated 2, and two branches of the 5 train).
Along all or portions of 60 blocks in the rezoning area with one- and two-family homes - east of Laconia Avenue toward the New England Thruway, between White Plains Road and Bronxwood Avenue from 233rd to East 213th Street, and west of White Plains Road to Carpenter Avenue between East 231st Street and East 225th Street and between East 222nd Street and East 219th Street - the proposed new zoning districts (R4, R4A, R5 and R5A) would protect the scale of the community, ensuring that future development is predictable. Along these streets, current zoning has allowed single-family detached homes to be demolished and replaced with larger attached, semi-detached, and multi-family developments. The proposed zoning would lower the FAR allowed to .9 or 1.25 from upwards of 1.65 and establish building height limits of 35 and 40 feet. Two of the proposed districts would limit new development to one and two-family detached houses, which are characteristic of the areas where this zoning is proposed.
On 117 blocks - between White Plains Road, Bronxwood Avenue, East 222nd Street and East 213th Street, along Bronxwood and Laconia Avenue from East Gun Hill Road and East 233rd Street, along White Plains Road from East 222nd Street to East 233rd Street and along East 233rd Street from Barnes Avenue to Paulding Avenue - new zoning would reinforce existing residential patterns and ensure contextual development consistent with the neighborhood character.
R6, R6A, and R7A with commercial overlays C1-4 and C2-4 are proposed to be mapped on sections of East Gun Hill Road, which is well served by transit and home to many local businesses, White Plains Road, an active commercial corridor with transit, and a portion of the major residential and commercial strip East 233rd Street. The new zoning would promote new housing and business opportunities and allow a FAR of 2.43 to 4, and building heights of 70 to 80 feet, compared to the current zoning which allows FAR of 1.25 to 2.43 with no set height limits.
In response to community concerns about out-of-character buildings, this rezoning would protect lower density blocks from development pressure threatening the community. The rezoning would instead channel moderate new growth opportunities to wide corridors with better access to transit that can accommodate future growth, including White Plains Road and East Gun Hill Road.
The proposal would also reduce the depth of commercial overlays so businesses don't encroach on residential side streets. The proposal, which is the result of close consultation with Community Board 12, the 222nd Street Civic Association and local elected officials, would protect the neighborhood's character and ensure that future development is predictable.
Commissioner Burden said that "In keeping with our commitment to transit-oriented growth, this rezoning would direct development away from residential side streets with small homes to blocks that can accommodate new commercial and housing opportunities, creating predictability for residents and business owners."
"The proposal would also strengthen the area's major commercial corridors, helping them to become more vibrant and inviting for residents," she added.
The rezoning area is generally bounded by the Bronx River and Shoelace Park to the west, the New England Thruway to the east, 233rd Street to the north and East Gun Hill Road, Lurting Avenue, Givan Avenue, and Hammersley Avenue to the south. Several bus lines cross the area, including Bx30 and BxM11, as well as two MetroNorth train stations and three subway lines (the elevated 2, and two branches of the 5 train).
Along all or portions of 60 blocks in the rezoning area with one- and two-family homes - east of Laconia Avenue toward the New England Thruway, between White Plains Road and Bronxwood Avenue from 233rd to East 213th Street, and west of White Plains Road to Carpenter Avenue between East 231st Street and East 225th Street and between East 222nd Street and East 219th Street - the proposed new zoning districts (R4, R4A, R5 and R5A) would protect the scale of the community, ensuring that future development is predictable. Along these streets, current zoning has allowed single-family detached homes to be demolished and replaced with larger attached, semi-detached, and multi-family developments. The proposed zoning would lower the FAR allowed to .9 or 1.25 from upwards of 1.65 and establish building height limits of 35 and 40 feet. Two of the proposed districts would limit new development to one and two-family detached houses, which are characteristic of the areas where this zoning is proposed.
On 117 blocks - between White Plains Road, Bronxwood Avenue, East 222nd Street and East 213th Street, along Bronxwood and Laconia Avenue from East Gun Hill Road and East 233rd Street, along White Plains Road from East 222nd Street to East 233rd Street and along East 233rd Street from Barnes Avenue to Paulding Avenue - new zoning would reinforce existing residential patterns and ensure contextual development consistent with the neighborhood character.
R6, R6A, and R7A with commercial overlays C1-4 and C2-4 are proposed to be mapped on sections of East Gun Hill Road, which is well served by transit and home to many local businesses, White Plains Road, an active commercial corridor with transit, and a portion of the major residential and commercial strip East 233rd Street. The new zoning would promote new housing and business opportunities and allow a FAR of 2.43 to 4, and building heights of 70 to 80 feet, compared to the current zoning which allows FAR of 1.25 to 2.43 with no set height limits.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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