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WPCNR News learned Wednesday that Frederick Bland of Beyer, Blinder, Belle, is redesigning the Towers of Cappelli as we write. The new looks are expected to be showcased to Monday in anticipation of a final vote September 20
Two reliable sources, one within City Hall, one with firsthand knowledge of the Cappelli & Bland creative team’s work have confirmed that Frederick Bland, “Super Architect” from Beyer, Blinder, Belle has combined with “Super Developer,” Louis Cappelli in a design makeover the last five days.

George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said he expects to “have more for you tomorrow (Thursday),” on the presentation of the Cappelli & Bland designs tentatively scheduled for Monday.

Pulling up lame in the backstretch.

After breaking from the gate in the Common Council Stakes strongly, City Center stumbled rounding the turn to approvals September 4. The Bland hiring for redesign came about to appease reservations Common Council members had about the Louis Cappelli “originals” presented to the Council at his 34-story zoning hearing September 4. On that ”Night of the New Heights,” the Council approved the 34-story scope of the towers.

But, they approved the 34 stories not without prejudice. For the first time, they informed Cappelli with a bit of bad news. His designs were not acceptable to the majority. Rita Malmud, the most outspoken architectural critic called the towers “34 stories of mediocrity.”

Changing Board Jockeys

Cappelli, shocked at the Council’s displeasure with the tower aesthetics, reacted swiftly. He told the Council he would hire Frederick Bland, the city consultant. Bland executed the study for the Council on the effect of building heights in downtowns, in early August. Cappelli informed The Journal News that he would “fire” Schuman Lichtenstein, the former architectural firm designing the towers, and engage Bland for his exclusive touch. Confirmation is hard to find.

However, Cappelli’s public relations firm, Thompson & Bender, and Bland’s own architectural firm, Byer, Blinder, Belle did not confirm to WPCNR that Mr. Bland was, indeed, on board.

Now, WPCNR has ascertained Mr. Bland is fully involved holding the reins. Mr. Bland has had at least 5 days on the designs, since as of last Thursday evening he was not under contract. Today, a source shown the latest thinking on the Cappelli City Center project, said Mr. Bland was fully integrated, hands-on, in the redesign process and that Shuman Lichtenstein, the former architectural designer, is out of the picture. Work was reported being executed in the Beyer Blinder Belle offices on 11th Street in New York City. How Mr. Cappelli and Mr. Bland were interfacing on the project is not known at this time.

Down the stretch they come.

A city hall source confirmed the new look or looks are planned for showing tentatively Monday morning in a dramatic presentation to the Design Review Board, the Planning Board, the Conservation Board, and the Urban Renewal Agency.

George Gretsas, the Mayor’s right hand man, said he would have “more for you tomorrow (Thursday),” on the details of the unveiling. City Hall, he said, is trying to arrange for the Common Council to see the designs at the same time, because he did not want the other city boards to see them before the Common Council, WPCNR presumes, as a matter of protocol and respect for the Council.

Photo finish.

At this late date, Monday appears the last possible date for a pre-vote viewing of the designs by the Council, considering the holy days of Rosh Hashanah are on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

The ultimate City Center vote on the Cappelli site plan and Special Permit is scheduled to be held by the Common Council on September 20, one week from Thursday. However, there is always the possibility it could be moved forward.

Win, Place or Show Money scheduled for September 25

Mr. Cappelli is pushing the City Center horse hard for approval September 20 because he is scheduled to close on his financing with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce September 25.

It remains to be been whether CIBC, previously committed to furnishing $375MM to bankroll the City Center construction, is being affected by the reeling international markets resulting of the World Trade Center catastrophe. Mr. Cappelli’s pleadings with the Common Council to move faster because of the “event-risk” factor in any financing arrangement now appear eerily prophetic.

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White Plains residents may donate blood at the following local blood donation centers if they wish to contribute in some small way to aid the victims of the Trade Center catastrophe.
Residents may donate blood locally at:

1.White Plains Hospital Center, Davis Avenue and Post Road, White Plains. Hours, from 9 a.m.
2.Hudson Valley Blood Services, 525 Executive Blvd., Elmsford. Hours, from 7:30 a.m.

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As of 11 AM EDT, the White Plains School District’s Michelle Schoenfeld reports White Plains schools remain open at this time in the wake of the “maniacal” attacks on the World Trade Center towers. Schools are expected at this time to remain open until regular dismissal hour.
Ms. Schoenfeld, spokesperson for the district advised WPCNR that all extra-curricular activities after school have been cancelled as of 11 AM. The cancellation of extra curricular activities affects primarily the White Plains High School and the Highlands and Eastview campuses.

She also reports that if parents wish to pick up their children early, they may, but need to sign the children out.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Saul Yanofsky has advised all principals at schools in the district via letter to remain calm. Ms. Schoenfeld also reports that school staff will provide support for children who are worried or in distress at the morning events.

