Westchester Housing Sales — More of them but home Prices soften due to Growing Inventory.

Hits: 101

WPCNR REALTY REALITY. From the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. (Edited)JULY 9, 2016:

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors issued their report on 2nd Quarter 2016 realty sales Thursday, and the good news is more homes are being sold in Westchester County, but sadly at lower prices.

The Westchester County median sales price declined 1.6% on a single family house, the median price was $650,000, down from $660,500. Condos in Westchester declined 1.5% in median price to $356,438, while co-ops experienced an increase in median price of 6.9% to $155,000. (The median price is the mid-point of all reported sales.)

Overall sales of condos, single family homes, and co-ops in Westchester, Putnam,Rockland and Orange counties, stood at 4,526 closings in the second quarter ended in June, and increase of 23% over 3,669 closing in the second quarter of 2015. Single Family houses were the majority of sales. The less expensive realty markets Putnam, Rockland, and Orange were the leaders.

Westchester recorded 23% more sales of Single Family Homes (1,643 compared to 1,336 last year. Condos sold 376, up 20.9% from 311; Co-ops registered 466 sales, up 11% from 420 in 2nd Quarter 2015. 2-4 Family homes 132, compared to 116, an increase of 13.8%.

The Mean Sale Price of Westchester Single Family homes in the second quarter  is 841,824; Condos, $434,512; Coops, $182,389, 2-4 Family homes $406,052.

If you’re a broker you like this market. As Hudson Gateway says in its news release, “the foundation forces affecting the real estate market are favorable for all. Mortgage interest rates are as low as they have ever been, and in this region at least, employment and job security are supportive of prospective purchases. As usual there are ‘wild cards’ that can affect real estate markets everywhere, current examples including ‘Brexit’, Puerto Rico insolvency, Federal Reserve rates, and not the least consequential, the upcoming elections. But so far we are having an excellent run in our market.”

Growing inventory is seen as a possible problem, holding prices down:

“On a volume basis, Westchester being the largest county, end-of-quarter inventory (homes for sale) fell by 945 properties or 16% from last year.

That sort of imbalance may have consequences: either price increases and/or diminished sales volumes.”

Westchester as noted earlier has posted a slight decline in the median sale price of a single family house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

COUNTY WARNS OF COYOTES ON EDITH READE SANCTUARY AT PLAYLAND

Hits: 121

 

2016707playland 016

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. JULY 9, 2016:

Westchester County has placed warning signs at the entrance of the Edith Reade Nature Preserve in Rye (below), adjacent the Playland Amusement Park, advising people using the trails of the possible presence of coyotes. It goes without saying that other preserves may also be coyote habitats. The County advises caution, walking the trails

2016707playland 017

2016707playland 015

Posted in Uncategorized

WHITE PLAINS WEEK TAKES STOCK AT MIDYEAR 2016 WITH THE JULY ROUNDUP

Hits: 112

2016318wpw 001

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT– PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY, JIM BENEROFE TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER AND THE WORLD ARE AT MID-2016 WITH  THIS JULY SUMMER SPECIAL

 

JOHN BAILEY, PETER KATZ AND JIM BENEROFE

ON

THE GOOD COUNSEL DEVELOPMENT

HARRISON LOOKS TO BUILD APARTMENTS ON WHITE PLAINS BORDER

SMART METERS COMING TO WHITE PLAINS

CHEW-UP-ASPHALT-SPIT-NEW-ASPHALT-OUT MACHINES BEING TRIED BY THE CITY

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT KEEPS TIM CONNORS FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS.

THE CITY SALES TAX RECEIPTS NEED $5 MILLION FROM THE JUNE TILLS–OTHER BUDGET CUTS TO COME.

THE PRESIDENTIAL MANEUVERS

EFFECTS OF TERROR ATTACKS ON TRAVELERS ATTITUDES.

