'I feel very disturbed about it.' Drama brews over upcoming dispensary in the Bronx
Victory Dispensary will be giving the Throggs Neck neighborhood two licensed cannabis stores a block apart.
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Some Throggs Neck residents are concerned about the upcoming opening of a new cannabis dispensary near the corner of East Tremont Avenue and Philip Avenue, which ownership tells News 12 is planned for some point before July.
"I feel very disturbed about it, and I hope I don't have to maybe eventually sell my house," said Fernando Cofresi, a longtime resident of the area.
Once Victory Dispensary opens, there will be two licensed cannabis stores a block apart.
"On this block, you have a lot of the same things, like you'll see there's a nail salon from block to block," said Shana Mojia, another resident, "So when I saw the first dispensary, I wasn't surprised to see there was a second one."
The application was approved by Bronx Community Board 10 last May, despite the objections of some residents, like Cofresi.
"If you look at certain neighborhoods that have brought those particular dispensaries up, the prices, the value of the houses go down," he said. "The area becomes a little 'fugazi' as New Yorkers say."
Neighbors also have concerns with the specific location, which has at least four schools within a half-mile radius.
People in the area say students like to take the bus to the corner where the dispensary will be, then hang out at the McDonald's across the street.
"(I'm worried about) the influence on the youngsters - (from) the non-desirables that come around," Cofresi said.
"We have the same concerns with liquor stores, smoke shops, this is just another thing to add to the list to as parents make sure we're educating our kids," Mojia agreed.
One of Victory's owners already has another dispensary in Manhattan.
In proposals and testimony to the Community Board, ownership promised armed security at all hours it is open, and ID scanning to make sure everyone coming inside is 21.
"It's really on the businesses to make sure that they're being ethical in their approach," said Mojia.
Owners also said the plan to hire 10-15 people, who will all be from Throggs Neck, and would help authorities locate illegal cannabis dealers in the area, which they warn could be selling unregulated and unlicensed products.
"Are they really gonna be able to do that? It could sometimes bring about violence," said Confresi. "You're talking about a competitive market. Whether it's illegal or not illegal, it's just a bad look for the neighborhood."
Proposals also said that on-site consumption will not be allowed.
