SENATOR KLEIN, ASSEMBLYMAN SEPULVEDA, ASSEMBLYMAN CRESPO, COUNCILWOMAN PALMA & CASTLE HILL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCE STOP WORK ORDER for “HOT SHEET MOTEL”

BRONX, NY - State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda (D-Bronx), Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx), and Councilwoman Annabel Palma joined the Castle Hill Neighborhood Betterment Association, community leaders and residents Thursday to announce that a stop work order has been secured to halt construction of a suspected “hot sheet motel” at 2338 Bruckner Blvd.

The announcement was the latest development in ongoing efforts by Senator Klein, Assemblyman Sepulveda, Assemblyman Crespo, Councilwoman Palma and the Castle Hill Community to address the construction of a motel in an area where there are no local businesses or restaurants that call for local accommodations, thus serving as a potential breeding ground for illicit and potentially criminal activity.

“I continue to have serious concern over the development of a Days Inn Motel that would provide day rates, creating the potential for a “hot sheet motel” at 2338 Bruckner Boulevard. We know from multiple past experiences that these types of establishments breed not only illicit but potentially illegal activity and hurt otherwise strong communities. I am pleased that the NYC Department of Buildings has issued this stop work order and is taking the matter under careful review,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.

“I commend the of Department of Buildings for their responsiveness to this issue in our community. The residents of Castle Hill have shown that they will not let unscrupulous businesses into their neighborhood without having a seat at the table. This stop work order shows that when communities and elected officials work together we can have a serious impact on decision making,” said Assemblyman Sepulveda.

“I am proud of my colleagues Senator Klein, Assemblyman Sepulveda and Councilwoman Palma for their diligence as well as the community organizers who worked so hard to address this issue. Too many of our communities are threatened by these type of unwelcome and potentially dangerous ‘hot sheet motels.’ This stop work order should send a strong message to this developer and others that we will organize and fight back every step of the way when the communities concerned are not addressed,” said Assemblyman Crespo.

“The apparent cycle of hotels being eventually converted into “hot sheet” motels, in order to remain economically viable, occur all too often in the Bronx. While the Days Inn is a respectable brand in the hotel industry, the questionable location of this site will easily attract illegal activity due to the lack of appropriate local infrastructure to adequately service the area. I fully support the Castle Hill residents in their efforts to stop this motel from opening at this location,” said Councilwoman Palma.

“The Castle Hill Neighborhood Betterment Association is elated that our hard work is paying off and that a stop work order has been issued against the motel. We will continue addressing all issues affecting our community,” said Castle Hill Betterment Association member and resident Fernando A. Panate.

The announcement comes on the heels of a letter Senator Klein sent to the NYC Department of Buildings Bronx Borough Commissioner, dated September 29, 2014, stating that he believed the approved plans for construction of a hotel at the 2338 Bruckner Blvd site were made in error. On October 1, 2014 the NYC Department of Buildings notified Klein’s office that a stop work order had indeed been issued on the property.