THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Malmud 4 Propose Hiking Affordables Set Aside to 10%

Posted on July 28, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. July 28, 2007: Council President Rita Malmud, and Councilmen Benjamin Boykin, Dennis Power and Thomas Roach proposed new legislation to the Mayor Thursday evening that would increase the city “set aside for affordable housing” ration from 6% of built units to 10% for all new buildings containing 25 housing units or more in present multi-family residential zones and any “newly created Districts permiting multi-family housing.

The legislation which the Mayor agreed to put on the August calendar Thursday evening, even though the proposal by the four councilpersons was a complete surprise to the Mayor, according to Jim Benerofe, reporting on White Plains Week Friday night. The proposal was also not shared by Malmud and Messers Boykin, Power and Roach with the two remaining councilpersons, Glen Hockley and Arnold Bernstein, according to Mr. Hockley, Benerofe reported last night. A vote on the proposal is expected in September.

The proposal also ups the buyout option substantially. Developers have in the past been allowed to pay a fee to the Affordable Housing Assistance Fund in lieu of setting aside affordable units. Now those fees would be sharply increased virtually doubling the present buyout option as follows:

A studio, $75,000 per unit. (now $30,000)

A One Bedroom, $150,000 per unit (presently $67,000)

A Two Bedroom, $200,000 per unit (now $115,000)

A Three Bedroom, $240,000 per unit ($155,000 currently)

The legislation, in addition increases the period that the affordable units provided by a developer would remain affordable, from 20 years to 30 years, and the term of renewal option from 20 years to 30 years.

The Mayor, Benerofe reported Friday evening on White Plains Week, pointed out there are no new proposals before the city that propose multi-family housing. However, WPCNR notes that the Lexington Avenue corridor, next in line for the city’s “Revitalization Touch,” long targeted as an area for possible gentrification might just be covered by this legislation.

Should a developer propose a 300 unit project, fee in lieu of fees could conceivably approach $5,000,000 or greater under the increased fees per unit. For example at 10%, 30 units of 7 studios, 8 one bedrooms, 8 two bedrooms and 7 –3 bedrooms would cost a developer, $5 Million in a fee buyout.

19 Drop In Homeless Enroll in County Services as Drop In Shutdown Looms

Posted on July 26, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 26, 2007: With the deadline for the closing of the 85 Court Street “Drop-In” Shelter 11 days away, Westchester County is making progress in convincing the men who have been staying at the shelter to enter the Department of Social Services homeless care program in which the single homeless are provided a bed in a country-run homeless shelter provided they cooperate and enter into county therapeutic and employment programs.

Last Buses Leave August 5. The Homeless Wait in January 2006 to board buses to 85 Court Street. The 85 Court Drop In closes after August 5. The county has been workiing diligently to convince the nightly visitors to accept County Social Services.

Donna Green, spokesperson for the county told WPCNR Thursday, that to date 19 homeless persons staying at the 85 Court Street have opted to participate in the county DSS homeless program.

Asked if there were any plans for the County to open a new location for the “hard-core” homeless after August 6 on the drawing boards, Green said “Absolutely not. We are making sure (by counseling them to join the DSS program) this (closing) does not come as a surprise to them. Approximately 50 men stay on average in the 85 Court Street shelter which has been the “county drop-in shelter” since January, 2006. This figure may be less in the summer months due to the warmer weather, WPCNR notes.

As of August 6, the county will no longer operate the 85 Court Street shelter and homeless men in White Plains will be left to fend for themselves.

Via Quadronno — East Side’s Trendiest Cafe — To Be 189 Main Street Cafe.

Posted on July 26, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From Cappelli Enterprises. July 26, 2007: As first reported by WPCNR weeks ago, Louis Cappelli, will be attempting to bring Via Quadronno, the world famous cafe to White Plains and the bistro will be housed in the new 189 Main Street building Mr. Cappelli will propose this evening to the Common Council. Previously Via Quadronno was envisioned to be going into the first floor of the Bar Building, now it will appear to have a building all its own — the new 189 Main Street.

