In an effort to authorize an additional story and nine feet to its construction project at 2856 Webster Ave., New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) appeared before the Community Board 7 Housing/Land Use and Economic Development Committee monthly meeting on Tuesday.  They requested a letter from CB7 certifying support for the height increase.

Before presenting a slide show in conjunction with Douglaston Development, Aaron Bouska, NYBG’s vice president for community and government relations, publicly notified CB7 of its development plans.

“Tonight, I’m here to announce the partnership between NYBG, Cherry Valley Supermarket, Douglaston Development, and Fordham Bedford Housing to construct and manage a mixed use, inter-generational affordable housing development on property owned by New York Botanical Garden,” Bouska said.

The inclusion of Cherry Valley Supermarket is crucial to adding a 12th floor to the first building of the two-building development.  The city program known as Food Retail Expansion to Support Health Program (FRESH), allows developers along Webster Avenue to add a floor to the 11-story cap initially approved by the 2011 rezoning law.

During the public discussion segment concerns were raised as to how the local residents would benefit from the new buildings.

Some, like Anthony Rivieccio have noticed a pattern where new residential buildings fill up with more than 50 percent of tenants from other boroughs and less than 20 percent made up of locals.  “If this [new building] is for the community, as you indicated, is there any way within your plans jointly to be sure we get more than 20 percent,” Rivieccio asked.

John Garcia, executive director of Fordham Bedford Community Services, will be handling the lottery process for the new building.  He points to their past work at Serviam Gardens, Serviam Heights, and Serviam Towers as an example of how this project will be inclusive of Bronxites.

“We do extensive help with applications for all the buildings that we run,” Garcia said.  “[With] our projects, well over 50 percent of the people that live in our buildings have either walked to their application interview or they are from the Bronx.”

The general board of CB7 will take up a final vote on a letter of certification for the construction project on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Music Building on the Lehman College campus.