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With one lone resident raising questions about former Mayoral candidate Bill Brown’s 42-unit senior and affordable housing project for the Eastview neighborhood, the council adjourned the public hearing last Tuesday until September 20.
Brown proposes a 42-unit, 5-story housing project slated for the Eastview neighborhood on South Kensico Avenue down the street from the toney housing project now going up, Clayton Park.

Brown, a principal in the project, advised that the senior “affordable” housing project is planned to feature 29 single unit apartments, 4-1-bedroom apartments reserved and 9-2-bedroom apartments. with 20% of them “affordable” to moderate income families.

The need-targeted population is senior citizens. Brown said rents would be as low as $825 in some of the apartments, ranging up to $1,900.

Denser Zoning Requested.

William Null, attorney for Brown and his partner, urged the Council to give him approvals as soon as possible to take advantage of their option on the land. He stressed these were “totally affordable units,” badly needed in White Plains.

Brown’s organization, White Plains Avenue LLC, is seeking an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, allowing them to go to 6 stories, and to reduce the minimum square feet per dwelling to 325 feet for senior apartments and 500 feet for those apartments available to moderate income families. Null admitted it was a greater density than otherwise would be allowed by the present zoning.

Council upbeat.

Councilperson Rita Malmud was very positive: “This is terrific. We have yet to create more affordable housing in White Plains, preferably for White Plains residents to have priority.” Pauline Oliva voiced her support for the project, too, citing the low priced rents.

Lone resident who lives there: not so sure.

Carlos Caceres of 406 Main Street, waiting 5 hours to address the council on this project, raised several concerns. He said the 42 units would “create a strain on our community (the Eastview neighborhood),” which he said was suffering from quality of life issues already: speeding traffic, automobile congestion, public vagrancy, and unsavory conditions created by unstable persons and day laborers already residing in substandard housing in the area who are prone to loitering.

Fear of Section 8

Caceres indicated these conditions would be further aggravated by the population attracted to the low rents proposed by Brown’s project. He expressed fear that the low rents in line with that of Section 8 housing, proposed for Brown’s project would further destabilize the population by attracting undesirable people and deteriorate the neighborhood.

Stablizing southend while destabilizing Eastview?

“What is it going to do for our community? “ Caceres asked.” We’re already an overcrowded situation in Eastview, with some families living three families to a 1 bedroom apartment. It (Brown’s project) creates the quality of life we want to run away from. Now, they (the Brown organization) want to cram people into one building. I wish you do not change the zoning. How can you change the zoning in some neighborhoods to preserve density, while intensifying density in our neighborhood that cannot stand it. We’re (Eastview) is entitled to low density, too.”

Claims White Plains residents priority. Social history checked.

Null, reacting with a sense of quiet alarm, sought to assure the council that residents would be screened very carefully for past history and stability, and that White Plains residents seeking senior and affordable housing would be given preference in selecting tenants.

Caseres said 24 units would be acceptable, while he felt the 42 was too much for the block.

The Council adjourned the hearing until September 20.

WPCNR asked Mr. Null, how Brown’s project could limit the renters to White Plains residents, especially since it was subsidized housing, and this appeared discriminatory. Null said he was not sure, but that it had been done at other similar projects in the county.

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Now, with site plan approval coming up, it’s time to help Louis Cappelli sell the finicky Common Council what you want in a brand-new, scientifically created by hearsay poll.
In our first WPCNR Poll ever, 87% (58) of you responding out of 63 individuals went for the 34 story height for the Towers of Cappelli. And the Common Council followed your lead.

There’s no way of telling whether the Common Council actually took your overwhelming, resounding, endorsement of 34 stories into account when they voted 6-1 to allow The Super Developer to build two stairways to Heaven for White Plains.

But the first WPCNR Poll was revealing.

Now with the Common Council suddenly worrying about the Towers of Cappelli not being elegant enough, or remarkable enough, or enough of enough, or whatever, they need your help. (Rita Malmud referred to them as “34 stories of mediocrity.”)

Architects with dubious motives have secretly complained about the Cappelli designs at the eleventh hour.

No one has considered that the City Center will bring 1500 jobs, 1,000 people to the downtown. They are just wringing their hands over how it will look. It’s time to give the Common Council some confidence.

WPCNR has rounded up the styles that have been advanced by architects who have been critical of the Cappelli Tower Designs (pictured elsewhere on this site–See “Towers of Cappelli: Controversy Looms”).

First take a look at the “Towers of Cappelli” story and see the designs.

Then go to the poll in the column. We’ve capsulated many suggestions we’ve heard made into 10 options, and if you have other ideas you can write your comments in about what should be considered in the designs. Perhaps your tastes will help Louis Cappelli and Fred Bland who we hope is at the very moment, (we think) tweaking Mr. Cappelli’s designs.

It’s your chance to be an architect! Go ahead, YOU be the architect!