In a proposal that’s likely several years away from construction, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. unveiled his vision to generate more development by plating over existing open air rail yards dotted around the borough.

The concept served as the crux to his ten-page report on the promise three rail yards hold for development. And while two yards in the Concourse and Riverdale sections of the Bronx would work as pragmatic sites, Diaz zeroed in on the Concourse Yard, a breathtaking span in Bedford Park, as having “tremendous potential” in seeing any type of development. The yard houses the B, D and 4 lines, taking up 19 acres, though 13 acres of it would be plated for “new real estate,” said Diaz.

“New real estate where we won’t be displacing folks. New real estate where we could have commercial, residential, retail and the potential for expansion of Lehman College,” said Diaz, delivering remarks at Lehman College on Bedford Park Boulevard Feb. 3, which abuts the space.

The yard’s potential for re-configuration is derived mostly from its surrounding amenities. It’s home to the B, D, and 4 subway lines, along with schools and nearby hospitals. It’s also closest to the Kingsbridge Armory, set to be converted into the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. 

Diaz made his intentions for a platform over three rail yards known in his State of the Borough last year. Since then plenty of activity has happened behind the scenes, with Diaz speaking to elected officials on the likelihood this proposal can be completed.

“We know that it’s worked in other parts of the city,” said Diaz. “So why not look at the Bronx?”

So far, it has won the fervor of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, whose district overlaps with the yards.

“I’m very bullish on this,” said Dinowitz. “I actually proposed many years ago to the then school superintendent of schools in our district the idea of building schools there because District 10 was extremely overcrowded.”

Dinowitz envisioned part of the platform space to house Lehman College’s new parking facility as a way to replace the current lot that sits just near the Jerome Park Reservoir.

“I want that area where the parking is, and it’s a substantial bit of land on Goulden Avenue, turned into parkland,” said Dinowitz.

But Barbara Stronczer, president of the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, remained on the fence of seeing this project through, given its proximity to current residential buildings.

“My feeling is you have Scott Towers and you have Tracey Towers,” said Barbara Stronczer, president of BMCA. “They’re not going to be happy when they hear this, but we’ll see.”

While the report is high on vision, it’s light on mechanical engineering, the neighborhood’s environmental impact, and any level of endorsement from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the property.

Diaz admitted that the Authority “did not say that they support this, but I am comfortable in my many years with dealing with the MTA that they did not say, ‘no way, no how.’”

“We’ll take that for now. It’s the most positive they could be at this moment,” said Diaz.

The MTA sidestepped any hint at a commitment. Through spokesman Kevin Ortiz, the MTA simply said it has “communicated with the BP and we look forward to studying his report.”

Construction of the project is estimated between $350 and $500 million, and would require a public review process.

Decking MTA rail yards go back decades, with public agencies often taking the lead in evaluating its potential for development. The most pressing these days is at the Sunnyside Yards in Astoria, Queens, where the New York City Economic Development Corporation is assessing proposals that would deck the near 200-acre open yard. It’s the latest proposal in a long line of bids that have fizzled since the 1960s.

This observation stirred one reporter to ask whether this project, estimated to cost between $350 and $500 million, could take off by the time Diaz’s term expires in 2018.

“All we could do is get it started, and hopefully  with the next administration, be it the Bronx administration or the city’s administration, hopefully there will be that level of enthusiasm and that level of commitment to finish what was started,” said Diaz.

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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.