SQUARE BOOK
PLAN SHELVED
Library for Huntington
Free Library site in doubt
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
The plan to build a new public
library in Westchester Square
may be DOA.
The trust that runs the
Huntington Free Library in
Westchester Square was informed
on Monday, March 4 by the city
that there has been additional
delays in fi nalizing the deal that
would have had the city purchase
5 Westchester Square in order to
turn it over to the New York Public
Library to construct a new east
Bronx library center.
The new glass-cladded library
would have been sited adjacent to
Huntington Free Library’s historic
reading room and museum
at 9 Westchester Square.
The city recently informed
HFL that due to a ‘huge fi nancial
shortfall’ the library doesn’t want
to move forward with the land
purchase until the funding situation
is resolved, said Tom Casey,
HFL president.
The HFL has been in contract
with the city for about three years
Mott
Haven
historic
district
turns 50
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A historic district that boasts
19th century town houses and
classic buildings is celebrating
its golden anniversary.
The Mott Haven Historic
District, will celebrate its 50th
anniversary on Monday, July
29.
The historic district, near
Alexander Avenue and parts
of surrounding blocks between
East 137th Street and East 141st
Street, will celebrate with a program
that’s still being planned
at the Mott Haven Library between
6 and 8 p.m., said Samuel
Brooks, Mott Haven Historic
Districts Association president.
Brooks, who fi rst moved to
the community in 1975, added
that another of its historic districts,
Mott Haven East, would
be celebrating its 25-year anniversary
as well. Mott Haven
East is situated on East 140th
Street between Willis and
Brook avenues.
A similar historic district
in Greenwich Village consisting
mostly of town homes was
designated by the city in April
1969, around the same time as
Mott Haven’s oldest district, but
the Mott Haven district doesn’t
receive as nearly as much attention,
said Brooks, adding he
hopes that this will change.
“Coincidently, we are turning
50 and not that many people
know this,” said Brooks, adding
that obviously Greenwich Village
is vigorously celebrating
their anniversary, and that the
How the Amazon deal would
have benefi ted the borough
BY ALEX MITCHELL
When Amazon backed away
from building a sequel headquarters
in Long Island City on a
heartbreaking Valentine’s Day, it
spelled out not only bad news for
Queens, but likely the Bronx as
well.
Given the rapid, vibrant transformation
that the south Bronx has
undergone in recent years, specifi -
cally Port Morris and Mott Haven,
some Bronx real estate investors
and experts believe the deal would
Continued on Page 4
have benefi tted the new and ever
improving borough.
“Amazon opening a second
headquarters in Long Island City
would have essentially guaranteed
a spillover effect to the south
Bronx,” said Jonathan Yunason,
president of 925 Capital, a Manhattan
based development fi rm that
specially develops commercial
properties in the south Bronx.
Since December, he’s invested
in two additional south Bronx
Your Neighborhood — Your News® March 10, 2019
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 18
Acrobatic Artistry
Bronxites’ incredible feats of acrobatic prowess were on full display at
the American Turner Club’s annual Gymnastic Show on Sunday, March 3.
Olivia Verde showcased her skills on the parallel bars. See photo spread
on page 12. Photo by Laura Stone
Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 19
Vol. 8 No. 10 UUPPUDDPAADTTAEETDDE DEE VVEEEVRREYYR YDD AADYYA YAA TTA TBB XXBTTXIITMMIEMESSE..SCC.OOCMMOM