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HEAR JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEW DR. PAUL FRIED ON HIS GOALS FOR THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT ON YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW
AT
ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM
ON YOUTUBE NOW WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON COMMON CORE OVERHAUL; THE MAYOR’S PLANS FOR THE CITY ON YOUTUBE AND THE INTERNET NOW
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PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY, JIM BENEROFE TELLING IT LIKE IT IS FOR 15 YEARS SEEING IT ALL, SAYING WHAT MUST BE SAID NOW
SEE THE WHITE PLAINS WEEK TEAM ON
YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW
WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE FRIDAY DEC. 11 PROGRAM
ON
EDUCATION REVOLUTION WHAT IT MEANS TO YOUR CHILD
NY STATE JUNKS COMMON CORE — NEW ASSESSMENTS WON’T COUNT UNTIL 2020–EDUCATORS WILL DESIGN NEW CURRICULUM
PRESIDENT ENDS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND–TURNS EDUCATION BACK TO THE STATES
MAYOR ROACH OUTLINES STATUS OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, AND SURPRISE INITIATIVES TO THE COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS — AYANA MEADE REPORTS
OBSERVATIONS ON THE TERRORIST THREAT-
PRESIDENT OBAMA OUTLINES HIS 4 POINT PROGRAM
ACTWHITE PLAINS CHALLENGES COMMON COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER ITS FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK DECISION
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TARANTELLA — DANCING AROUND THE BUDGET DEFICIT
AND MORE
SEE IT NOW ON www.whiteplainsweek.com or
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
Happy Days Here Again! Westchester County Exec-Legislature Eliminate 64 Budgeted,Unfilled But Funded Positions to Balance 2016 Budget Before the Holidays–6th Year of No County Property Tax Increase
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) December 12, 2015:
Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino Friday thanked the bi-partisan coalition of 10 legislators that has come together to ensure passage of a compromise version of his $1.8 billion budget for 2016 that maintains the two goals he established at the start of the negotiations: no increase in the tax levy and no raiding of the “rainy day” fund to pay for operational expenses.
The coalition budget has the support of two Democrats and eight Republicans, giving it one more vote than the necessary nine to pass. It was negotiated by the Administration, County Board of Legislators’ Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, Vice Chairman James Maisano, Republican Majority Leader John Testa and Budget Chairperson Sheila Marcotte.
“Nobody has a monopoly of wisdom when it comes to knowing exactly how every dollar of the budget should be spent,” said Astorino. “I had priorities and the Republicans and Democrats on the board had their priorities as well. We worked out our differences and came to an agreement that protects taxpayers and preserves essential services in a way that has majority support. That’s how the process should work. I want to thank all the members of the coalition for their support and Chairman Kaplowtiz, Vice Chairman Maisano, Republican Leader Testa and Budget Chair Marcotte for their leadership.”
Austin Ave Property Sale a Key Factor
Kaplowitz said the flexibility of the administration was key to building a coalition, particularly the willingness to address funding for not-for-profit agencies and the assurance that if county property on Austin Avenue in Yonkers is sold next year proceeds are intended to be used to build up the county’s reserves and minimize or eliminate the need to borrow for tax certioraris, the money refunded to property owners who successfully prove their tax bills were too high.
“Through bipartisan cooperation we have reached an agreement for a sixth consecutive no tax increase budget,” said Kaplowitz. “This budget is not perfect but it is sound. I remain concerned about the level of our reserve funds but I am confident that through cooperation and smart financial management we will maintain Westchester County’s fiscal health.”
Maisano added: “I’m pleased our legislature was able to work with the County Executive in a bipartisan manner to reach a compromise budget that holds the line on taxes and protects essential services.”
The formal vote is scheduled for Monday and passage will be Astorino’s sixth consecutive budget without an increase in the tax levy. Areas of compromise in the coalition budget include headcount restorations and not-for-profit funding adjustments.
“Once again a bipartisan majority of legislators came together, left politics behind, and compromised to create a responsible budget for 2016 that keeps our critical social safety net in place while also looking out for the taxpayers of Westchester,” said Testa. “I urge all my colleagues to support this effort and vote yes on this budget.”
In addition to Kaplowitz, Maisano, Testa and Marcotte, the legislators supporting the coalition budget are: Francis Corcoran, Michael Smith, David Gelfarb, Bernice Spreckman, Gordon Burrows and Virginia Perez.
“The budget belongs to everyone,” said Marcotte. “Over the last few weeks, the Budget Committee made an effort to ensure all voices were heard. I want to thank the public and my colleagues for their input. By doing a lot of listening, I think we’ve come up with a budget that serves the county well.”
