Victor Lema, DPW General Foreman, Strives to Ensure Quality of Life in Bronxville
By Carol P. Bartold
Jul. 29, 2015: "I'm constantly looking for things," said Victor Lema, general foreman at the Bronxville Department of Public Works (DPW). "I actually come here at all different hours and drive around. I try to see things that I can't see when the village is full of cars and people."
Lema, a native and still a resident of Ossining, joined the DPW ten years ago after a 12-year career in retail management. Operating his own bathroom and kitchen remodeling business piqued his interest in the construction aspect of public works.
"When I came to Bronxville," he said, "I fell in love with how beautiful the village is. That's what really drew me to Bronxville and made me say I have to be a part of this."
Lema and the DPW crews work on a "never-ending" to-do list of village projects large and small, as well as respond to emergencies. He noted that the more he drives around the village, the more things he notices that he wants to take care of. "I just want to get as much done as possible he said," acknowledging that sometimes there are not enough hours in the day.
"There is always something to be done," Lema said. "Weeding, cutting grass, building something, cleaning and repairing catch basins. We always have things besides emergencies to take care of."
Some of the larger current projects on the DPW's summer list include finishing the new curbing and sidewalk work on Paxton Avenue and tackling the replacement of the yellow brick roadway on Park Avenue. Lema said that he has met with the contractor for that job and the goal is to finish work before school reopens in September.
Lema explained that DPW has a vital role in the Kensington Road development project. The department takes an active part in the project when the contractors need streets or intersections blocked off to move large construction equipment onto or remove it from the site. "We have to coordinate with the police department and make sure residents' access is not interrupted," he said.
In addition, Lema said, DPW is responsible for ensuring that contractors at the Kensington Road site follow the proper steps to keep the general area clean and safe.
As well as repaving part of Paxton Avenue, the DPW plans to resurface Garden Avenue, Midland Avenue from the Midland Gardens driveway to just past the Kraft Avenue intersection, and Kraft Avenue from St. Joseph's Church to Midland Avenue. Lema added that, with plans for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Midland Valley Drainage Project hopefully moving ahead, he does not want to pave Midland Avenue any farther toward Pondfield Road only to have to rip it up.
"We really have to plan ahead when we know another project is coming up," Lema said. He described paving plans for Kraft Avenue as being dependent on Consolidated Edison, which intends to install new gas pipes beneath the street.
According to Victor Lema, "The Village of Bronxville has a certain standard that we have to maintain. That's one of the reasons I have really enjoyed working here. That standard is something I want to be part of."
Pictured here: Victor Lema.
Photo by N. Bower
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
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Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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