WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. May 20, 2006: The Ritz-Carlton announced today the Maryland based posh hotelier would be managing both towers of the Louis Cappelli Ritz-Carlton Westchester, and released details on their new hotel in greater depth.

 

Louis Cappelli Indicates the start to the foundation of the Hamilton Street Tower

on the Ritz-Carlton Site. The Ritz-Carlton announced they would also be

 managing the second tower on the site Thursday. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

The Ritz official statement issued Thursday, provided juicy details about the Ritz-Carlton,

Westchester. The two towers of the project will rise from the 10-level podium, showcased

 by Louis Cappelli before the Common Council in a whirlwind surprise appearance 

 Wednesday evening. The Ritz states there will be more than 400 private condominiums

split between the two towers occupying the now announced 940,000 square foot project.

The Ritz announced its intention to run Tower two on the Hamilton Avenue side in addition

to the Main Street Tower  Thursday.

Late Thursday evening, the shocked, but amiable White Plains Common Council has not officially approved the increase in square footage of 50,000 feet, having they say, no prior knowledge of the plan, and having just been informed of  the details Wednesday evening after the podium has already been constructed to the 10-story base, and awaits transformation into the magic that is The Ritz-Carlton world.   Common Council sentiment all  but committed to the changes in the project once they got over their shock Wednesday evening and were informed by the Mayor that the Building Commissioner had approved the changes as minor changes in the site plan.     The Council had been presented with a fait accompli, the new “podium” already being built to 10 stories according to Ritz-Carlton standards, according to Mr. Cappelli. Mr. Cappelli took  WPCNR on a tour of the site Wednesday evening. He and Bruce Berg, his right hand man said the new plans were devised within the last three weeks leading up to the Ritz-Carlton announcement Wednesday.   A rough night for the Council.   Cappelli, conducting WPCNR on a tour of the site after the Wednesday evening meeting said the Common Council had to decide the level of involvement they wanted in ongoing construction changes. He said he considered his changes (adding 15 feet/two floors to the Podium to speed construction), minor and they had been cleared by the Commissioner of Building, Michael Gismondi at the time, which he recalled as three to four months ago.   Cappelli said there would be no additional traffic impact from the changes he is requesting. He could not, he said,  take the extra 50,000 square feet of space Ritz-Carlton requires out of the second tower area because it would upset the economcs of the project. He stressed the changes were key to keeping Ritz-Carlton on board because the Ritz required these amenities.    He characterized his requested changes to Councilperson Rita Malmud as “a no-brainer.” He also said he was interested in negotiating a quid pro quo with the city in exchange for the requested site plan change, when Malmud, the councilperson most disturbed at the surprise nature of the site plan change. Cappelli said it was the right time to be asking the council for the changes since the towers had not been built yet.   Louis Cappelli, Center, with his right hand man, Bruce Berg, left, and Mark Weingarten, his trusty attorney after his blockbuster presentation Wednesday evening at City Hall. Photo, WPCNR News.   After Wednesday’s Council meeting, Cappelli took the opportunit to show WPCNR the construction to better explain the plans.     The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester — Rough Guide   The Podium, Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in the making, Wednesday evening. Photo, WPCNR News.     The lobby will be on street level, Cappelli said.  On the second and third levels, will be a ballroom with a capacity for 600 persons plus meeting space taking up 10,000 square feet. Located below the pool on the top out of the “podium” will be a 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center for the use of hotel guests.   The remainder of the 30,000 square feet will be devoted to a second fitness center of undetermined size  in the first tower near Main Street, Cappelli said, for use of the residents of the first tower,  the restaurant and kitchen on the mechanical deck at the 408 foot level, and administrative offices one floor below the lobby to handle the Ritz catering and hospitality staff.     Installing the fitness center in the “Podium” and the ballroom height required the extra 15 feet (two floors) added to the podium.  It is not known at this time if a third fitness center will be built for residents of the second tower committed to Thursday by the Ritz.       Rendering of the Ritz, indicating approximate locations of the additions to the site plan described by Mr. Cappelli. PhotoTags by WPCNR, Photo Courtesy, Cappelli Enterprises.     In addition, Cappelli reported the swimming pool on the roof would be made all-weather  with a glass enclosure. This glass enclosure would lead to more hotel guest residences quartered in the first tower. Ritz-Carlton reports today to the media that stories  1 to 10 are devoted to the podium and stories 11 to 40  in  each condo residential tower would be devoted to The Residence-condominiums.     The Ritz provided more detail in today’s news announcement, reporting that the first tower would contain 32 condominium hotel units (which the news release did not define), and 175 residences. In Mr. Cappelli’s talk with the Common Council, he noted that the hotel would take a portion of the first tower. There are 123 Guest Rooms planned for the luxury hotel.         At the Common Council Meeting Wednesday night, Mr. Cappelli asked for an extra eight feet on the Condominium Tower(s); and asked to put a restaurant surrounding the white mechanical structure on the roof of the 408 foot condo tower on the Main Street side. The beacon at right tops out at 496 feet. Photo Tags by WPCNR News. Photo Courtesy Cappelli Enterprises.

