BMNAR is batting 2 for 2 for the community

By Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq. When Kathy Zamechansky was sworn in as the 57th president to lead The Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMNAR), she pledged to have a stronger voice and presence in the communities we serve. Her idea is to build on the borough president's theme of "The New Bronx" by taking something old in the community and making it new. It is my job to take her ideas and turn them into programs and we did just that. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has grants available to local and state realtor associations to help them and their members make a community a better place to live and work by transforming unused public spaces into vibrant places. Working with several community leaders of Bronx Community Board 9 (BCB9), BMNAR applied for a Placemaking-Micro-Grant. The grant request was submitted to create a community mural/canvas that will reflect the culture and history of the Soundview neighborhood, a section of BCB9. BMNAR has partnered with William Rivera, chairperson for BCB9, and other stakeholders, on the mural project. The mural will be an addition to the Morrison Ave. Plaza Project. The plaza will be the first of its kind in the Bronx. The Morrison Ave. Plaza is adjacent to the Soundview/Morrison Ave. Train Station and business corridor on Westchester Ave. Before the end of 2014, we received the good news from NAR that BMNAR was awarded a $2,200 Placemaking-micro-grant. BMNAR was now one-for-one and the word spread quickly. Before we moved past our celebratory stage, William Rivera and I were already working on a more complex grant for BCB9. BCB9 is the largest of 12 community boards in the borough of the Bronx and it is the proposed home of the New Metro North Station, Soundview Ferry, York Movie Studio and other growth. William Rivera formed a Planning Committee to develop vision plans for the development, growth and improvement to his community board. The needs of BCB9 were in keeping with the principles of the Smart Growth Level 3 Grant offered by The National Association of Realtors (NAR) to provide support to community partners with land use policy and/or transportation changes. It is not easy to keep a community attractive and vibrant. Some areas face many daily challenges and are easy targets for community projects that may not be in their best interest. According to Kathy, "The needs of the community board, the proposed development and growth for the area and the commitment from stakeholders led the selection of the project. It is important for realtors to be involved in seeking available resources as they are in an ideal position to protect the interest of the community. Realtors are involved in building and preserving communities and projects such as this will enhance our role within our communities." NAR has gone through great lengths to make all its members aware of the resources that are available to help communities grow and flourish. NAR's resources, if used appropriately, will lead to positive and smart growth and that will enhance the Realtors' role within the communities they serve. With Kathy's approval, BMNAR's second grant request was submitted to NAR for a Smart Growth Level 3 Grant to help provide seed funding to carry out BCB9's vision. BMNAR once again went to bat for BCB9 and NAR awarded our collaborated effort with a $15,000 grant. The grant will be used to conduct five resident and three merchant workshops to engage with community members and business owners, and to foster a sense of community ownership. The grant will provide the funding for the consultants to conduct this process and gather data. The data collected from the workshops will be incorporated into the plan being created by the community board, which will become a policy framework guiding future budgetary, zoning and land use activities. Participating in the planning process will allow BMNAR to remain at the forefront of zoning and smart growth discussions in the community district with a high potential for home and commercial property sales. The planning effort is expected to facilitate the construction of affordable housing near the Metro North station and the use of waterfront for safe recreation and living space. Kathy is correct when she said that: "The grant provides BMNAR with the opportunity to show BCB9 that we believe in their vision and we are, indeed, partners in making the Bronx a better place for people to live and work." BMNAR will be playing a greater role in helping to change The Bronx landscape and increase the frequency of single family and cooperative apartment property sales, the leasing of commercial space and that will create a greater demand for BMNAR Realtors. BMNAR plans to enter the land use policy discussions at the outset to usher coveted business opportunities for our membership, establish robust relationships with local elected officials, and elevate the status BMNAR as trusted advisors. BMNAR has stepped up to the plate to bat for grant money for the communities we serve and we are two-for-two. With that batting average, Cooperstown here we come! Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq. is the association executive of BMNAR, Bronx, N.Y.