Co-op City, Bronx

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Co-op City sits along the Hutchinson River

Co-op City is the largest cooperative housing development in the world. It is located in the Baychester section of the Borough of the Bronx in Northeast New York City. Situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, the community is part of Bronx Community Board 10. If it were a distinct municipality, instead of part of Bronx county, it would be the 10th largest "city" in New York State. Nearby attractions include Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach and City Island.

Construction began in 1968 and was completed in 1971. Its 15,372 residential units, in thirty-five high rise buildings and seven clusters of townhouses, make it the largest single residential development in the United States.^[1] It sits on 320 acres but only 20 percent of the land was developed, leaving many green spaces. The apartment buildings, referred to by number, range from 24 floors to as high as 33. The 236 townhouses, referred to by their street-name cluster, are 3 stories high and have a separate garden apartment and upper duplex 3-bedroom apartment.

This "city within a city" also has eight parking garages, three shopping centers, a 25-acre educational park (including a high school, two middle schools and three grade schools), power plant, a 4-story air conditioning generator and a firehouse. More than 40 offices within the development are rented by doctors, lawyers, and other professionals and there are at least 15 houses of worship. Spread throughout the community are six nursery schools and day care centers, four basketball courts and five baseball diamonds. The adjacent Bay Plaza Shopping Center has a 13-plex movie theater, department stores, and a supermarket.

The development was built on landfill; the original marshland still surrounds it. The building foundations extend down to bedrock through 50,000 pilings, but the land surrounding Co-op's structures settles and sinks a fraction of an inch each year, creating cracks in sideswalks and entrances to buildings.

Riverbay Corporation, is the co-op's core body and is lead by a 15-member board of directors. As a cooperative development, the tenants run the complex through this elected board. There is no pay for serving on the board. The corporation employs over 1000 people and has 32 administrative and operational departments to serve the development.

The complex has its own Public Safety Department with 89 sworn officers, which include field patrol, plainclothes detectives and EMT/AED certified members of the force. All members have also attained Peace Officer status by NY State because of their special training.

Co-op City has been managed by Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc. since October 1999. Before then, the property was run by in-house general managers.

Co-Op City as viewed from the east over the Hutchinson River.

There are two weekly newspapers serving the community: Co-op City Times (the official Riverbay paper) and City News.

1 History
2 Qualifications for Resident Application
3 Renovations
4 Ethnic make-up
5 Popular culture
6 Notable residents
7 See also
8 Footnotes
9 References
10 External links

Co-op City is on the site of Freedomland, a former amusement park. Prior to housing that theme park, a small municipal airport was established there.^[2] When traveling into the city southbound from Interstate 95, it is one of the first sights a traveler sees and a vivid example of New York's urban immensity.

The project was sponsored and built by the United Housing Foundation, an organization established in 1951 by Abraham Kazan and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. It was designed by cooperative architect Herman J. Jessor. The name of the complex's corporation itself was later changed to RiverBay at Co-op City.

The construction of the community was financed with a mortgage loan from New York State's Housing Finance Agency (HFA). The complex defaulted on the loan in 1975 and has had ongoing agreements to pay back HFA, until 2004 when it was financially unable to continue payments. New York Community Bank helped Riverbay satisfy its mortage obligation, except for arrears, by refinancing the loan later that same year. This led to the agreement that Co-op City would remain in the Mitchell-lama program for at least seven more years as a concession on the arrears.

Co-op City is situated in The Bronx. at the northeastern edge of New York City

Mismanagement, shoddy construction and corruption lead to the community defaulting on its loan in 1975. The original Kazan board resigned and the state took over control. Cooperators were faced with a 25 percent increase in their monthly maintenance fees. Instead, a rent-strike was organized. New York State threatened to foreclose on the property, and evict the tenants-- which would would mean the loss of their equity. But Cooperators stayed united and held out 13 months (the longest and largest in United States history) before a compromise was finally reached, with mediation from then Bronx Borough President, Robert Abrams, and then Secretary of State, Mario Cuomo. Cooperators would remit $20 million in back pay, but they would get to take over management of the complex and set their own fees.^[3]

The shares of stock that prospective purchasers bought to enable them to occupy Co-op City apartments became the subject of protracted litigation culminating in a United States Supreme Court decision United Housing Foundation, Inc. v. Forman, 421 U.S. 837 (1975).

