Hits: 341

• Overnight-– Light snow likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Thursday– A slight chance of light snow before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Night-– Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
• Friday — Sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Hits: 316

JIM BENEROFE RETURNS TO WHITE PLAINS WEEK

REUNITED!

THE WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS TEAM

NOW ON

www.whiteplainsweek.com

JIM BENEROFE IS BACK WITH PETER KATZ AND JOHN BAILEY

ON

THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

55 BANK STREET TO FINALLY START AFTER 8 YEARS OF WAITING

THE RENTAL WAVE

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WILL NOT BLOCK FASNY FOR WHITE PLAINS– COMMON COUNCIL MUST OK BEFORE  DEC REVIEWS FASNY PROJECT

AMY PAULIN ON THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAW AND THE WOMENS EQUALITY ACT

THE WHITE PLAINS HOUSING MARKET TODAY

Hits: 131

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Office of Communications. (EDITED) January 15, 2015:

The 8-year delayed 55 Bank Street project planned for the West side of town to be built on the White Plains commuter parking, (originally approved during the Mayor Joseph Delfino administration) will begin construction in March, apparently $250 Million in financing in place, according to Britta Vander Linden, a spokesperson for Westchester County.

As of 4 PM, LCOR’s public relations agency, Quinn Incorporated has not returned a WPCNR call for confirmation of the start and finish date and sources of the financing. The City of White Plains has not issued a statement though asked.

County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced that Westchester’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has approved amendments allowing a $250 million transit-oriented development of housing, retail and parking planned for a site just south of the Metro-North train station in downtown White Plains to proceed. The complex to be built at 55 Bank Street will create up to 533 new construction and permanent jobs.

The Westchester County IDA voted to approve $3.3 Million in sales tax abatement and $3.2 Million in Mortgage Recording Tax abatement to LCOR on the project, Ms. Vander Linden told WPCNR.

“This project offers convenient, affordable housing for the county’s workforce near a transit hub that will get them to their place of work or wherever they want to go,” said Astorino. “This kind of private investment is moving Westchester forward, and was made possible by the Westchester IDA and the leaders at LCOR who realize the value of Westchester.”

The project at 55 Bank Street will be comprised of two 16-story apartment buildings to be constructed on a site currently occupied by a commuter parking lot. LCOR acquired the site from the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency. The 760,000-square-foot complex will include 449 market rental apartments, 112 affordable rental units, 6,300 square-feet of retail space and a 570-space parking garage. Construction is expected to begin in March.

“You don’t get a 561-unit apartment complex built without the collaboration of the Westchester County IDA,” said James Driscoll, senior vice president of LCOR Inc. “Thanks to County Executive Astorino’s economic development team, we look forward to supporting the continued revitalization of downtown White Plains, delivering housing along with parking and retail in a highly desirable transit location.”

(Editor’s note:) The project has been delayed 8 years because LCOR had not been able to find financing because of the economic conditions the last 7 years. It is not clear at this time whether LCOR has completed payments to the City of White Plains for the commuter parking lot on Bank Street where the project is to be built.

In September, the Common Council approved some minor amendments to the site plan. Here is a reprint of what WPCNR reported September 3:

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.”

Hits: 152

WPCNR VIRTUAL FIREPLACE.  The temperature has plummetted 15 degrees since noon,  so WPCNR is providing this virtual fireplace. Simply place your hands on the website and let the warm heat just flow into you, people!

• Tonight–Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday–A chance of flurries before 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday NIGHT– chance of flurries after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
• Thursday–Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.: 

Hits: 322

Dr. Paul R . Fried
New White Plains Superintendent of Schools

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2015  UPDATED THURSDAY JANUARY 15 (IN ITALICS):

White Plains Board of Education hired a new Superintendent of Schools Monday night.

He is Dr. Paul R. Fried of Ossining, NY.. He comes to White Plains from the Montville Township School District, having been Supertintendent of Schools for 5 years there, and as Superintendent at Mamaroneck from 2005-2010.

Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR this morning that Dr. Fried has signed a three year contract with White Plains beginning July 1, 2015  through 2017-18 for a salary of $275,000 a year, plus $500 a month car allowance, and a $10,000 a year annuity payment each year plus an allowance for communication equipment.

This school year 2014-15, Dr. Fried is employed at Montville Township schools in New Jersey at a base salary of $230,783.  Dr. Fried told The Bergen Record  he was  forced to leave because of  Governor Christie’s cap of Superintendent  salaries…which would have cut Fried’s salary by 30%  to $175,000.

Peter Bassano, a member of the White Plains School Board, told WPCNR, that over the two years the district has searched for a superintendent, Dr. Fried, “really stood out among the 70 to 80 candidates we looked at this year. His was a fit just perfect. We went after him.”