WHAT’S AHEAD IN CITY ISSUES THIS SUMMER

SEE THEM NOW ON

www.whiteplainsweek.com

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

and YOU TUBE WITH THIS LINK

https://youtu.be/VytNhzaAv34

 ON TV FRIDAYS AT 7:30 PM AND MONDAYS AT 7

ON VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45 COUNTYWIDE

AND ON CABLEVISION CH. 76 IN WHITE PLAINS

Posted in Uncategorized

SUNRISE PUTS 37 DEKALB ON MARKET. DETOX PROJECT APPARENTLY DROPPED.

Hits: 138

WPCNR MAIN ST JOURNAL. From the Carhart Association. July 7, 2016:

Ken Kristal of the Carhart Association reported to members of the Council of Neighborhood Association yesterday by e-mail that a developer plan to build a detox center in the Carhart neighborhood has been abandoned for that site.

Mr. Kristal shared with WPCNR this statement:

“I have recently learned, and it has been confirmed, that Sunrise (detox center) has put the property at 37 Dekalb Avenue on the market for sale.

It’s probably a bit too early to celebrate until we see who buys the property and for what purpose.”

The White Plains Common Council refused to consider a Special Permit for Sunrise to build a detox center on the former Nathan Miller Nursing Home site, after the Building Department recommended against the project. The Zoning Board also upheld the Building Department ruling.

Posted in Uncategorized

90 in the shade.

Hits: 144

WP_20160706_13_59_02_Pro

WHAT 90 DEGREES IN THE SHADE LOOKS LIKE. IT FEELS MUCH WORSE. IT WAS 90 IN THE SHADE AS OF 2 PM IN THE WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER WEATHER CENTER, 45% HUMIDITY. A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DAY. CONTINUED HOT AND HUMID THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH CHANCE FOR THUNDERSHOWERS AFTER NOON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WE ARE HAVING A HEAT WAVE, A TROPICAL HEAT WAVE.

Posted in Uncategorized

AFTERWORKS DRAW A HAPPY CROWD BUT SMALLER THAN USUAL.

Hits: 108

WP_20160706_20_36_45_Pro

CROWD FOR THE WHITE PLAINS “AFTERWORKS” INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION WHICH WENT OFF LAST NIGHT, POSTPONED FROM LAST FRIDAY DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBILITY. (A VERY PRUDENT DECISION BY CITY HALL GIVEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME)

2016706works 025

CROWD FILLED THE AMUSEMENTS AREA AT NORTH END OF THE STAGING GROUND.

2016706works 045

THE PROGRAM BEGAN WITH A RECORDING OF KATE SMITH SINGING GOD BLESS AMERICA. MAYOR TOM ROACH OPENED THE CEREMONIES, THANKED WAYNE BASS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS FOR PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER, INTRODUCED COUNCILMAN DENNIS KROLIAN AND ASSEMBLYMAN DAVID BUCHWALD, AND AFTER THE COLOR GUARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SALUTED THE FLAG THE FIREWORKS BEGAN.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

GOVERNOR SIGNS GREENBURGH REASSESSMENT PHASE-IN RELIEF. SOURCE: IF HOME BEING PHASED IN IS SOLD BEFORE PHASE IN IS COMPLETED. SOURCE:FULL ASSESSMENT APPLIES, RAISING TAX ON THE PROPERTY.

Hits: 0

 

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. July 6,2016:

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the legislation that Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, Assemblywoman Sandra Galef and Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins worked so hard on –authorizing the town of Greenburgh to phase in the impacts of reassessment for those whose taxes will go up for two years.

By the third year all taxpayers will pay 100% of the taxes owed.

The Town Board will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday evening, July 12 at 7:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall prior to enacting the phase in  as a local law.

The issue: should the phase in apply to everyone  who qualifies or those whose tax hikes are over a certain percentage or dollar amount?

Greenburgh is reassessing properties for the first time in 60 years. Although most residents of the town will experience no tax hikes as a result of the reassessment  – some have received bad news–significant tax hikes. In recent weeks I have met with property owners who have seen their taxes increases by 50%, 100%, 200% –even more.

