WPCNR METRO MEDIA. From the Office of State Assemblyman George Latimer. March 23, 2005: State Assemblyman GEORGE LATIMER (Dem, 91st A.D.) takes to the airwaves at local radio station WVOX 1460 AM for a weekly talk and call-in program tomorrow called “The Assembly Report”, which airs every Friday from 12 noon to 1 p.m.
Latimer, who has appeared on WVOX over the last 20 years, launched the program in early March, and provides an opening update on news from the week in Albany. Invited each week are guests from one of the seven communities that comprise the 91st Assembly District, for a discussion of key local issues. Callers are then welcomed to call-in to ask questions of Latimer and/or the guests.
To date, Assemblyman Latimer has interviewed the Rye Brook Village Administrator Chris Bradbury; two Larchmont Village Trustees Anne McAndrews and Marlene Kolbert; and Mamaroneck Village Trustee Tom Murphy. Upcoming guests will focus on Rye City, Port Chester, Mamaroneck
Town and New Rochelle.
“I’m pleased to be on the air every week”, Latimer noted. “It’s one more way to keep in touch with the people I represent”. Latimer hosted a call-in program for 4 years during his tenure as Chairman of the
Westchester County Board of Legislators, from 1998-2001.
The studio line for callers to the program is 636-0110. For more information, contact Assemblyman Latimer’s office at 777-3832.
Cappelli-Ginsburg Main Event at Delfino Garden.Ginsburg Launches Late Legal Hook
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. March 23, 2005: Louis Cappelli the Super Developer is on the threshold of announcing a hotelier for his 221 Main Renaissance Square Development “within days.” Louis Cappelli, the Artful Financier is conducting a delicate orchestration of closing for his financing for his hotel and condoplex within the next three weeks.
Last night Mr. Cappelli asked the Common Council to approve of his 25-units of affordable housing proposal for 240 Main Street with backup proposal of 17 more units of affordable housing at 189 Main Street to make that possible. He said a solution to the 42 units affordable housing he promised to build was essential to secure that financing and his hotel, in addition to guaranteeing he could open the hotel on time.
THE MAIN EVENT: The Mayor’s Conference was wall-to-wall legal talent and developer intensity Wednesday evening. Martin Ginsburg of Ginsburg Development Corportion, left characterizes Mr. Cappelli’s 240 Main Street 5-story affordable housing proposal as “absolutely wrong for the site and the city.” Ginsburg said he’d build 16 units at his Pinnacle tower, if the council favored his new plan to go from 23 stories to 29 stories. Mr. Cappelli, Renaissance Square conceptualist at right, in elegant yellow tie. Photo by WPCNR News.
DESIGN BEING WORKED ON DAILY: Mr. Cappelli said his Renaissance Square design is developing a variety of face treatments varying from sheer glass to stepped glass, showing the latest Northerly view. He said this design is being tweaked. Photo by WPCNR News.
The Super Developer made a case for buiding 5 stories of affordable housing adjacent the 28-story proposed Pinnacle Building before the Common Council Wednesday evening, and 6 stories of affordable housing at 197 Main Street, asking the council to approve the 40-story heights for his towers at 221 Main Street and assuring him a concrete way to meet his affordable housing obligation at the City Center and 221 Main.
Bruce Berg, President of Cappelli Enterprises demonstrates difference and looks between Mr. Cappelli’s 8-story proposal at 240 Main and the alternative 5-story proposal for the affordable housing building 240 developed due to Common Council unease at building the “affordables” at the 8-story height. Photo by WPCNR News.
Looking on and making his own proposal to develop 240 Main Street in his own right, (which he did not illustrate for the audience), rival developer Martin Ginsburg, The Pinnacle kingpin, presented the Council with his plan to build 16 affordable housing units in a 29-story Pinnacle Building, up from the 23 stories he had lowered the building in a failed agreement which he claimed Mr. Cappelli had agreed to then reneged.
Ginsburg presented a letter of an agreement to the Common Council that he said he had made with Mr. Cappelli on developing 240 Main Street as a plaza and cafe. Ginsburg said Mr. Cappelli had agreed upon the plan and backed out. Mr. Ginsburg told the council the matter of Mr. Cappelli’s ownership at 240 Main Street was subject of litigation between he and Mr. Cappelli. He said litigation sought to rescind the Cappelli deed to the property.
Mayor Delfino, reacting to Mr. Ginsburg’s new proposal, said he did not like litigation to hold up a project, citing the former Ian Beyer case that contributed to the failure of the Tishman-Speyer plans for City Center. The Mayor then prevented the council from getting into a discussion of changing zoning alternatives for Mr. Ginsburg at the suggestion of City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy. Photo by WPCNR News
Alan Katz, attorney for Mr. Ginsburg, asked by WPCNR in the rotunda to explain the lynchpin of the Ginsburg lawsuit said that it had to do with the former owners of the property, F & J Food Corporation suing Mr. Cappelli for making a deal with the owner of the Main Street Book Store and Mr. Cappelli’s motion to have that suit dismissed via summary judgment that was rejected. James Benerofe of Suburban Street recalled he thought that the F & J Food Corporation had been settled.