Bassano said, “he had the temperament, the experience, the track record of moving districts forward.” Bassano said he was impressed with Fried’s idea of starting a Humanities Advanced Research Project similar to the national Science Research program.

Asked if Dr. Fried had offered any ideas on how he would might advance the White Plains District forward in that the district is two-thirds Hispanic and African-American, Bassano said Fried needed time to learn the district, talk with educators, principals parents  before he could  formulate such plans.

Bassano said Fried had a strong background in both operations and academics. Bassano anticipated Fried would not be actively involved in forming the White Plains School Budget this year which WPCNR anticipates will top $210 Million, if it is “rolled over” without any cuts.  Previously Dr. Fried supervised a $70 Million school budget in Montville in a district of 4,000 students. (White Plains presently educates 7,164 students.)

Bassano said that Dr. Fried had worked with present Interim Superintendent of Schools Tim Connors, who shared insights as to how Dr. Fried was to work with.

Michele Schoenfeld said Dr. Fried was greeted by about 75 to 100 faculty, administrators, and parents and children at a reception last night at the high school. She said Dr. Fried said “he couldn’t have received a warmer reception, and thaty he would be working to win the trust of the community.” Ms.Schoenfeld said he would be returning to White Plains in the spring to meet with district personnel and parents on several occasions.

,
This year Dr. Fried is employed at Montville Township schools in New Jersey at a base salary of $230,783, The Bergen Record reported.  Dr. Fried told The Bergen Record  he was  forced to leave that district  because of  Governor Christie’s cap of Superintendent  salaries…which would have cut Fried’s salary by 30%  to $175,000.

Dr. Paul R. Fried was formerly Superintendent of the Mamaroneck-Larchmont School District from which he retired 5 years ago in 2010. He is according to the New York State Teachers Retirement Fund receiving a $201,701 pension from New York State.

A press spokesperson for the New York State Teachers Retirement System told WPCNR Thursday, if Dr. Fried turned did not turn 65 until  after July 1, he could still receive up to $30,000 in salary without having his pension suspended. The spokesperson added that once Fried turned 65 he could resume the $201,701 pension payment, because there was no limit how much money  he can  earn in addition to his pension once he passes the age of 65.

The White Plains City School District saves paying 17% of Dr. Fried’s salary ($46,750) into retirement benefits for him because he already is retired from New York State. However, since they are paying him  a $10,000 annuity each year the savings in pension payments is $36,750. The school district told WPCNR they did not know Dr. Fried’s exact age at the time he comes on board.

Currently 64 years of age, if he turns 65 after July 1, he will continue to receive the $201,701 pension ( in addition to his White Plains Superintendent’s salary beginning July1, next year), according to the Empire Center for Public Policy. The Center told WPCNR if a person is receiving a pension and they are over 65, they can earn any amount of money in another position.

When Dr. Fried retired from Mamaroneck in 2010, the Larchmont Gazetter reported:the Mamaroneck Schools wrote: “Under Dr. Fried’s leadership, Mamaroneck has soared to new heights. For the first time, the District has developed a system for setting measurable goals for all key areas of work, including student learning, which has enabled much progress to be made in the areas of curriculum consistency and development. A structure now in place creates a highly organized process for teacher goal setting, observation and evaluation, and raises expectations and support for quality teaching. Additionally, the District has significantly and positively changed its relationship with the Mamaroneck Teachers Association (MTA)….he has paid special interest to: early learning and intervention….technology – bringing the District to the 21st century with updated financial, student database, and communications systems.”

The Montville Board of Education said it was “heartbroken” the Dr. Fried, due to Governor Christie’s salary cap on Superintendents of Schools,  was forced because of person circumstances to leave,

 White Plains Superintendents of Schools1874 to 2015

Charles A. Genung    1874-1891

Ralph Stewart           1894 -1897

Sylvester R. Shear   1897-April 1902

William McConnell     May 1902-March 1905

Guy Baskerville          May1905-August 1908

Charles Ramsey        1908-July 1912

John Lumbard            1912-February 1934

H. Cloude Hardy         1934-1947

Frank Nye                    1947-1950

Parmer Ewing              1950-1953

Francis Buros  (Acting)  1953-1954

Carroll Johnson             1954-1969

Arthur Antin                    1969-1981

Jerry Marcus                  1981-August 1989

Alden A. Larson (Interim)  August 1989-March 1990

Saul M. Yanofsky           March 1990-July 2002

Timothy P. Connors       July 2002 to June 2009

Christopher P. Clouet     July 2009 to June 2013

Timothy P. Connors (Interim) July 2013 to June 2015

Dr. Paul R. Fried               July 2015–