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WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. From Common Council President Benjamin Boykin. February 3, 2003: Monday evening, after Mayor Delfino delivered his State of the City Address, he turned the floor over to Council President Ben Boykin for the Council’s view.
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HAILS WHITE PLAINS RENAISANCE: Council President Benjamin Boykin in his address to the city Monday evening. Mr. Boykin said it was due to the Common Council working together with the Mayor to make it happen.
Photo by WPCNR News
In his address, he called for a redevelopment of Lexington Avenue between Fischer Avenue and Post Road. He said the council would work to get the Building Department to ease supplemental building code restrictions that make White Plains projects more expensive.
Mr. Boykin stressed that the council has given the Mayor their input as to what should be included in his lPhase III Revitalization Plan and were looking forward to seeing it. He said the council would work toward providing more affordable housing in White Plains. He said the council would expect studies to be executed of any future downtown development. Here is Mr. Boykin’s speech:
ON BEHALF OF MY FIVE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF I WISH TO PRESENT A REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE PAST YEAR AND AN OUTLOOK OF WHAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN 2003. THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2002 HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL AND THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND HAVE REMAINED FOCUSED ON THE BEST LONG-TERM INTERESTS FOR WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.
WHITE PLAINS TODAY COULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A CITY IN THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE. WE ARE REINVESTING IN OUR TAX BASE AND BUILDING A BETTER CITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, 1,790 UNITS OF APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED. OF THESE, 130 ARE AFFORABLE HOUSING UNITS. 1,361 OF THE APPROVED UNITS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH COMPLETION SCHEDULED DURING THIS YEAR AND EARLY 2004. THE MOMENTUM IS GROWING AS WE PREPARE FOR:
· CITY CENTER: A MAJOR RETAIL COMPLEX INCLUDING A 15 SCREEN MEGAPLEX THEATER, RESTAURANTS, STORES, A 2,200 CAR GARAGE AND APARTMENTS.
· FORTUNOFF: 180,000 SQUARE-FOOT SPECIALTY STORE FOR THIS NATIONALLY RENOWNED RETAILER PLUS 75,000 SQUARE FEET OF ANCILLARY RETAIL SPACE.
· A 400-SEAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT THE CITY CENTER AND A NEW PARK AND FOUNTAIN AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAMARONECK AVE. AND MAIN ST.
· A DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDING NEW LANTERNS, BENCHES AND IMPROVED CURBING, JUTOUTS AND CROSSWALKS.
IN ADDITION, A 57,000 SQUARE FOOT STOP & SHOP, THE CITY’S ONLY LARGE-SCALE MODERN SUPERMARKET, OPENED IN DECEMBER 2002.
THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS, WHICH INVOLVE NEW RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY AND NEW RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES, WILL PRODUCE A DOWNTOWN RICH IN CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS AND GENERATE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE WHICH WILL PROMOTE BOTH GREATER TAX STABILITY AND CONTINUATION OF HIGH-QUALITY CITY SERVICES. ALL PROPOSALS NOW UNDERWAY WERE SUBJECTED TO INTENSIVE REVIEW TO INSURE THAT THE CITY’S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SUFFICIENT TO HANDLE INCREASED VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY’S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOT ALL PROJECTS APPROVED SINCE 2001 ARE UNDERWAY. CONSTRUCTION OF JEFFERSON PLACE, A 281 APARTMENT RESIDENCE ON MAMARONECK AVE., IS STALLED DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE THE HAMILTON, A 106 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AT CHURCH AND BARKER AND 42 UNITS OF HOUSING FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS AT SO. KENSICO AND HADDEN HAVE YET TO BREAK GROUND. WE INTEND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITY IF THESE PROJECTS DO NOT HAPPEN.
MORE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ARE EXPECTED IN 2003. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION FOR A VIBRANT AND LIVABLE DOWNTOWN AND DOES NOT OVERLOAD OUR TRAFFIC AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE MUST KNOW THE LIMITS OF OUR PRESENT AND POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SERVING VARIOUS KINDS OF USES IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA AND WILL REQUEST PROFESSIONAL STUDIES TO ASSIST THE CITY IN EVALUATING FUTURE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
WHILE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS, WE NEED TO INSURE THAT THE HIGH QUALITY OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED. NEW MEASURES TO CALM TRAFFIC AS IT PASSES THROUGH CLOSE-IN AREAS SUCH AS BATTLE HILL, FISHER HILL, THE HIGHLANDS AND NORTH BROADWAY SHOULD BE EVALUATED AND, IF ACCEPTABLE TO RESIDENTS, ADOPTED.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THE ADMINISTRATION WITH OUR IDEAS REGARDING PHASE 3 OF THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THIS PLAN AND GETTING PUBLIC INPUT PRIOR TO ITS APPROVAL AND ENACTMENT IN 2003.
WHILE THE PROGNOSIS FOR INCREASED SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES FROM INCREASED BUSINESS ACTIVITY IS ENCOURAGING IN THE LONG TERM, FISCAL 2003-04 WILL BE A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THE CITY’S BUDGET. BECAUSE NEARLY ALL OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT BE IN OPERATION AT BUDGET TIME AND BECAUSE SALES TAX REVENUES FROM EXISTING STORES REFLECT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE TAX OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING. THE IMPACT OF INCREASED BUSINESS ACTIVITY WILL BEGIN TO HAVE A STRONG BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY’S STRUCTURE IN 2004-05 AND THEREAFTER.