In October 2006, Charles Rosen, who was the executive director of The Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club of Co-op City, and Jeff Aulenbach, a deputy executive director, pled guilty to charges of fraud and financial mismanagement. Rosen pleaded guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and forgery, and a misdemeanor count of obstructing government administration. Aulenbach pled to the same, except the forgery charge. They pocketed $1.2 million-- of which $875,000 was loaned to the then radio start-up Air America Radio (the money has since been paid back)-- of city funds meant to be used for social programs. The Boys & Girls Club of America cut ties with the Co-op City branch and New York City initially withheld $9.7 million, putting the club in danger of closing. Eventually, the organization reorganized-- replacing the director, board and 90 percent of its staff-- and reopened.^[4] Co-op City residents presented Bronx state Supreme Court Justice John Byrne with petitions and hundreds of letters asking for jail time, but-- in a plea deal-- Rosen was ordered to pay $38,575 and Aulenbach $32,363 in restitution to The Gloria Wise Club. Both also must pay a $5,000 fine to the City and Rosen will be barred from working for a (NY) non-profit for 3 years. Charlie Rosen had been a longtime and respected community activist, best known for leading the year-long Co-op City rent strike in the early 1970s. ^[5]

In September 2007, a report by the New York Inspector General, Kristine Hamann, charged that the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), which is responsible for overseeing Mitchel-Lama developments, was negligent in its duties to supervise the contracting, financial reporting, budgeting and the enforcement of regulations in Co-op City (and other M-L participants) during the period of January 2003 to October 2006. The report also chided Marion Scott management for trying to influence the Riverbay Board by financing election candidates and providing jobs and sports tickets to Board members and their family/friends-- all violations of DHCR and/or Riverbay regulations. The DHCR was instructed to overhaul its system of oversight to better protect the residents and taxpayer money.^[6]

In October 2007, a former board president, Iris Herskowitz Baez, and a former painting contractor, Nickhoulas Vitale, pled guilty to involvement in a kickback scheme. While on the Riverbay Board, Baez steered $3.5 million in subsidized painting contracts for needed work in Co-op City apartments, to Vitale's company, Stadium Interior Painting, in exchange for $100,000 in taxpayer money. They will be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2008. ^[7]

View from corner of Asch Loop/Co-Op City Blvd (See more photos at Webshots external link)

As of April 2007:

Must not have felony conviction(s)
Credit score of 700 or higher
Must not belong to the Section 8 program
Must not have another primary residence

Depending on number of rooms and occupants:

For a one-bedroom apartment you must earn a minimum of $22,968 and a maximum of $67,704
For a two-bedroom apartment-- $34,452 minimum, $85,608 maximum
For a three-bedroom apartment-- $45,936 minimum, $125,736 maximum
Seniors have a reduced minimum income of between $18,792 and $40,716

Within the first decade of the 2000s, the aging complex began undergoing a large-scale renovation, replacing piping, rehabilitating garages and all the roofs in the complex, upgrading the power plant, making facade and terrace repairs, switching to energy-efficient lighting and water-conserving technologies, replacing all 130,000 windows (and 4,000 terrace doors) in the apartments and all 179 elevators in the buildings. The word "renaissance" is being used to describe this period in Co-op City history.

Many of these efforts are also helping in the "greening" of the complex: the power-plant will be less polluting, the buildings will be more efficient and recycling efforts will become more extensive. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded its largest ever grant-- $5.2 million-- to the community under it's NY Energy $mart Assisted Multifamily Program.

In 2007, the power plant was in the process of upgrading from solely managing the electricity brought in from Con Edison to a 40-megawatt tri-generation facility with the ability to use oil, gas or steam (depending on market conditions ) to power turbines to produce its own energy. The final cost of this energy independence could be as much as $90 million, but it is hoped to pay for itself with the savings earned--with conservative estimates at $18 million annually-- within several years. Also, whatever excess power generated after satisfying the community's needs will be sold back to the electrical grid, adding another source of income for Riverbay.

Who would pay for these upgrades created a protracted dispute between Riverbay and the State of New York. ^[8] Co-op City was developed under New York's Mitchell-Lama Program, which subsidizes affordable housing. Riverbay charged that the state should help with the costs because of severe infrastructure failures stemming from the development's original shoddy construction, which occurred under the supervision of the state. The state responded that Riverbay was responsible for the costs because of its lack of maintenance over the years. In the end, a compromise had the state supplying money and Riverbay refinancing the mortgage, borrowing $480 million from New York Community Bank in 2004, to cover the rest of the capital costs. ^[9]

Co-op City's population is about 55,000 and the ethnic makeup equates to 55% Black/African American, 25% Hispanic(of any race) and 20% White(non-Hispanic). There is a large senior citizen block. ^[10]

Co-op City was home to a large Jewish community in its early years-- as well as Italian and Irish-- many of whom relocated from other areas of the Bronx such as the Grand Concourse. With African-Americans making up a large minority, as well, the community became known for its ethnic diversity. As early tenants grew older and moved away, the newer residents reflected the population of the Bronx, with African American and Hispanic residents becoming the majority. ^[11] In the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, the neighborhood received an influx of former Eastern Bloc emigres, especially from Russia and Albania. ^[12]