Neighborhoods most impacted were Irvington, Hastings & Edgemont. The phase in legislation only applies to tax hikes, not tax decreases.

The legislation will help us have a smooth reassessment transition. Neighborhoods impacted negatively by the reassessment will be able to avoid panic selling. And, those residents who are being impacted by the reassessment will have little more time to plan what they want to do with their properties.

The revenue that the school district will raise will not be affected by this legislation.  The tax levy will be the same; it will then be allocated as always based on the entire assessed valuation for the school district and the tax rate.  This bill will be revenue neutral for the school.

The legislation signed into law authorizes a 66% exemption in year one and a 33%  exemption in year two.

The legislation does not require the school district to take any action.    The assessor will finalize the assessment roll for the district, determine the tax rate and send out the tax bills as usual.   There will be no impact in this regard on the schools as well.

In 2009 and 2010, before the town decided to reassess, Assessor Edye McCarthy and I spoke before dozens of groups (village, school, civic groups) and discussed the reassessment process.

I indicated to groups that I met with that I would push for a phase in process if we implemented the reassessment. Earlier this year former Irvington Trustee Ken Bernstein sent me the following e mail reminding me of the promises we made that we would phase in reassessment.  Prior to the Town Board committing to reassess properties we met with numerous groups, village and school boards and made similar pledges to push for phase in.  At that time no one objected to the phase in because, people were worried that their taxes would go up.

This is a big victory for the town and highlights the excellent relations we have with our state government leaders. Earlier this year one civic association that is always critical of the town  sent out an e mail blast stating that “the chances of getting last minute approval form the state legislature for a measure to give some relief to taxpayers in the areas of Greenburgh hardest hit by increases in their property assessments were pretty remote to begin with, but as the legislative session winds down this week, they appear just about dead.”

E MAIL FROM FORMER IRVINGTON TRUSTEE KEN BERNSTEIN AND VIDEO OF A 2010 MEETING AT WHICH TIME TOWN OFFICIALS PROMISED TO PHASE IN REASSESSMENT  (we made similar promises to other civic groups in 2009 and 2010)

Ken Bernstein

April 11 at 11:11am

On 10/12/10 there was a “town hall” meeting in Irvington to discuss the possibility of reassessment based on the demands of some Irvington residents. Then-Mayor Jon Siegel and trustee Brian Smith organized the meeting to allow a presentation and Q&A of Paul Feiner and Edye McCarthy. I was also a trustee at the time. Then-county legislator and now State assemblyman Tom Abinanti was also in attendance. I just looked back and found the video on the Irvington Village website at

http://irvington.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=88#.VwuvIHHtoYQ.email. It is a lengthy but informative 2 hour video.

To Paul’s credit, at around 1:30 on the video clock (the clock doesn’t work well), he said that (1) he would only support reassessment if there was a hardship provision and (2) he felt strongly about incorporating a phase-in plan, and was going to investigate those possibilities. Others concurred. I believe he consistently took those positions elsewhere. So I’m interested to know what Paul Feiner learned from those investigations before making the decision to proceed. And what help can Tom Abinanti provide now that he is at the State level?

 

Editor’s Note: WPCNR has learned from a source familiar with the effects of the legislation that should a homeowner sell their property during the 2 to 3 year phase-in, the full amount of the revised upward assessment will be in effect for the new buyer (in addition to any reassessment applicable to the sale.)

Posted in Uncategorized

LADY LIBERTY WEEPS FOR THE AMERICA OF HATE.

Hits: 98

2014628govislandtapzeewp 036

WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey, The White Plains CitizeNetReporter .July 4, 2015 Originally Published July 2, 2014:

Good morning, Americans!

The news this morning is showing me ugly pictures of  the America today.

Pictures of the townspeople of Murrieta, California blocking a convoy of children from coming to their town, apparently urged to roadblock it  by the town’s mayor, made me shake my head in shame and sorrow at the hate that grows like a field of ugly weeds across the once great land.

