Riverdale Residents Rally Against Complex

By Alison Greaney

Riverdale residents rallied against efforts to build a 12-story building with 86 studio units at the site of a former gas station on Broadway. The proposal drew protests from the community because 26 units would be reserved for homeless and severely mentally ill individuals. Opponents of the construction at 6469 Broadway say such a requirement will have detrimental effects on the community.

Non-profits Self Help Community Services and Comunilife had teamed up on the development. According to the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement, in order to be eligible for funding of both the capital and ongoing operating expenses, there must be designated housing for “chronically homeless single adults who are persons living with HIV/AIDS and who suffer from a co-occurring serious persistent mental illness, a substance abuse disorder, or a MICA (mentally ill chemical abuser) disorder.”

The Broadway Community Alliance, which says its purpose is to work towards ‘responsible and appropriate development’ of Broadway in the community of North Riverdale, collected petitions to contest the construction.

The Alliance appeared to have gotten its way when Comunilife, an organization that manages housing for homeless adults with HIV/AIDS, serious mental and behavioral health issues, pulled out of the project.

At a community meeting held at Kelly Ryans Restaurant on September 3rd, Riverdalians gathered to express their concerns and get answers.

Some of the local officials present at the meeting were State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, and Councilman Oliver Koppell. Klein, who is opposed to the project, said he would “check government funding.” Dinowitz, who is also opposed, said, “The presence of MICA clients could lead to ‘bait and switch’ in the future.” At first he too thought the project was solely for senior citizens.

Both Klein and Dinowitz pointed out that Comunilife and Self Help have made changes to projects in the past. Another important factor that Klein and Dinowitz mentioned was the location. Being a former gas station it is classified as a ‘brown zone’ that means toxicity must be cleaned up before construction can proceed.

City Councilman Oliver Koppell said he supported the project and was booed repeatedly at the community meeting.