GRAVE CONCERN
AT ST. PETER’S
Planned 11-story complex
may trample cemetery land
Bronx ‘cake therapist’ to
compete on Food Network show
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Even when there are no cakes
Your Neighborhood — Your News® February 10, 2019
baking in the oven, Melody Velez-
Ortega’s home offi ce and bakery is
permeated with a delectable and
sweet, batter-like aroma on Laconia
Avenue in Williamsbridge.
Naturally, that’s expected when
you’re the go-to baker for celebrities
like Fat Joe and Al Roker along with
many other A-listers.
This Monday, February 11
though, Melody will be the one in
the spotlight, appearing on Food
Network’s newest competitive show,
‘Winner Cakes All.’
Continued on Page 4
Her introduction to baking is an
unorthodox one; it began a decade
ago when Melody decided not to pursue
a career in forensic psychology
in the NYPD.
“I had no schooling whatsoever
for baking,” Melody said. “I love doing
anything creative from painting
to writing poetry and that’s why
baking came so naturally to me,” the
cake boss added.
Even though she’s technically
not a forensic psychologist, Melody’s
training defi nitely plays a role in her
new, tasty discipline at MDV Custom
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A major new development may be
coming to a site west of Westchester
Square, but not without some grave
concern.
While the project, which is
planned on land owned by St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church in Westchester
Square, will defi nitely go a long way
to addressing the current housing
shortage, the community is convinced
that the site was formerly a
16th century gravesite.
The historic landmarked
church’s development partner revealed
its plans for an 11-story affordable
building project to Community
Board 10 at a recent Housing
and Zoning Committee meeting.
Preliminary plans have the
building rising in two phases on
the church-owned parcel it plans
to lease to the developer, Bluestone
Organization, at 2450 Westchester
Avenue.
The fi rst phase is to include an
160,298 square feet building and another
at 104,512 square feet.
The entire project will bring approximately
363 new apartments to
the area.
Blondell
Commons
backed at
ULURP
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A local business improvement
district is backing the consruction
of an 11-story building in its
own backyard.
The Westchester Square BID
recently expressed strong support
for rezoning part of Blondell Avenue
to allow for the construction
of a 228-unit apartment building
with spaces for 225 automobiles.
BID representatives and some
community members testifi ed
at City Planning Commission’s
ULURP hearing on Wednesday,
January 30 in support of a proposed
zoning change for 1340
Blondell Avenue and surrounding
lots from M-1 manufacturing to a
R7A residential district.
“The BID is backing it because
it is good for the neighborhood for
a number of different reasons,”
said John Bonizio, Westchester
Square BID chairman.
From a commercial perspective,
the BID was able to negotiate
with the developer to get 225
spaces of underground parking
added to the project, said Bonizio,
adding that four years ago, it was
fi rst proposed with ground fl oor
retail without any parking.
“There is no other way we
are going to get parking in
Westchester Square,” said Bonizio.
“The city isn’t going to build
a municipal parking lot, and there
is nowhere to put a parking lot except
this particular space.”
Bonizio said he also believes
the BID is in strongly in favor of
the project because it will increase
the area’s population, making it
more likely there will be shoppers
for the BID’s retail stores. This is
badly needed, he said.
“The most important thing
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 14
Hip Hop Horray
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Windows of Hip Hop honored several
local hip hop icons during their annual Element of Hip Hop Awards
on Tuesday, January 29 at Pier 132. Fat Joe’s representative accepted the
proclamation from Borough President Diaz (r). Photo by Adiana Rivera
Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 15
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