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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. September 2, 2014:

The regular monthly White Plains Common Council meeting convened  at City Hall with two public hearings scheduled that hold promise for future construction jobs and indicate gambles on the part of property owners on the future appeal of the city

The 55 Bank Street site.

The national developer LCOR presented its revised site plan for two mixed use residential buildings on the 55 Bank Street site which currently is the city municipal parking lot. The site plain is a revision of a site plan originally approved by the Common Council in 2007 during the Delfino Administration.

The new LCOR proposal suggests two  16-story apartment rental buildings with 6,000 square feet of retail,  and 561 rental units with 20% of them designated as affordable housing. The North building would be built first, then after that the South structure will be started. A 120 room hotel is also viewed as part of the site, but is not firm at this time, however 86 parking spaces will be included for the hotel as part of the underground parking structure providing for the two buildings. Previously the parking structure was to be above ground.,

According to papers, LCOR is up to date on its payment for the commuter parking lot. However whether they have paid $16 Million as originally obligated, has not been confirmed by the city and the LCOR public relations agency , Quinn, Incorporated, previously declined comment on whether the commuter municipal parking lot property was completely paid for, or still owed the city money for the lot. LCOR negotiated the postponement of their last two payments until construction started, which is expected to begin “as soon as possible.”

The WP Pavilion site

The Urstadt Biddle Dream: rendering of the City Within a City seen from across Maple Avenue, looking West North West.

The White Plains Pavilion owners, Urstadt Biddle presented their requests for the rezoning of the Pavilion site to allow a hotel, residential buildings up to 20 stories,and retail in a “City within a City” development on the site of the present Pavilion mall. The Carhart Neighborhood Association spoke in favor of the rezoning last month, but have concerns about the density and height of the proposed “City Centerish” type project.

The most interesting item on the consent agenda is a capital project authorizing  $10.1 Million to shore up the Kensico Reservoir dam in White Plains to, according to the legislation, “reconstruct the City’s water reservoir dams to comply with one-half a probable maximum flood event…Work to be done includes the primary spillways of reservoirs one and two, as well as reconstructive work to auxiliary spillways and gatehouses. “

The city is applying to the Environmental Facilities Corporation for financing the entire cost of the project. The Environmental Facilities Corporation is the agency that recently financed a  $511 Million loan towards the new Tappan Zee Bridge project.