NEW YORK CITY-Given high demand from tourists and need for job growth in Grand Concourse, Bronx officials are hoping to hit a grand slam for the local economy by attracting a new hotel and conference center next to Yankee Stadium. Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. is seeking proposals to develop River Ave. and E. 153^rd St., a site that currently houses a parking garage managed by the Bronx Parking Development Co. near the ballpark.

“For years, my office and the BOEDC have heard from both developers and hotel operators expressing their desire to develop a new hotel and conference center in the vicinity of Yankee Stadium,” Diaz said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

The BOEDC released a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) that specifies that developers must include a LEED-certified hotel and conference center, at least one high-end penthouse level restaurant, a concierge or condo level for long-term stays and a retail component in their applications. The developers are also asked to consider including a Latino Baseball Hall of Fame on the property, which buffers Heritage Field. “This RFEI will show the city just how much interest there is in this site,” Diaz added.