The former Pelham Parkway Stables is moving towards its much-anticipated development.
The horse riding academy, formerly on Pelham Parkway South and Stillwell Avenue, was shut down after a multi-agency raid seized the property after it was discovered to have extended onto unmapped city streets belonging to the Department of Transportation.
With the help of Councilman James Vacca’s office and Community Board 11, the Department of Sanitation, DOT and Department of Parks and Recreation joined together to disable the stable.
This past week, CB 11 held a meeting with representatives from AIM Development Group and MJM Construction, to discuss possible housing development for the site.
The organization currently owns the adjacent property, 1600 Pelham Parkway South, but hopes to purchase more property to satisfy the parking needs for the project.
“Our idea is to build a rental project with moderate to middle income rents, and we hope to provide more than the 50 % parking because that is what the community needs,” said Sandra Acosta of AIM Development. “We have been talking with Einstein College of Medicine because they have a demand for housing for staff and students and we want to meet existing community needs.”
The area had been up-zoned by CB11, in the past, to attract upscale condominium development, but plans continue to be in the very early stages, and all options are still being considered.
“I know there are many people offering proposals at this point, but I am not supporting any of them until I hear directly from the community,” said Vacca. “Until something is decided, I would like to see that area kept green.”
According to John Fratta, district manager of CB11, a religious order, Nuns of Immaculate Conception, has expressed an interest in the parcel. A community garden, and a park area has not yet been ruled out either.
“The Mayor’s Office still would like it to be Park land, but we are urging them not to do that at this point,” said Fratta. “We are looking at a host of options right now and everything is up in the air.”
