BP Diaz, Congressman Serrano, and Diego Beekman Tenants Rally Against Proposed Jail site at Current NYPD Tow Pound

BP Diaz, Congressman Serrano, and Diego Beekman Tenants Rally Against Proposed Jail site at Current NYPD Tow Pound
By Robert Press

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said “Make no mistake: Rikers Island is a stain on the soul of the city. We all agree that it must close. But if a new jail is to be built in the Bronx, our borough’s interests should not be steamrolled in the Land Use process.” He added “Any new site for a jail in this borough must be thoroughly vetted, and the people of the Bronx and their elected Leadership must have a say in its selection.”

BP Diaz points to the Diego Beekman proposal as he speaks.

Congressman Jose Serrano said “I haven’t given up our side of the fight,” adding “Mr. Mayor, I join our Borough President in saying to you: rethink this. We don’t want it here. We want Diego Beekman to keep growing, and we want our community to keep growing.”

Ms. Arline Jacobs-Parks, CEO and Vice Chair of the Diego Beekman Mutual Housing Association said “Here at this historic site, steps away from three schools, homeowners, and our 38 building Diego Beekman Housing Complex, we are gathered here to tell Mayor de Blasio and the members of the City Council that we need real transformational investment.” She added “We need the Diego Beekman Neighborhood Development Plan. That’s why we are standing together to tell Mayor de Blasio – Yes to housing, jobs, fresh food, and economic opportunity. No to the jail at this site!”

The Apartment/Shopping building as suggested for the site by Diego Beekman.

The site at the corner of East 141st Street and Concord Avenue was the original site of Lincoln Hospital. When the new Lincoln Hospital was built the city turned the empty lot into the Bronx NYPD Tow Pound. Now the city wants to move the tow pound to an undisclosed location, and turn this into a new Bronx Jail by the time the Rikers Island Prison is closed by the city.

The current use of the site, the NYPD Bronx Tow Pound.

Diego Beekman wants to build affordable housing and shopping on the site. Diego Beekman manages 100,000 apartments nationwide. 6,000 are in NYC with 2,300 in the Bronx.

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