Highlights from the coalition budget include:
- Tax Levy: $548 million – no increase from 2015
- Spending: $1.8 billion – flat to 2015
- Safety Net: $595 million – no decrease from 2015
- Unrestricted Reserves (Rainy Day Fund): $140 million – no decrease from 2015
- Headcount: 4,160 total general fund position count – four layoffs and 64 vacancy eliminations.
(Editor’s Note: It is unclear from this news release whether or not the county has revised downward its optimistic sales tax figures projection for 2016, which was very optimistically calculated in 2015 which has partially caused the $25 Million deficit the 2015 budget faced. The release also does not indicate how that shortfall is being erased.)
Governor’s Common Core Task Force Says “Overhaul Common Core,” Cut Down Number of Tests. Set Standards by Extensive Local Input.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the Governor’s Office. December 10, 2015:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the final report and recommendations of the Common Core Task Force.
The Task Force recommends overhauling the current Common Core system and adopting new, locally-driven New York State standards in a transparent and open process to make sure all students are prepared to succeed in an increasingly competitive 21st century economy.
The new standards, curriculum and tests and must uniquely developed for New York students with sufficient local input. The Task Force also recommends that current Common Core aligned tests should not count for students or teachers until the start of 2019-2020 school year to ensure the system is implemented completely and properly to avoid the errors caused by the prior flawed implementation.
Governor Cuomo said: “After listening to thousands of parents, educators and students, the Task Force has made important recommendations that include overhauling the Common Core, adopting new locally-designed high quality New York standards, and greatly reducing testing and testing anxiety for our students. The Common Core was supposed to ensure all of our children had the education they needed to be college and career-ready – but it actually caused confusion and anxiety. That ends now. Today, we will begin to transform our system into one that empowers parents, teachers and local districts and ensures high standards for all students. I thank the Task Force members for their thorough work. Together we will ensure that New York’s schools provide the world-class education that our children deserve.”
The Task Force was chaired by Richard Parsons, Senior Advisor, Providence Equity Partners, LLC and former Chairman of Citigroup.
Richard Parsons said: “While adoption of the Common Core was extremely well intentioned, its implementation has caused confusion and upheaval in classrooms across New York State. We believe that these recommendations, once acted on, provide a means to put things back on the right track and ensure high quality standards that meet the needs of New York’s kids. The recommendations will provide the foundation to restore public trust in the education system in New York and build on the long history of excellence that preceded this period. On behalf of all the Task Force members, I thank everyone who submitted feedback during our review, as well as the Governor for providing us with this opportunity to improve the education system for students across New York State.”
The Task Force affirmed the importance of maintaining the highest quality standards and performance measures in education. However, the Task Force found that over the past decade there has been rapid change in education, including the 2009 federal Race to the Top and Common Core which has created confusion and disruption in states across the nation, including New York. Moreover, the original process to adopt and implement the Common Core standards, curriculum and tests in New York had implementation issues and failed to include sufficient input from educators, parents and local districts and was not open and transparent.
To ensure that the State moves forward with high quality education standards the Task Force made 21 recommendations including:
· Overhauling the Common Core and adopting locally-driven high quality New York education standards with input from local districts, educators, and parents through a transparent and open process that are age-appropriate and allow educators flexibility for Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners.
· Establishing a transparent and open process by which New York standards are periodically reviewed by educators and content area experts, since educators know their schools and students best.
· Providing educators and local school districts with the flexibility to develop and tailor curriculum to meet the needs of their individual students and requiring the State to create and release new and improved curriculum resources that educators can then adapt to meet the needs of their individual students.
· Engaging New York educators, not a private corporation, to drive the review and creation of State standards-aligned tests in an open and transparent manner.
· Minimizing student testing anxiety by reducing the number of test days and test questions and providing ongoing test transparency to parents, teachers and districts on test questions and student test scores.
· Ensuring that State tests account for different types of learners, including Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners.
The Task Force found that to implement the new system would require significant work including a comprehensive review of the current Common Core Standards in order to adopt new New York State Standards and create new curriculum and assessments in an open and transparent manner for the nearly 700 school districts, 5,000 schools, 200,000 plus teachers and 2.65 million students.
Therefore, the Task Force believes that in order to finally get the system right there must be adequate time to implement the system. Given all of the work and time required to review and adopt new standards, improve and adapt curriculum, and create new assessments, any current Common Core aligned tests should not count for students or teachers until the start of 2019-2020 school year when the new statewide standards developed through this process will be put into place.
New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch said: “The Task Force has adopted many if not most of the Board of Regents’ recommendations for improving the implementation of the higher standards we’ve set for our students. The most important message in the Task Force report is the renewed commitment to adopting and maintaining higher standards. We cannot turn our backs on our students at a time when the world is demanding more from them – more skills, more knowledge, more problem-solving.”