Mr. Cappelli Explains.
In the rotunda after the rivals presented their plans, Mr. Cappelli told WPCNR he had never signed the agreement presented in letter form by Mr. Ginsburg. He told WPCNR he did not sign it because he felt he had to guarantee he could meet his affordable housing committment on his hotel-condominium project.
He said he had to build all 42 units with the hotel/condominium towers to guarantee he could eventually open the hotel complex (get a Certificate of Occupancy), on time, without being held back from opening should a site for affordable housing not be designated by the Council during the course of construction, resulting in all his affordables not being built.
Ginsburg Does Not Commit to Build if Denied.
Tom Roach, Common Council President queried Mr. Ginsburg on what he would do if the council went with Mr. Cappelli’s proposal. Ginsburg at first evaded the question, but indicated he would seriously have to reevaluate building the project. Ginsburg suggested the Cappelli 240 Main Street building was “wrong for the site and for the city.”
Mr. Cappelli, in his remarks to the council, said if the council had another site after their approval where they felt Mr. Cappelli’s affordable housing could be built, he would gladly “entertain it.” He said it would be a year before he started the affordable housing units, indicating the council had a year to come up with an alternative site, hinting, that would release 240 Main Street allaying Mr. Ginsburg’s concerns.
Reporter NOTES…
Mr. Cappelli announced that the Trump Tower at City Center was all sold out
NEW WATER MAIN FOR MARTINE CORRIDOR. Photo by WPCNR News
Later in the Council Work Session, Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, said that Martine Avenue from North Broadway to Mamaroneck Avenue adjacent to the South exit of City Center Garage would be travel restricted and sometimes closed during the for replacement of a 12-inch water Main at a cost of $700,000 to the city (half of which will be paid by Cappelli Enterprises). The water main project is expected to affect traffic around the City Center daily from May 1 to July 1, Nicoletti said.
America’s Favorite Mayor Honored by America’s Mayor March 31 by County GOP
WPCNR CITY HALL TICKER. From Westchester County Republican Party. March 23, 2005: White Plains Mayor Joe Delfino, along with Republican City Mayors Phil Amicone of Yonkers and John Testa of Peekskill will all be honored at the upcoming Annual GOP Dinner to be held on March 31st.
Mayor Joseph Delfino, presiding over the Common Council Work Session Wednesday evening. “America’s Favorite Mayor” will be honored at the Westchester GOP’s main fundraising event which will feature former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, dubbed ‘America’s Mayor’ for his admirable leadership following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Mayor Delfino has been the creator of the White Plains Renaissance, indefatigable symbol of the city for seven and a half years, and a relentless promoter and orchestrator of his city. Photo by WPCNR News.
Rosemarie Panio, Chair of the County GOP said she was ecstatic when Giuliani accepted the invitation to attend the GOP dinner as the event’s featured speaker and honored guest. Panio noted that Giuliani is a highly acclaimed Republican nationwide, and said his presence will certainly heighten the level of enthusiasm surrounding the Westchester GOP’s annual event.
“Mayor Giuliani is an American icon,” said Panio. “He is easily one of the most prominent leaders of our time, and lucky for us, he is also a Republican.”
Panio said that highlighting Westchester’s Republican Mayors and Supervisors, such as White Plains Mayor Joe Delfino, helps to demonstrate the party’s strength across the county.
The March 31st event will be held at the Rye Town Hilton. Tickets for the event are $300 per person. Reservations can be made by contacting Republican headquarters at (914) 949-3020.
Alcohol on Premises. No Proof of Drinking Connors Reports
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 23, 2005: Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors reported that White Plains High School was referring most, if not all of the students involved in last Wednesday’s preplanned St. Patrick’s Day morning party, to the high school counseling program on alcohol abuse.
Connors stated today that there was alcohol on the premesis on Baylor Circle, (just off the high school athletic fields in Havilands Manor) but “there was no proof any one of the students was drinking (at the time the party was interrupted.” Police said the party was interdicted by the White Plains Police at between 10:30 and 11 A.M. on March 17.
Asked if this meant the party had been broken up by White Plains Police before the drinking had begun, Mr. Connors said he did not know that, but “clearly, we’re grateful we were aware there might be a party there.”
Connors reported that 20 to 24 children taken to Eastview School after they were retrieved by police were being disciplined under the high school code of conduct for cutting classes and leaving school illegally, and had already received their punishments. He said it is not school policy to reveal what the penalties were, but “whatever the code of conduct penalties were, that’s what they were.”
Asked what packaging and varieties of alcoholic beverages were found on the premises, Connors said he did not know.