SOME OF THE CITY’S SUPPLEMENTAL PLUMBING CODES HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO PERMIT THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECENTLY RELEASED NEW YORK STATE BUILDING CODE. WHILE THESE ARE POSITIVE MEASURES, WE WILL WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS AND LAND USE ATTORNEYS TO EXAMINE ALL THE CITY’S SUPPLEMENTAL BUILDING CODES TO ELIMINATE THOSE CODES WHICH UNNECESSARILY INFLATE CONSTRUCTION COSTS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY OR BENEFIT TO OCCUPANTS OF BUILDINGS IN THE CITY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WHITE PLAINS HAS GAINED ACCESS TO LAKEFRONT PROPERTY. THE CITY’S LONG-TERM LEASE PROVIDING ACCESS TO SILVER LAKE AND THE PURCHASE OF THE D’ELIA PROPERTY CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST ADDITIONS TO THE CITY’S OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL INVENTORY IN MANY YEARS. WITH THE APPROVAL OF NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL’S SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION IN 2002, DISCUSSIONS ARE IN UNDERWAY WITH THE HOSPITAL TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR THIS PROPERTY.
2002 SAW A MAJOR TRANSITION WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT WITH THE RETIREMENT OF FORMER COMMISSIONER DOLCE. THE COMMON COUNCIL INSISTED THAT A NATIONAL SEARCH BE LAUNCHED TO IDENTIFY THE BEST POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT. THE SELECTION OF COMMISSIONER STRAUB AND HIS APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS CHONG AND JENNINGS HAVE SERVED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. DUE IN LARGE MEASURE TO THE FRESH IDEAS OF THE INCOMING COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTIES, THE “BADGE DRAIN” HAS COME TO AN END, CURRENT CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH BOTH POLICE AND FIRE UNIONS, AND DEPARTMENTAL MORALE HAS IMPROVED. NEW POLICE BIKE PATROLS HAVE ADDED A NEW LEVEL OF PROTECTION WITH INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS EVENING, THIS COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OFFICE FACILITIES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND NEW COMMUNITY SPACE FOR WINDBROOK RESIDENTS. NEARLY 100% OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS PROVIDED BY FEDERAL SOURCES IN THE EARLY 1990S. WITH VISIONARY THINKING AND CREATIVE PLANNING, WE ARE PROVIDING ADDITIIONAL GREEN SPACE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
LEXINGTON AVENUE BETWEEN FISHER AVE. AND POST RD. SHOULD BE REDEVELOPED. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO UPGRADE FACADES AND STOREFRONTS THEREBY IMPROVING THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY’S DENSEST NEIGHBORHOOD.
ILLEGAL OCCUPANCIES ARE A MAJOR THREAT TO CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE MINIMUM FINES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS OF THE CITY’S OCCUPANCY CODES AND TO PROMOTE THE HIRING OF MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
DURING 2002 WE PASSED LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A CITY GRANT WRITER. THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL BE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GENERATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES TO EXPAND CITY SERVICES WITHOUT GENERATING ADDITIONAL TAX BURDENS ON OUR RESIDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE HIRING OF THIS INDIVIDUAL IN EARLY 2003.
IN ORDER TO FOSTER A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE CONTINUE TO URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESUME REGULAR INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST AND CONCERN.
WE BEGAN “CITIZENS TO BE HEARD” LAST YEAR AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO BRING YOUR ISSUES TO THE COMMON COUNCIL AT 7:00 PM EACH MONTH PRIOR TO THE START OF THE COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:30 PM.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING IN WHITE PLAINS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND REFINE POLICIES THAT SPELL OUT THE REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES FOR THE PROVISION OF MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING BY DEVELOPERS WISHING TO BUILD IN OUR CITY. THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY IS ONE OF ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS. WE MUST WORK TO SEE THAT OUR CITY’S WORKFORCE, AT ALL LEVELS, AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, REFLECT OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY.
THE YEAR 2003 PROMISES TO BE THE BEGINNING OF THE REALIZATION OF HOPES AND DREAMS BEGUN JUST A YEAR OR TWO AGO. BY YEAR-END, NEW WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS WILL BE LIVING AT THE FORMER “HOLE IN THE GROUND” AND AT CLAYTON PARK. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MOVIES, DINE AND SHOP AT THE CITY CENTER, ENJOY BOATING, FISHING OR PICNICKING AT OUR NEW LAKEFRONT PARK, SHOP AT FORTUNOFF, SEE LIVE PERFORMANCES AT OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND STROLL BY AN EXCITING NEW PARK AND FOUNTAIN AT MAMARONECK AND MAIN.
THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ALL THIS NEW ACTIVITY AND THE PROPOSALS WHICH FOLLOW WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT WILL ADD TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF PRIDE WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
THE WHITE PLAINS RENAISSANCE IS UPON US. WE ASK THE ADMINISTRATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNCIL, AND WORKING WITH THE BID, BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICIAL CELEBRATION THIS FALL TO SHOWCASE THE WHITE PLAINS RENAISSANCE.
WE HAVE AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR 2003. WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO RETURN WHITE PLAINS TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE JEWEL IN WESTCHESTER’S CROWN AND TO CELEBRATE OUR RENAISSANCE.