The closeup view of Co-Op City Buildings

On their 1996 album Factory Showroom, the band They Might Be Giants released a cover of a song called New York City (originally by a Canadian band named Cub). In their version, TMBG changed the lyric "Alphabet City" to "Co-op City".
Robert Klein sings that the Bronx is beautiful and specifically mentions Co-op City in "The Traveling Song"
The hip-hop song "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" by Nice & Smooth, released 1991 on the album Ain't a Damn Thing Changed, contains the lyric "I go to Bay Plaza and catch a flick". Bay Plaza is a large shopping mall adjacent to Co-op City, with a 13-screen movie theater.
In the Dark Tower novels by Stephen King, the character Eddie Dean is portrayed as being from Co-op City. In Dean's first appearance, in the second book, "The Drawing of the Three", Co-op City is correctly identified as being in the Bronx, while in later novels it is incorrectly portrayed as being in Brooklyn. King rectifies the discrepancy in the final novels of the series.
In the season-seven episode "Gone" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the detectives search for the body of a murdered witness leads them to a river in Co-Op City.
The novel Bloodbrothers by Richard Price takes place in Co-op City at a fictional address. Price's novel Freedomland takes its title from the amusement park that previously occupied the site.
The opening titles of the film Finding Forrester shows scenes in and around Co-op City.
The end of the film The Seven-Ups depicts areas just outside of Co-op City's Section Five.

Brian Ash - Screenwriter/producer (resided in Co-Op City from 1974 to 1993)
David Berkowitz - The "Son of Sam" Killer (resided in Co-Op City from 1968 to 1971)
Sean Nelson- Actor mostly know for his role in the HBO mini series The Corner and the 1994 film Fresh
Big Tigger- Radio and Television personality
Kurtis Blow - Old school hip hop pioneer (resided in the Broun Place Townhouses during the mid-1980s)
Eliot L. Engel, United States Congressman who represents New York's 17th congressional district.^[13]
Stanley Jefferson - Major League Baseball player from 1986 to 1991.^[14]
Queen Latifah - Actress, rap artist (resided in Co-Op City from 1980 to 1984)
Richard Price - Novelist, screenwriter.^[15]
Sally Regenhard, mother of Christian Regenhard, and activist for families of the victims of the September 11 attacks^[16]
Rod Strickland - NBA basketball player

^ A Walk Through the Bronx, WNET. Accessed June 18, 2007. "Co-op City is a middle income cooperative located in the northeastern corner of the Bronx and is it the largest single residential development in the United States. Completed in 1971, it consists of 15,372 residential units, in thirty-five high-rise buildings and seven clusters of townhouses."
^ Whitsett, Ross. "Urban Mass: A Look at Co-op City", The Cooperator. Accessed September 22, 2007. "Prior to Freedomland, the land occupied by Co-op City was reincarnated several times — first as the home of the Siwasnoy Indians, then as a cucumber farm and pickle factory, then as a failed municipal airport."
^ "Bronx Odyssey: From Rebel to Executive to Felon" "The New York Times". Accessed October 10, 2006.
^ "City Finds Widespread Fraud at a Bronx Charity" "The New York Times". Accessed October 6, 2006
^ "Ex-Leaders of Bronx Charity Avoid Prison in Fraud Case " "The New York Times". Accessed March 14, 2007
^ "An In-Depth Review of the Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s Oversight of the Mitchell-Lama Program" "State of New York Office of the Inspector General" September 2007
^ "Housing Co-Op Execs Guilty Of Bribery" "North Country Gazette". Accessed October 19, 2007
^ "Co-op City secures $480m loan to pay mortgage, finance repairs" "Real Estate Weekly". Accessed September 15, 2004"Many of the needed repairs stem from construction-related defects, and Co-op City residents and state officials have been arguing for years over who should pay for them."
^ "Residential Real Estate; Co-op City Hires Outside Managers" "The New York Times". Accessed November 5, 1999
^ "Community and Commerce A Look at the Bronx's CB 10" "The Cooperator: The Co-op & Condo Monthly" April 2007
^ "Co-op City Sets New Goal: Attract More Whites" "The New York Times". Accessed November 30, 1987
^ "Urban Mass: A Look at Co-op City" "The Cooperator: The Co-op & Condo Monthly" December 2006
^ Stanley, Alessandra. "Out of Cell (and Sickbed), Biaggi Tries Anew", The New York Times, September 12, 1992. Accessed October 28, 2007. "Mr. Engel, 45, a former teacher and State Assemblyman who grew up in Co-op City, where he still lives, is so subdued and unflamboyant that on Capitol Hill, where he serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, he is sometimes mistaken for a Congressional aide."
^ Coffey, Wayne. Former Met Stanley Jefferson struggles to cope with horror of life as 9/11 cop", New York Daily News, March 9, 2007. Accessed June 18, 2007.
^ Vanderbilt, Tom. "CITY LORE; Stagecoach Wreck Injures 10 in Bronx", The New York Times, September 1, 2002. Accessed October 11, 2007. "After a few years, the world's largest theme park, and New York's last, gave way to the world's largest housing development, Co-op City. Mr. Price, who joined the electrical workers' union, helped build it.... A year later, Mr. Price got an apartment in Co-op City: I wound up living in Freedomland, so to speak."
^ Cite error 8; No text given.