The Complete Ritz-Carlton, Westchester Package. Rendering, Courtesy, Cappelli Enterprises.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. May 17, 2006: Mayor Joseph Delfino, observing last night’s Planning Board meeting stopped to chat with WPCNR and confided that the city has finally worked out the problems dealing with emergency access to the Wal-Mart Main Street site, which the Mayor said had been delaying matters. The Mayor was pleased to announce that Wal-Mart will be opening July 15, saying it will take Wal-Mart five weeks to stock the store. He also noted that Wal-Mart was opening 30 stores around the country in 30 days, but was confident the store would be open by the July date.

Waiting for Wal-Mart: Mayor Delfino announced good news on the big W on Main Street (slightly to the right of City Hall) last night.  Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR from Cappelli Enterprises with WPCNR Reporting (Edited) May 16, 2006, UPDATED 11:26 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED 1:15 A.M. E.D.T.: Louis Cappelli announced today The Ritz-Carlton will operate and manage the hotel and condominium complex the Super Developer is building at 221 Main Street in White Plains. Not only will The Ritz operate the hotel, but it will also manage one of the 40 story condominium complex soaring above the hotel located between Main Street and Hamilton Avenues in White Plains. The  make-up of the residential second tower planned in the complex, according to a Cappelli spokesperson, is still to be determined and will not at this time be managed by The Ritz Carlton. Bruce Berg, speaking to WPCNR Tuesday evening said that it was likely The Ritz would, though, be managing the second tower.

The Ritz-Carlton Westchester and The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Westchester, (showing one tower of the two-tower complex). View is looking East. In foreground is the Court Street extension and entrance to the hotel. Rendering, Courtesy, Cappelli Enterprises.

Model of two condominium towers above The Ritz-Carlton Westchester, as photographed in November. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and developer Louis R. Cappelli today announced the plans for a 123-room luxury hotel with more than 400 private condominiums. The complex will be named The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester and The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. The  $400 million project is currently under construction at the intersection of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue.

 

The Ritz Rises on site between Main Street and Hamilton Avenue. Photo taken last week.

 

Housed within two 40-story towers, the hotel and residences will be a landmark structure, designed by the architectural firm of Costas Kondylis and Partners of New York City, with interiors by renowned Interior Designer, Frank Nicholson. The two soaring towers will rise from the 10-level hotel podium, with stories 11-40 containing The Residences.

 

The expected opening date of the first tower, with 213 residences and 23 condominium-hotel units is early 2008. 

 

Closeup of the Court Street Extension and entrance to The Ritz-Carlton Westchester. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

 

Renaissance Square Amenities Detailed. Two, Two Restaurants, Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

 The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is part of the 940,000 square foot complex called Renaissance Square, being developed by Louis R. Cappelli, with a 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center; two fine dining restaurants, and 10,000 square feet of meeting and special event space.

 

One of the restaurants will offer spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, Long Island Sound, and the Hudson Valley from its location 400 feet above the ground atop one of the towers.

 

A Cappelli spokesman said a glass elevator will climb one of the condominium towers and that the hotel would contain a 600-guest ballroom, and have a “Wintergarden” feature on Main Street.

 

 

The Ritz Rising on Main Street, last week. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

Ritz Rajah Speaks.

