by Oliver Hill
Narration: When the city announced last year that it would finally answer community calls to rezone Sherman Creek, local residents of this predominantly Dominican neighborhood hailed a victory.
The city appointed Mathew Wambua of the Economic Development Corporation and Eric Wilson of the City Planning Commission as project managers, but the real creative energy has come from community members themselves through forums such as the bilingual planning workshop held at P.S. 176 last Saturday.
///Open up to housing workgroup discussing possibilities///
Wilson says Saturday's workshop was the most exhaustive forum to date, aimed at giving the community voice.
Tape: Wilson
WE SORT OF PUT TOGETHER SOME PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE CITY COULD POSSIBLY DO AND THIS IS REALLY A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD ON THOSE, TO DISMISS THEM, OR TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE PART OF THEM, OR TO CHANGE THEM OR TO COME UP WITH TOTALLY NEW IDEAS.
Narration: Community Board Chairman Zead Ramadan says empowering the community with inclusion creates the optimal democratic process.
Tape: Zead Ramadan
A GREAT FEAR WAS THAT OUTSIDERS, PEOPLE NOT FROM OUR COMMUNITY WOULD PARACHUTE INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND DICTATE TO US WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE DEVELOPED THERE.
Narration: Walter Delgado is Director of the Audobon Partnership, a local economic development organization that helped spearhead the effort to transform Sheman Creek. Delgado envisions a central role for his organization and says he's flattered the City adopted his efforts.
Tape: Delgado
WE'D LIKE TO SEE OURSELVES AS THE UH, IF YOU WILL AS THE SPONSOR, OR CO-SPONSOR, IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IT'S THE CO-DEVELOPER ROLE, SO THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN ESTABLISHING THE PARAMETERS FOR THAT PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND THAT PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE AIMING AT.
Narration: While Delgado hopes to secure a preeminent role for his Audobon Partnership, the collaborative nature of the project is designed to ensure equal voice for all. This collaborative spirit led to a great variety of topics for discussion at the workshop, from bus routes, to the height of buildings along the river.
Tape: Amanda Burden, Chair City Planning
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL TO UNDERTAKE A PLANNING WORKSHOP LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S AN INTERAGENCY EFFORT, AND WE CONSIDER IT AS A MODEL.
///Open up Zead/Steve/Ydanis discussing building height///
///Fade Under///
Narration: The New York Restoration Project was responsible for rehabilitating swindlers cove, an inlet adjacent to the Sherman Creek Development site. In the spring of this year, a boat house will be built there, and Joe Pupello, the Restoration Project's Director, says the two sites will provide a recreational draw.
Tape: Joe Puppelo, Director, New York Restoration Project
THE HARLEM RIVER IS THE ONLY WATER BODY OF ITS KIND IN THE CITY AND TO BRING THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AND KIND OF WATERFRONT ACTIVITY AND RECREATION IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY CAN ENJOY AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD'S GONNA BE PROUD TO BE THE HOST OF.
Narration: As more and more of New York City is eaten up by developers looking for their next jackpot, the Sherman Creek development project is giving hope to Inwood residents that being priced out of their homes, is not the only possible outcome of neighborhood investment.
For Columbia Radio News, I'm Oliver Hill.