Promised South Bronx parkland could become affordable housing instead

When a bunch of parkland was demolished in the Bronx in 2006 to make way for the new Yankee Stadium, the city promised that it would replace the lost green space south of the new stadium. Now it seems the city might be going back on at least part of its promise, the New York Post reports.

Despite extensive delays, several park spaces have opened since the opening of the new Yankee Stadium in 2009. But just as it happened with Bushwick Inlet Park in Williamsburg, the city has not delivered entirely on its promise to replace all the parkland that was lost.

One particular section, according to the Post, is a four-acre lot on East 149th Street, which was supposed to be the last section of Mill Pond Park. Now it appears that the city wants to build housing on that site instead. Preliminary plans call for up to 1,045 apartments (both market-rate and affordable), along with some commercial space, according to the Post.

Local residents and activists are not happy about this move, and have approached City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (who represents this area) to nix the project as it makes its way through the city review procedure.

A spokesperson for the Speaker told the Post, that her office was reviewing the procedure, and would make a call after that.

About 25 acres of parkland had been displaced due to construction on the new Yankee Stadium, and 21 acres have been delivered so far, according to the Post. A member of the local community board told the paper, that the city should instead focus on developing affordable housing on some of the lots now used for Yankee Stadium parking.

• City backtracks on promise to build affordable housing units [NYP]
• In Shadow of Yankee Stadium, 3 Unfinished Ball Fields [NYT]
• Yankee Stadium Parkland Swap [GG]