New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said: “In my first few months as commissioner, I’ve traveled across the state and heard a large cross section of New Yorkers — our teachers, parents and educators –share their deep concern for improving the education of our children. And as a member of the Common Core Task Force, I’ve heard those same stakeholders express those same concerns. Likewise, the Department’s AimHighNY survey unfolded the same passionate call for clear learning standards to serve as guideposts to future success for our children. Now it’s time to move forward and deliver on the promise we’ve made to our students and give them the best schools possible.”
The comprehensive report provides the history and context of learning standards and specifically, a review of the Common Core Standards in New York; a summary of testimony and stakeholder feedback across several categories and specific Task Force responses; and a full description of Task Force Recommendations.
The Education Transformation Act of 2015 will remain in place, and no new legislation is required to implement the recommendations of the report, including recommendations regarding the transition period for consequences for students and teachers. During the transition, the 18 percent of teachers whose performance is measured, in part, by Common Core tests will use different local measures approved by the state, similar to the measures already being used by the majority of teachers.
The report builds on the Governor’s longstanding commitment to education reform, including the recent laws together with the Legislature banning standardized testing for students in pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade, capping test preparation to two percent of learning time, not counting the Common Core scores against students and requiring the State Education Department to help districts eliminate unnecessary standardized tests for all other students.
Taxi Meter System, Tight Tax Cap Handicap,Comp. Plan Tied to TransCenter Survey, Heineken Expands– Mayor Discusses Plans for the City at WPCNA’s Annual “Pizza with the Mayor Meeting” By Ayana Meade
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Mayor Tom Roach holds court at the Council of Neighborhood Associations Monday evening. (All Photos for WPCNR by Ayana Meade)
WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR by Correspondent Ayana Meade. December 10, 2015:
Tuesday night, Mayor Thomas Roach discussed future plans for White Plains in front of a full crowd at the Education House during the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations’ annual “Pizza with the Mayor Meeting.”
The mayor talked for about a half-hour followed by another half-hour of questions from attendees. Topics discussed spanned multiple subjects with the majority of the discussion centering around the numerous development projects springing up in and around downtown White Plains—the main goal being to create a more vibrant downtown with increased pedestrian access.
The Mayor revealed Heineken’s announcement to move its creative departments from Manhattan to White Plains, and new plans to improve regulations on the city’s taxis,including switching to a metered system, (replacing the city wide zone fee structure now in effect).
The Mayor said the city tax cap they would be working under in preparing the 2016-17 budget would be .16 (point 1/6) of a percent instead of the 2% the city had complied with the previous two years, but said he thought the property tax impact would be helped by the increased development in the city.
The Mayor announced increased security for the New Year’s Ball Drop this year, and talked about what’s ahead for the developments now underway.
White Plains Mayor Tom Roach discussing city development Tuesday evening.
Development projects discussed included the following: 55 Bank street—plans for two 16-story apartment buildings near train station; the Pavilion Mall on South Broadway—multi-use site with high-end apartment towers; the parking lots across from Nordstrom—small hotel and residential units; the City Center Mall— return of a dedicated valet lane and higher-end restaurant tenants; The Westchester Mall—outdoor seating, and more pedestrian access; the “Boulevard”/old Scholz Dealership property—mixed use residential and “fitness mall”; Good Counsel school property—property sold, potential for student residence with Pace University; The Greenway—plans still on hold, meetings scheduled.
The largest project discussed was the TransCenter which the mayor noted will play a key and pivotal role in all other development projects throughout the city.
CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
When asked by an attendee whether it would be necessary to rewrite the city’s comprehensive plan, considering all the development projects currently underway, the mayor responded that the analysis and data gathered during the redevelopment of the TransCenter will be applied as feedback on the city’s other development projects. The TransCenter Task Force is charged with hiring individuals who will set up public participation forums through virtual meetings, that will provide all citizens with an opportunity to weigh in. (The firm Parsons-Brinkerhoff has already been selected by the city to faciliate the citizen involvement process.)
Effects on the City
In response to concerns over whether the projects will be pushing out lower income residents and whether they will provide sufficient affordable housing units, the mayor said the majority of the projects will not be pushing out lower income residents because they’re being built on sites that had no residents to begin with—i.e., parking lots, old car dealership, etc. [with the exception of the Esplanade Properties –being converted to rental apartments, pushing out seniors now housed there—not mentioned]
Mayor Roach delivered a virtual “State of the City” to the Council of Neighborhood Associations.
Easing zoning and parking requirements
Alternatively, the mayor suggested, instead of just having requirements, the city should be looking at building properties with smaller units and re-evaluating zoning and parking requirements that can make housing in the city cost prohibitive, especially for lower income residents and young people.
