Community Board 11 approves for East River retail plan.

New York State Senator Olga Mendez (D-L, 28th District) is calling the decision by Community Board 11 to endorse plans to demolish the old Washburn Wire factory on 118th Street and Pleasant Avenue and build a $150 million retail complex a "victory for the community, a victory for our children and a victory for our future."

"The Community Board very carefully weighed the pros and cons of this plan, and when the moment of decision came, they fully understood that this is a proposal that will protect the community, generate jobs, remove a horrible eyesore and give the people of East Harlem its fair share of the economy," Senator Mendez said. "They should be congratulated for moving this project forward. This is a story of success that we need to continue to repeat to ensure that East Harlem continues to move forward, and we congratulate the developers of East River Plaza for their solid proposal."

The Senator was joined in supporting the project by neighborhood community leaders and organizations, including Hope Community, East Harlem Chamber of Commerce, East Harlem Council for Community Improvement, Concerned Citizens of East Harlem, East Harlem Triangle and Positive Work Force.

The founder of Positive Work Force, Lucky Rivera, said "Senator Mendez has galvanized the community into making its voice heard on this issue. This Washburn factory complex has contributed nothing but heartache to the community for decades. It is time to recycle it and to let everyone benefit from it."

Al Peterson, chairman of the Board of Directors of Concerned Citizens, said "As we stood as one before the Community Board, we will continue to stand in support of a project that will mean so much in powering our community into the next century. This is a wonderful victory that will enable us to make positive and powerful changes that will benefit all of East Harlem."

Henry Calderon, president of the East Harlem Chamber of Commerce, said "In the wake of this victory, we will continue to be heard on behalf of the East River Plaza project. We represent the economic lifeblood of our community, and we know what is at stake. The Community Board has helped chart the course and we will continue this effort to the next step and the next step until we are able to break ground."

"The days of Washburn Wire Factory threatening to steal our economic future and harm our personal safety are numbered," the Senator said. "East Harlem will be able to get its fair share of the jobs and investment now being felt in other city neighborhoods. The Community Board has done its part. We need to continue to do ours."

Building East River Plaza at the old Washburn site will create more than 1,500 new permanent jobs with the arrival of Costco and Home Depot stores as key anchors. These jobs will strengthen the quality of life for East Harlem, spark new housing starts and create additional investment.