Since when is America afraid of children? Since when does America hate children? When are we going to stop chasing down border busters and, instead, change the dynamic:  welcome them with buses to facilities and give them what they come to us because we America are their last hope?

I hated when the Coast turned back the boatpeople years ago. I hated it when Haitians were denied coming to the U.S.  I hate even more the inhospitability of creating an American wall around America.

America today as we approach its “Birthday”– July 4, 1776 — when signers of the original Declaration of Indendence signed that document in Philadelphia, knowing full well if British authorities found them they could face death for treason against the crown — too many of us have forgotten the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..”

The men who signed their names to this document had parents who had come to the new world because their parents had come to escape repression in England. That’s why they wrote that sentence.

And, yes, I know they had slaves, exploited the slave trade, and the native Americans. That does not take away from the truth of the words in that sentence I just quoted. The operative word is “all.”

With this sentence they were declaring that in their new country there would not be the oppression of the past. The hate of the past.

Sadly, the beauty of this second sentence is lost on the America of Hate today. Each day you see, scorn for the plight of children running across our borders from persons who should know better; fingerpointing at persons who are in this country illegally because they came from where they had nothing, because they speak a different language and try to understand ours,  and at the same time exploitation of illegals and legal persons too in our restaurants, our businesses, our stores who hire them off the books and make fortunes on their backs, giving no health benefits, a legal worker is entitled to receive.

There is GNN…”The Ghoul News Networks” who cover every  revenge shooting we average two a week in America lately and spend days titillating us with televising the grief of those whose loved ones died–a practice which unfortunately is not good for the mental health of persons who are troubled who I firmly believe are inspired by the media exploitation of mass shootings (because its easy rather than report on solutions).

Coverage of shootings glorify them and is piously defended by the media quest to know why they happen. News reporters, look at your tapes! You’ll see why violence is in vogue! You promote it–inadvertently.

They even reported a knife-wielder threatening the TV show,  Good Morning America today. I’d beef up security on Jimmy Fallon soon after that stupidity of reporting the incident. Their argument is always, “It’s news!” But it’s not–it’s sensationalism to get viewers.

There is the “Never Do Anything” Congress in Washington who listen to their lobbyists and donors and do not do what should be done– pass an immigration law which should not kick persons out in any way — but get them into the workforces legally so they can pay taxes, receive benefits from employers.

Do they do that…..Nooooooooooo–because that would cost big businesses too much money and end the bonanza of an expolited workforce– the modern slavery of today.

Our leaders buy into the “penance period,” of witholding voting, citizenship until illegals do their time leave and come back. That is a stupid fantasy promoted by the white supremacist capitalists in power in this country and forget their parents were immigrants once, too.

The power elite in the Republican and Democratic Parties that have with their greed wrecked our economy…Supermacists clinging to their power by “buying” the weakest people in America — elected officials. They influence our feckless elected officials with money and sophist arguments to make the illegals have to wait for citizenship.

It reaches right down to the roots…right here. This cowtowing by government to the realty and businesses at the suffering of those who work the hardest, know two languages while most of us only know one.

Locally, we are very good at keeping illegal residents packed into two-family homes, exploited in shabby conditions in Battle Hill in White Plains, in the Fisher Hill Neighborhood and elsewhere. Contributions to political parties are carefully designed to assure the overcrowded conditions in sweltering rooms make the tenements of the lower East Side of the 19th century look spacious.

Where are the sweeps by the City of White Plains to get rid of these people traps? Talk about quality of life?

Why do organizations designed to help newcomers who speak Spanish promote residences that are overcrowded (I have seen copies of the lists). The lists are available for the city to go to every place and inspect them. They don’t.

And just once, I’d like the Common Council to hold a conference on cleaning up illegal housing in White Plains. They never have in the 16 years I’ve run this website. How do they sleep at night?

What do they and Westchester County and New York State do? Lots of tax breaks for businesses to come in and establish businesses in our cities. For which the taxpayer pays.

However, America does care if white persons anywhere in the world are victimized. We definitely champion them. But we do not get upset at the continuing violence in Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan — Ukraine–Bangladesh, Istanbul.

