A map of current FRESH supermarkets. Image Credit: NYC DCP.

On February 1, 2023, the Department of City Planning updated the progress of the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health program with a new report, “FRESH By the Numbers.”. The Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (“FRESH”) program gives property owners the ability to construct slightly larger buildings in certain districts if the building includes a FRESH supermarket. The program targets neighborhoods that often lack access to fresh produce and other groceries, which can result in inequities and worse health outcomes for local residents. (more…)

DCP released a new interactive tool to identify areas in need of supermarkets. Image Credit: NYC DCP

Newest interactive tool helps communities evaluate supermarket needs. On August 2, 2019, the Department of City Planning launched the Supermarket Needs Index, a new interactive online map that shows fresh food store access across New York City. The map highlights which neighborhoods are underserved or lacking grocery store options. (more…)

Part of the rendering of 660 East Fordham Road. Image Credit: NYC CPC.

The building would be the first to offer inclusionary housing along this section of East Fordham Road. On January 5, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for a special permit application for 660 East Fordham Road that would facilitate the construction of an eleven-story mixed use commercial and residential building in the Belmont section of the Bronx. The current site features a parking lot, and one-story underused commercial space, including a vacant tax office. The applicant is Sean Daneshvar, represented by Erik Palatnik, P.C. (more…)

Councilmember Donovan Richards. Image credit: William Alatriste/NYC Council

Donovan Richards was elected to the City Council from the 31st District in February 2013.  When you speak with City Council member Donovan Richards, two things become readily apparent:  an encyclopedic knowledge of the needs of his Southeast Queens Council district and the drive to pursue solutions for each of those needs simultaneously.

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IDA approved $8.6 million in real estate and tax benefits for the first two supermarkets under the recently-created FRESH program. On February 9, 2010, the New York City Industrial Development Agency, a component of the City’s Economic Development Corporation, approved tax incentive packages to assist in the development of two new Bronx supermarkets. The financial incentives are the first awarded under the City’s Fresh Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program approved by the City Council in December 2009. The City created the FRESH program to provide zoning and financial incentives to encourage the development of supermarkets in areas identified as being under-served by stores offering a full range of fresh produce, meats, and dairy products. 6 CityLand 152 (Nov. 15, 2009).

The IDA awarded $3 million in real estate and tax benefits to Foodtown Supermarkets in order to build a new grocery store at 283 East 204th Street in the Norwood section of the Bronx. The 11,000 sq.ft. store will replace a 7,500 sq.ft. store destroyed by a fire in December 2009. The IDA approved incentives consisting of payments in lieu of City real property taxes, exemptions from City and State mortgage recording taxes, and exemptions from City and State sales and use taxes. (more…)