U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a slew of Bronx lawmakers slammed rail transportation giant CSX for walking away from a deal to sell unused land in Kingsbridge to the city so it can be converted into a greenway and bike path.

“We cannot allow this project to be delayed just because CSX wants to squeeze a few more pennies out of the community,” Schumer said at a news conference Oct. 17 held at the West 238th Street overpass near Broadway. “We are telling them, asking them to come back to the table or else.”

What “or else” meant was unclear and none of the Bronx politicians seemed to be able to identify what sort of penalty CSX would face for refusing to negotiate. A powerful Senator, Schumer indicated he could cause trouble for the rail company (the federal government regulates railroads) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat–whose district falls within the CSX property in question–said he hoped to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee starting next year, but neither official would be able to do much unless Democrats win majorities in Congress next month.

“For now, CSX should exit out,” Espaillat said. “Exit out of the way and allow this community to have what they want.”

The land runs parallel to Tibbetts Brook and was the site of tracks for the commuter train “Putnam Line” that was shut down in 1958. The city hopes to turn it into a greenway and bike trail that would connect similar parks in Manhattan and Westchester County.

“What have they been doing with this beautiful and valuable land? Nada. Nothing,” Schumer said, his transition into Spanish earning him groans and eyerolls from the Spanish-speaking elected officials in attendance. “We brought CSX and the city to the negotiating table. Everyone agreed to have an independent appraiser. The city… was willing to buy the land.”

Councilman Andrew Cohen, whose district covers the proposed greenway, brought the issue to Schumer’s attention last year after nearly a decade of stops and stars. Schumer said the city brought CSX to the negotiating table and offered to the buy the land. The price of the land would be determined by an independent appraiser. Although the elected officials said the price was a “fair amount” they were not at liberty to name either the appraiser or the price.

“CSX gave their word,” Cohen said. “Their conduct is really, really shameful… We’re not asking them to give it, though they should give it. The city is willing to pay.”

Cohen credited two groups, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, for bringing the inactive land to his attention. Cohen also said if the city purchased the land, Tibbetts Brook could be redirected into the Harlem River, which would help reduce sewer overflow and flooding on Broadway. Currently, the brook flows into the Bronx sewer system.

“CSX has a long history of working with the City of New York on property transactions that support their long-term goals and allow CSX to focus on its core business,” a spokesperson for CSX said in a statement. “We remain committed to discussing any potential property transaction and working to find a mutually beneficial resolution.”

“When our community needs help our elected officials show up,” Community Board 8 Chairperson Rosemary Ginty said. “This shows it.”

Notably absent was state Sen. Jeff Klein, whose district also covers the piece of land. Klein has made no public statements or appearances since he lost in the Democratic primary on Sept. 13. At one point, Schumer began to introduce a state Senator only to look around and realize no one was there to be introduced. The media contact number for Klein’s office is defunct, calls to his Albany office went unanswered, and a message left at his Bronx office was also not returned.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.