 

“I believe Westchester is an important location to enhance the portfolio of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company,” said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer. “Many Fortune 500 companies have a presence in the region, and it is a very attractive place to live for affluent consumers who enjoy the proximity to Manhattan in an exclusive suburban setting,” he added.

Super Developer Makes Prestigious Choice

 “We spent a great deal of time evaluating the options for this site. The Ritz-Carlton brand truly stands alone; it is associated worldwide with the finest reputation for luxury hotels and residences,” said Louis R. Cappelli. The five star luxury lifestyle, level of design, amenities, and services we will offer hotel guests and condominium owners is unprecedented in any Manhattan suburb.”

 

Delfino, Spano Awed: “Going Downtown” Now Means Going to White Plains.

 

White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino stated, “The arrival of Westchester’s first luxury hotel in White Plains is another significant sign of the City’s continuing resurgence, economic strength and prestige. The project will generate approximately 1,000 construction jobs and more than 150 permanent jobs.   The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester will help attract visitors from across the country to White Plains.”

 

Speaking to WPCNR Tuesday evening, Mayor Delfino said “The signing of The Ritz-Carlton is truly prestigious for White Plains and it compliments all we’ve done.”

 

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano noted, “The new concept of ‘going downtown’ means going to White Plains, not Manhattan. The fact that The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has chosen White Plains for their first suburban location further validates the growing importance of White Plains and Westchester County as among the most prestigious locations in the Northeast.” 

 

Selling Agent Selected.

 

“The opportunity for condominium owners to access facilities of The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester while enjoying their own private and abundant amenities is truly unique in Westchester County,” said Adrienne Albert, President of The Marketing Directors, Inc., the exclusive selling agent of the residences. “The combination of the Ritz-Carlton Brand and Louis Cappelli’s exciting and unique building design will offer hotel guests and condominium purchasers the luxury and quality product not found anywhere in the region”.

 

The Ritz-Carlton Comes Back.

 

When Louis Cappelli first started talking bringing in a hotel for White Plains, he had The Ritz-Carlton in mind, and now his original choice has joined forces with him. During approvals for the project, Mr. Cappelli showed the Common Council a letter from Ritz-Carlton expressing serious interest in the project. Mr. Cappelli’s first choice has now come aboard. Bruce Berg said Mr.Cappelli personally had traveled to Maryland to convince Ritz-Carlton’s Mr. Cooper that the 221 Main Street complex was right for The Ritz. Mr. Berg said the two chief executives got along very well and Mr. Cappelli’s personal touch brought Ritz-Carlton into the 221 project.

 

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., (USA) currently operates 61 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over 20 projects are under development around the globe with hotel openings planned for Moscow, Ireland, and two in Beijing over the next year.  The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service.

 

Cappelli Enterprises is an acknowledged leader in creating and building major innovative mixed-use redevelopment projects in White Plains including the highly successful City Center, Trump Tower, One City Place and The Lofts at City Center.  The company has redevelopment projects that are reshaping other downtown areas across Westchester and Fairfield Counties.

 

White Plains joins the prestigious list of newly announced Ritz-Carlton locations, which include Shanghai, The Bahamas, Costa Del Sol and Doha. 

 

The Ritz-Carlton commitment to White Plains, beats Hilton Hotels  to the White Plains downtown, while preventing Starwood Hotels from securing a base in downtown White Plains where Starwood has its world headquarters. 

 

Hilton a little late.

 

Hilton Hotels had been spoken of as having been looking at land beside the Metro North railroad off Bank Street, but a spokesperson for Hilton Hotels told WPCNR that it is Hilton’s policy to not speak of locations under consideration. The spokesman last week would neither confirm that Hilton was eyeing White Plains or was not considering sites within the city. Hilton already runs the Rye Town Hilton adjacent to White Plains. 

 

Originally a Hilton spokesman first told WPCNR Hilton had been looking at the Bank Street property, but was no longer interested. Then a spokesman called WPCNR back to say Hilton’s policy was not to comment until a signing has been made, indicating that Hilton is not necessarily out of the White Plains market, and could be still in the hunt for hotel property in White Plains. He indicated Hilton always took a careful look to assure they do not cannibalize existing Hiltons in any one area. Hilton runs both the Rye Town Hilton and a Hilton in Tarrytown.

