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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. June 7, 2004, UPDATED 12:21 A.M. E.D.T., June 8, 2004: The Common Council at 9:21 P.M. Monday evening officially approved by a vote of 6 to 1, the construction of a Louis Cappelli Hotel-Apartment and Condominium with Office Building project for the 221 Main Street property. Councilmen Arnold Bernstein, Benjamin Boykin, Robert Greer and Glen Hockley voted for the project along with Councilwoman Rita Malmud and Mayor Joseph Delfino. Thomas Roach, Council President, voted “No.” The project, according to Louis Cappelli, the “Super Developer” is to begin this summer and be completed by 2007.
COMING TO MAIN STREET: The Cappelli Plaza. A model of the Cappelli Hotel-Condoplex approved Monday evening. Photo: WPCNR News Archive.
THE SUPER DEVELOPER WRAPS IT UP, WINS LONGHITANOS OVER: During a presentation-update to the Common Council, Cappelli said he had completed an agreement with the Longhitanos, the owners of the Bar Building to refurbish the North side of their Bar Building to match the faux gothic style on the South and West sides of the “historic” building, at his (Cappelli’s) expense. The Super Developer also disclosed he had a signed “letter of intent” with Starwood, the White Plains-based hoteliers, to build a Westin, perhaps a “W”-Hotel on the site. Mr. Cappelli said he would begin demolition within two weeks. Photo From WPGA-TV, Channel 75, Common Council Telecast by WPCNR News
LOUIS CAPPELLI, THE OFFICIAL DEVELOPER OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, points to the latest model of his 221 Main Cappelli Hotel & Condoplex Monday night. He said he had met all Council objections and reservations about his project and had adjusted his project to conform to Council wishes. He showed samples of the glass to be used on the three buildings. His short, compact presentation may be viewed on the recablecast of Monday’s Council meeting Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. Photo From WPGA-TV Common Council Telecast by WPCNR News
The lastest Cappelli Hotel Condoplex rendering as seen on TV: Mr. Cappelli’s baton points to the Bar Building and the corresponding first condominium tower which will be a light glass, the second tower, a bluer, darker glass, and the third office tower, a bronze glass. Photo From WPGA-TV Channel 75 Common Council Telecast by WPCNR News
THE MAIN & MAMARONECK AVENUE VISTA: Cappelli showcased the latest rendering of how the juncture of Main & Mamaroneck would look after the building of his hotel and condominium extravaganza. To the left is Renaissance Plaza. To the far right is Grace Church. The hotel entrance and restaurant facade is in lower center, the open space greenery is betweenthe church and the hotel. The Condominium glass tower soars skyward.Photo From WPGA-TV Channel 75 Common Council Telecast by WPCNR News
Councilman Glen Hockley called the project a milestone for the generations of White Plains residents to come. He said in his walkabouts around White Plains, most recently in the Southend of town along North Street and Sparrow Circle, that he found no objection to the project or the pace of downtown development, and suggested the press accompany him on his walkabouts, where they could interview firsthand persons other than “a handful” of persons who regularly attend hearings and complain about projects.
Councilman Benjamin Boykin said he was going to vote for the project because Cappelli had addressed his (Boykin’s) concern for open space on the ground, and had reduced the density of the project from 1.1 Million square feet to 890,000 square feet. He also noted this was a “conditional” approval contingent on appropriate Planning Board approval of the subdivision request made by the Longhitanos, owners of the Bar Building, necessary for Mr. Cappelli to acquire and building on the annex portion of the Bar Building property.
Councilwoman Rita Malmud said that “perfection can be the enemy of the good” and said that for decades no one had come forward to develop that area along Main Street.
Councilman Tom Roach said he was voting no because he felt the project was “too big” and he sharply criticised the Planning Department for not planning, but instead reacting and overcompensating to arrange legislation to the developer’s (Cappelli’s) advantage.
Councilman Robert Greer said the council had improved the project considerably, lowering the density, and that the city had long wanted another hotel and that was why he was voting for the project.
Councilman Arnold Bernstein said “due diligence has been done,” and was pleased to support the project.
Mayor Joseph Delfino took his commentary moment to say that it was his and the council’s job to do things for the benefit of the majority of the city.
Opposition to the project came from attorney Daniel Seidel who cited a host of concerns: sewage, and alleged SEQRA violations; Robert Levine, an architect who expressed his disdain for the design of the project, and called it “too massive, and a long-term planning disaster,” and scolded the council for voting a conditional approval that might require a variance on a subdivision. (Mr. Cappelli in his presentation emphasized his work on the subdivision of the Bar Building would not require a variance.)
The project was supported strongly by Carl Barrera and Richard Stout, who commended the council on what a good job they were doing. Doris Simons spoke cautioning Mr. Cappelli that his buildings posed a great danger to songbirds who, she said, based on recent studies, flew into reflective glass buildings, and she worried about possible massive bird kills as songbirds collided with Mr. Cappelli’s planned towers.
