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.

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WPCNR FIRE DISPATCH. March 15, 2004 UPDATED 9:55 A.M. E.S.T.: All White Plains fire companies and contingents from Fairview, Greenville, Hartsdale and West Harrison responded to a blaze at the Tompkins Manor Apartments at 505 Central Avenue Sunday evening, approximately 6:30 P.M.  bringing the fire under control after several hours. Two persons had to be rescued by a fireman helping them down a hook ‘n ladder, under the supervision of Lt. John Donahoe. Residents were still awaiting o.k. from fire personnel as to whether they could return to the North Wing of building as of 8 A.M., according to a resident interviewed in the parking lot. A Fire Investigator was arriving at the scene to determine the cause. WPCNR spoke with Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong, for the latest on the situation:

AFTERMATH: Tompkins Manor Apartments sit at the foot of Battle Avenue and Central Avenues. This is how they looked this morning. Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong, at the scene, said to News12 that there was a lot of smoke damage, no serious injuries, with some persons being treated  for smoke inhalation. Witnesses reported to WPCNR the flames were clearly seen from across the street at Pathmark at 7 P.M. Sunday night. Photos by WPCNR News

Speaking to WPCNR moments ago, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong said the fire destroyed three apartments, and that Apartment 409 had collapsed down into Apartment 309. He said that Fire Investigators and inspectors from the Building Department would be on the scene all day today trying to determine if the building is structurally sound to allow residents in the North Wing to return to their apartments.

FIREMEN CONTAINED Blaze to center section. A fourth floor apartment collapsed into a third floor apartment midway through the evening. Photo by WPCNR News

Chong reported there were no serious injuries, with a few suffering from smoke inhalation, including one fireman. Chong said Mayor Joseph Delfino arranged for the residents evacuated to be housed overnight at the Thomas Slater Center and that the Red Cross and the Salvation Army helped out with those arrangements.

Chong commented that Mayor Delfino was instrumentable in calming down and conforting residents evacuated from the building while the fire was being faught.

The Deputy Commissioner praised the Fire Department for their “rapid response and rapid deployment. The Fire Department did a fantastic job of containing the fire to that section of a very heavily populated building.”

He said cause and origin had not been determined as of Monday morning.

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WPCNR CITY & TOWN. By John F. Bailey.  UPDATED With Views, Floor Plans March 14, 2004, 9:00 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED March 16, 2004 4:15 P.M. E.S.T.: One City Place at City Center, the 34-story apartment citadel viewable from all points of the compass is now showing models of its apartment offerings, WPCNR’s tour of the apartments noted that Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer, was correct when he told us Thursday these spectacular apartments will set a new standard in suburbanurban living.

DOMED LOBBY COMING INTO SHAPE: The Entrance to One City Place will have concierge, luxury reception area. Scheduled to be completed early April.  Jim Benerofe, left, and media wrangler, Geoff Thompson, of Thompson  & Bender discuss amenities to come.
Thompson confirmed Tuesday, March 16, that One City Place offers 2 studios; 162 one bedroom; 121 two-bedroom; and 26 three-bedroom apartments. He added that Remaining retail space up for lease consists of  40,000 square feet on the 2nd level of City Center and 5,000 Square feet on the Main Street level, contrary to information released last week by Mr. Cappelli reporting the City Center completely leased up for retail. Leases are out for all remaining retail space.


 Photo by WPCNR StyleCam.

WPCNR toured the facility with media giants, Alex Philippidis of Westchester County Business Journal  and James Benerofe of Suburbanstreet.com. What I learned on the tour was that these apartments are pricey but precious with spectacular views as low as the tenth floor. They are great for couples, and though only completed on the lower ten floors, they will easily be Westchester’s most exclusive address simply because of the amenities they provide in luxury living options, self-contained living environment, and economy of style.

Kris Ragone, the Property Manager for Trammell-Crowe, said the building is expected to be completed on the interior to the 34^th Floor Penthouses by the end of July, and said they expected to lease it up by September 1. She said the first tenant was expected to be in by April 15. Presently, apartments are not outfitted above the 10th floor, based on our observation.

ONE BEDROOM LIVING ROOM Photo by WPCNR StyleCam

LIVING ROOM OF ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT MODEL: Ms. Ragone said there are a number of styles, each named after a different famous hotel. This is the living room for a one-bedroom City Place apartment. Photo by WPCNR StyleCam.

A CitizeNetReporter correspondent toured the two-bedroom WPCNR toured Friday and files this report:

“Very very spacious compared to Clayton  Park units. Has generous dining area and bathrooms., nice foyer, will have  indoor pool on 4th floor, 1 parking spot included ($100 for extra spot),  most apts. will have “Juliet balconies” (not real) only. 

With halls decorated in the muted warm bronze that wraps the visitor in a welcoming, hospitable glow to the extent you forget you are in the middle of a project under construction, they are addresses that will impress, relax, and will appeal to the urban dweller of means.