Hits: 0

WPCNR’S CAPITOL DISTRICT DAILY . From Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 15, 2006: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced that the Assembly has passed bipartisan legislation to bring much-needed relief to motorists by reducing and capping state and local sales taxes on gasoline (A.11331).  The bipartisan gas tax legislation would take effect on June 1 for the state sales tax and July 1 for local sales taxes, should local governments pass legislation to cap local sales taxes on gas.

(More)

“As gas prices soar to above $3 a gallon and with the Bush administration unable to implement a plan to mitigate the ever increasing fuel costs, it has left us no choice but to implement a state plan to provide Westchester and all New York residents with relief from high gas prices,” said Bradley.  “New Yorkers should expect an estimated annual savings of $450 million at the pump by capping state and local sales taxes on gas at 8 cents per gallon, which locks in the tax at the $2 per gallon rate.”

 

According to Bradley, if gas prices should dip below $2 per gallon, the 8-cent cap would be reduced proportionately. For example, with gas prices at $3 per gallon, this agreement would reduce the tax on gas by 4 cents per gallon. 

 

More specifics of the Legislature’s gas plan include:

·        Requiring that service station owners pass along the savings to consumers;

·        Making the state Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, in conjunction with chair of the state Consumer Protection Board, responsible for enforcing the gas cap; and

·        Fining gas stations up to $5,000 per incident, per day, if they neglect to pass savings on to consumers.

 

“Record high gas prices have had adverse affects on everything we do, from the cost of going to work and transporting our children to school to the cost of policing our streets and transporting the food we buy at the grocery store. And with the summer travel season upon us, this agreement will provide New Yorkers with immediate relief during the highly traveled summer months,” said Bradley.

 

While motorists in Westchester and across New York State pay some of the highest gasoline prices in the nation, oil companies are enjoying record profits.  In fact, Exxon Mobile – which is giving its former chairman a $400 million retirement package – recently reported an all-time record first-quarter profit of more than $8 billion.  The White House, home to two former oil company executives, is in no rush to address this serious national issue.

 

“This gas cap will help New Yorkers deal with the rapid increase in fuel prices, but we need the federal government to come to the table and solve the economic impacts nationwide resulting from this unheralded increase in gas prices,” said Bradley.  “Our families can’t afford to pay skyrocketing fuel prices without some kind of relief and this agreement delivers immediate relief.  I encourage all Westchester motorists to visit www.fueleconomy.gov to locate the most affordable local gasoline prices on any given day.”   

Hits: 0

WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. MAY 13, 2006: Peter Bassano, a member of the Board of Education writes to explain why any referendum on the $66.7 Million Bond for Capital Improvements is being held in October or December, and not November:

Since we spoke this week, two additional citizens have agreed to join the Capital Projects Committee, Mr. Richard Hecht and Mr. Eli Fritz.  Two unanswered invitations to community members remain outstanding.  Also missing from the list of members you published was Mr. Marc Pollitzer.

(More)

You suggested in your article that the Board of Education scheduled the referendum in October or December in order to carefully avoid “the major election turnout of the November election.”   This suggestion is terribly misleading. 

The general election is governed by NY Election Law while a school bond referendum is governed by the New York Education Law.  According to the counsel’s office at the Education Department, combining the election would require adhering to two separate and different sets of regulations including the requirements for separate voting machines, separate vote counts, separate sets of election overseers and possibly the requirement that some voters cast their ballots at two separate locations. Because of these and other legal obstacles and the lead time that elections require, we opted for an October or December vote. 

As to Mr. Vorperian’s letter, I believe John and the community will see that the make-up of the Capital Projects Committee, once finalized, will include representation from a broad cross section of White Plains citizens who will give these very important issues the scrutiny and consideration they merit.

Informed and intelligent members of the community also should understand by now that the Capital Improvement proposals have nothing to do with the School Budget vote next Tuesday.  These proposals will, of course, affect future budgets and that is why the proposals are being evaluated in a deliberate, critical and careful manner.

Peter Bassano