When American businesses shirk taxes by shipping jobs overseas, we have abetted this, contributing to the drain of manufacturing jobs.

When banks screw up and lose $6 Billion, just lose it, without explanation. Nothing is done to them. No banker czar or tycoon went to jail except Bernie Madoff.

When businesses break the law, they do so, and admit no wrongdoing when lightly slapped on the wrists by the attorney general.

I was in a hospital Monday to be there for a person undergoing a procedure. The nurses were of all races. All spoke English. The anesthesiologist was Indian. The surgeon was Indian. They dealt with their patients deftly, with compassion and understanding.

I want to assure the people of America that the children will not hurt you. They will not take your taxes. But you unfortunately have failed to do what Americans used to do: put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

The scene in Murietta California two years ago only lacked one thing: the water hoses and the police dogs and the police with clubs stopping the citizens of Murrieta from hurling stones and rocking the buses.

The government was wrong in letting them turn away the convoy, and diverting to San Diego. The Murrieta Mayor should not have incited his town against the border children. He just took a politically advantageous stance to assure his pathetic reelection.

When elected officials do not stand up for what is right, when they espouse hate against children, as officials in the south did in the early 1960s during the freedom rides, the people have to wonder, how would this person treat me?

The failure of great big American business to rebuild Detroit, New Orleans,  speak volumes for how the government really feels, how patriotic businesses really are…let alone American business leaders.

Not only is this now an America of Hate, it is an America of Insecurity, America Without Confidence, and an America dedicated to its own pleasure.

The stone faces of Presidents of the Past on Mount Rishmore are grim faced for a reason: We have failed their vision.

Posted in Uncategorized

THIS WEEK ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD: MARY ANN KEENAN ON www.whiteplainsweek.com and YOUTUBE

Hits: 142

ON

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

YOU’VE GOT

MAK

MARY ANN KEENAN

FIRST WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL

THE NO NONSENSE COUNCILPERSON

COUNCILPERSON FOR 26 YEARS.

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

INTERVIEWS MS. KEENAN 

ON HOW POLITICS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 1970S.

HOW THE CITIZENS HAVE CHANGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

HOW THE COMMON COUNCIL TREATED ISSUES THEN AND HOW THE PRESENT COUNCIL TREATS THEM

WHAT WHITE PLAINS HAS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE

SEE THIS HISTORICAL INTERVIEW on

www.whiteplainsweek.com

or on YOU TUBE at

 
(The previous YOUTUBE link for this program was incorrect, the above is now the correct Mary Ann Keenan program link on YOUTUBE)
Posted in Uncategorized

FIRST ANALYSIS OF EGYPTAIR FLIGHT 804 DATA REPORTERS CONFIRM SMOKE JUST PRIOR TO CRASH

Hits: 173

WPCNR AVIATION NEWS. From Peter Katz, Editor, NTSB REPORTER. JUNE 29, 2016:

EgyptAir flight MS 804 that crashed in May saw smoke on board shortly before its crash, the investigation committee looking into the incident confirmed on Wednesday after examining the plane’s recovered data recorders.
“Recorded data is showing consistency with [distress signals sent from the flight indicating there was] smoke from the lavatory and avionics area,” the committee said in a statement.
The committee added that the front section from the wreckage of the plane, whose crash into the Mediterranean Sea killed all 66 people on board, showed “signs of high temperature damage and soot.”
Aviation Herald, a prominent Austria-based website specialising in air accidents, said in May that the airliner sent seven alarm messages indicating smoke on board minutes before disappearing.
The investigation committee said analysis will take place to identify the cause of the smoke.
The committee added that “the entire flight is recorded on the black box from the time it took off at Charles de Gaulle airport,” and that recording “stopped at an altitude of 37,000 feet” at the point of the crash.
Wednesday’s announcement comes after the black boxes arrived on Tuesday for inspection after undergoing repairs in France.
According to the committee, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is still undergoing repairs at the French aircraft accident investigation bureau.
Posted in Uncategorized