THAT’S NEW YORK CITY on the horizon. The view of the “Party Piazza to Die for” on the 29th Floor of One City Place. Apartments at that level are not blocked out yet. Views from as low as one third of the way up are spectacularly enthralling, and the panoramas of New York, New Jersey, Long Island Sound and Bear Mountain from the 29^th floor piazza terraces take your breath away.  Stylish wrought iron grilles will be installed before occupancy. Photo by WPCNR StyleCam

VIEW OF THE SOUND FROM THE PENTHOUSE:  Mamaroneck Avenue is at right. JPI’s Jefferson is seen at right of your picture. Photo by WPCNR StyleCam

TOP OF THE CENTER: Geof Thompson standing at the Penthouse North corner. Penthouse floors from 31 to 34, are still in the blocking out stages. Photo by WPCNR StyleCam

It’s an address with a domed lobby, still under construction, an indoor swimming pool and sun deck, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a cybercafe’ for drinks and snacks for the private use of the clients. You of course never have to go outside the environment of the City Center for movies, theatre, and entertainment, or shopping, and plenty of restaurants for you to eat out three meals a day.

Inside, of the 311 units range from a small number of studios, to one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments, and 3-bedroom suites are rentable for 1 to 2 years from $1,600 for a studio to $5,000 for the penthouses at the 31^st to 34^th floor levels. The first tenant has already leased on the 28^th floor, without having seen the apartment.

The apartments (as you can tell by looking at the visual tour WPCNR showed you in an earlier story), speak for themselves with spaciousness, vaultlike ceilings of 10 feet, and living rooms that are big enough to party, intimate enough for introspection, and airy enough to prevent apartment claustrophobia. The only drawback this reporter saw was a distinct lack of storage space within the apartment. 46 of the 311 units do not have washer and dryer in the apartments, but there is a laundry area within the apartment complex.

HAVE WE GOT AN APARTMENT FOR YOU: Property Manager, Kris Ragone, left and Assistant Property Manager Aiesha, right in the Trammell Crowe One City Place Offices. Tours of apartment models are available by appointment only by contacting 914-997-1800. Or e-mailing Ms. Ragone at kragone@tcresidential.com. The One City Place website, under construction, is at www.citycenterapts.com. Photo by WPCNR StyleCam

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Bob & Jenny Petrucci. March 13, 2004: Mr.Golf, Bob Petrucci, has been monitoring the way Westchester County golf courses have been selling advance tee times, and he claims the county has hit another fat hook into the rough off the tee for the new season. Mr. Golf writes:

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY By New York State District 89 Assemblyman Adam Bradley. March 13, 2004: New York’s economic development efforts must focus on the strengths of its various regions. Here in Westchester, we must take advantage of our strong education system and skilled workforce. To help revitalize our struggling economy and meet the challenges of a changing business environment, the Assembly recently released a comprehensive plan called NY@Work. The plan would create tens of thousands of jobs, help businesses, and leave New Yorkers better prepared to compete in today’s high-tech economy.

     New York is an uncontested leader when it comes to high-tech research and development. This plan would bring new research-driven technology to commercial markets, and provide businesses with important capital to foster growth in biotechnology, nanotechnology and other advanced technologies to create the jobs of the future.

Developing a workforce for the future

      Another Assembly initiative, Expand Local Economies through Vocational and Technical Education (ELEVATE NEW YORK), will help the state invest in its workforce by:

·        supporting school-to-work programs that help students by providing career orientation and work experience;

·        investing in vocational education and support programs that train workers in the changing technology in trade industries;

·        initiating a new program called “Experience and a Degree” which promotes the use of internships that help bridge the classroom to the workplace;

·        backing Educational Opportunity Centers which provide job training and educational services to roughly 20,000 low-income New Yorkers; and

·        supporting apprenticeships that provide on-the-job training and access to the skilled trades.

     This program will help support high-tech training for jobs that will develop in our area. It’s time we kept professionals trained in our universities as part of our workforce, rather then exporting them to the rest of the nation. These initiatives will blend career awareness, education and work experience into a winning formula.

Providing low–cost power

     Lowering the cost of energy is vital to keeping the manufacturing sector viable. The Power for Jobs Program – first proposed by the Assembly – provides low-cost power to manufacturers. NY@Work would reform and extend the program for three years, while making key changes so it runs more efficiently.

   New York’s high energy rates are not only unattractive to new businesses, they are forcing many established businesses out-of-state. Lowering energy costs through programs like Power for Jobs has kept jobs here and will help create new ones.

Supporting community-based economic development

     The Assembly’s plan recognizes the importance of community-based development, and offers support to programs like the Minority and Women-Owned Business Development Lending Program and the Rural Revitalization program. It also provides the business community greater manufacturing, agricultural, small business and tourism assistance.

Redirecting the state’s failed approach to economic development

To improve the accountability and efficiency of the state’s economic development efforts, the Assembly’s NY@Work plan would create an Economic Policy Coordination Board to develop a long-overdue strategic plan for economic growth and oversee the state’s investments in research and development projects.

It will also replace the current Empire State Development Board with a new, three-member Economic Development Control Board – providing the governor, the Assembly Speaker, and the Senate Majority Leader each with one appointed member.

The decisions we make now will affect the prosperity of our region and state for years to come. Investing in economic development policies which take advantage of our unique strengths will ensure that New York continues to move forward economically.

For a copy of the NY@Work plan, visit www.assembly.state.ny.us.

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. March 13, 2004: Today’s photograph is from the 29th Floor Terrace of One City Place at City Center, as the North Citadel of City Center opens for rentals. The view is Southeast. The Street in the center of the picture is Maple Avenue. The buildings left of center constitute White Plains Hospital Medical Center. The building at far right is Post Road School. The skyline is New York City.

CITY CENTER SUNSET. 29th FLOOR. By The White Plains Roving Photographer