In a news release today,Cappelli Enterprises unveiled the plans for a visually striking new three-story structure at 189 Main Street in the heart of the downtown White Plains that will be home to the world famous Via Quadronno cafe unlike any other cafe in Westchester and the region. A spokesman for Cappelli Enterprises said that the first floor of the Bar Building, originally conceived as the Via Quadronno location would now be devoted to retail. BLT Steak will occupy the first floor of the Ritz on Main Street.

The design of the proposed building — comprised of diamond-shaped glass panels — will complement the two 44-story glass towers Cappelli is building on the opposite side of Court Street —The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester and The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester.

The new structure, if accepted by the Common Council will replace a dilapidated, fire-ravaged three-story building that has been demolished. Cappelli is requesting the city’s Common Council to make certain modifications to the site plan for the 2,700-square-foot lot to accommodate the construction. A public hearing may be scheduled for early August.

The new building will be developed as a component of the Ritz-Carlton project, reflecting the sleek architectural design and providing architectural continuity to the Court Street extension Cappelli is building between Main Street and Hamilton Avenue. The entrance to the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel as well as the two adjoining residential towers will be from Court Street. The hotel and the first residential tower are to open this fall.

Designed by Mark Shulman of Design Development, White Plains, the structure will house a cafe that Louis R. Cappelli, President of Cappelli Enterprises, expects will quickly become a top destination in Westchester. “There will be nothing like it in the county and it will add yet another exciting element to the core of White Plains that is emerging as one of the most stylish downtowns of any small city in the nation. It will be a major attraction for residents and visitors.”

As envisioned, the first floor may include a gallery with multi-media screens. It will feature a glass floor that looks down onto the level below. In addition, the building will also offer rooftop seating.

Cappelli noted that the building’s modern glass design, which he said has been designed to be both edgy and eye-catching, fits perfectly with the striking design of the Ritz towers, the tallest buildings between New York City and Boston. “This one-of-a-kind building will be a jewel of the downtown. It will be a great addition to the downtown center of the city.”

Super Developer Clears Up the 189 Main Street Activity.

Posted on July 26, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET Journal. Interview with Louis Cappelli. July 26, 2007 UPDATED 3:53 PM. E.D.T: Louis Cappelli personally contacted WPCNR today to clarify that he did not need an approved site plan to do the “preparation” work he is now in the process of doing at 189 Main Street, that he did not forget to ask the council for approval for a site plan for the new “sculpture” building (which he will do tonight before the Common Council) and he is doing everything at 189 Main, according to the laws and zoning codes of White Plains. He said the plan was always to ask the Council for site plan approval prior to actual building the new “sculpture building” he envisions for 189 Main Street.

Louis Cappelli on 189 Main Street

Scaffolding, as described by Mr. Cappelli, rising at 189 Main Street yesterday.

. “I’m working 20 hours a day, 7 days a week to open up the Ritz-Carlton,” an earnest Louis Cappelli told WPCNR today. “You’re (WPCNR) an important platform, and you need to get the facts.I’m prudently acting to improve the city in accordance with the laws.”

Cappelli also said he had building permits and approval for adding the extra floor to the Ritz Carlton last year when he did that. “We do everything according to the laws,” Cappelli said firmly.

The Super Developer explained: “I don’t have an approved site plan (for 189 Main Street), but I have been advised by my lawyers that I don’t need an approved site plan to do what I’ve done (so far).”

Mr. Cappelli elaborated, “I have a foundation permit that I do not need a site plan for that. I have a structural permit to put the structural components of a replaced building up according to the White Plains Zoning Code. I’m entitled to build the structural component of the replacement project without site plan approval. You don’t know that because you don’t understand the site plan approval process. I have building permits. You know when I got the building permits? Last Thursday (July 19). I haven’t even poured it yet. I’m going to pour it tomorrow morning.”

WPCNR asked Mr. Cappelli why he did not put in for a site plan approval for the new building sooner, and Cappelli explained, “I didn’t know what I wanted to put there.”