Mayor’s Vision
The mayor’s overarching vision in terms of redevelopment is to create a more walkable city with more “life”—a city that provides places and opportunities for people to interact. “Human beings don’t like to go everywhere in their car,” said Mayor Roach. In passing the Complete Streets Legislation his goal is to send the message that the streets are for “everybody.”
When asked whether the projects will be union based, the mayor said that right now it looks like two major projects will be union—55 Bank Street and the Pavilion, saying that It’s something we can’t require but it’s something we encourage. “When you bring in union contractors you get a better and quicker outcome.” The mayor used the White Plains Hospital project as an example.
HEINEKEN Expresses Confidence in the City, 55 Jobs
Crediting the city’s changing landscape and redevelopment projects as being supportive of “creatives,” the mayor announced that Heineken USA will be moving their marketing and creative departments from Manhattan to White Plains, adding 55 jobs to the area. The mayor noted that Heineken’s move will help to persuade other companies to do the same, saying “it’s the back office that you normally get out in the suburbs and to get the creative up here is really great.”
WINTERFEST in heated tent–safe from the elements
In keeping with the city’s plan to add more “life” to the downtown the WinterFest artisanal craft market will be held Dec 12th through Dec 20th in a heated tent at the site of the farmer’s market on Court Street. The mayor also discussed how film crews are taking an increased interest in the area, improving the local economy and providing opportunities for residents to get paid for having their homes featured in films.
New Year’s Eve Celebration of City Birthday
At this year’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) celebration the mayor’s main concern is security. This year security will be noticeably different—there will be a gated entry and multi-levels of law enforcement will be involved to keep everyone safe.
Notably, this year’s NYE celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the City of White Plains. Happy birthday will be sung before the ball drop and there will be celebrations throughout the year. While the city’s authorization came from Albany in 1915 the charter became effective Jan 1st 1916, marking 100 years.
THE NEW LOWERED CITY TAX CAP
The mayor also discussed the city’s finances, saying that since taking office the city has been within the tax cap every year and has done it without borrowing money for pensions or tax certificates, unlike other municipalities. He explained that the cap is referred to as the 2% tax cap but in actuality its not a 2% cap—this year White Plains’ tax cap is .16%, while the state has a 2% tax cap. Part of what will help the city stay afloat is all the redevelopment taking place, but he admits dealing with the city’s finances is challenging under the current cap requirements.
FASNY Process “A good process.”
During the meeting the French-American School of New York project (FASNY) continued to be a point of contention raised by a couple of attendees. The mayor responded by saying that he believes he ran a good process—saying that he ran civil meetings where people were allowed to speak and be heard. In the end he voted to close the street that would allow access to the school—a decision currently under litigation.
The Red Light Cameras Not to be Used for revenue.
Regarding red light cameras, the mayor says they’ve been authorized but the city is still deciding which intersections they will be used in. The city’s program will be different than other municipalities—it will not be revenue driven, although it will produce revenue. Red light camera placement will be focused on intersections that have a high propensity for accidents and the biggest threat to public safety.
Taxi to go to a standardized metered system
The mayor is also working on new legislation for the city’s taxis. One of the initiatives already completed is the hiring of two uniformed “taxi starters” at the White Plains train station—to help people with taxis at rush hour. The mayor is revising the taxi ordinance. The new ordinance will require a metered system instead of the current zone system, in an effort to standardize fare prices. The new ordinance will also place a limit on how old a taxi in operation can be, with the mayor saying,
“it’s an opportunity to improve things.”
Town of Greenburgh to Sell former Frank’s Nursery on 9A to an Assisted Living Company
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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT By Paul Feiner. Town of Greenburgh Supervisor. December 9, 2015:
The Town Board is close to an agreement to sell Frank’s nursery to an assisted living facility for $3,525,000. We anticipate that the facility will be between 90-100 units. In recent years residents have encouraged the town to sell the property, which we took over by foreclosure, for residential purposes or for an assisted living facility. Our current code authorizes assisted living facilities to be built at this location so no zoning changes will be required. We hired a broker over a year ago to help us market the property and worked hard to market the property. This was the best offer we received.
(1) Valterra (Capital Senior Housing) will now assume responsibility for the environmental remediation of the property but will do so at the Town’s expense;
(2) upon execution of the contract, Valterra (Capital Senior Housing) will deposit $100,000 in escrow and then assist the Town in working with the DEC during the (90) day feasibility period to quantify the cost of remediation and determine necessary remediation measures;
(3) once the cost of remediation is quantified, both parties will agree upon an amount of money to be placed in escrow that Valterra can draw down from to complete remediation;
(4) remediation will take place after closing and money placed in escrow for remediation will be deducted from the Town’s $3.5 purchase price;
Public Relations ploy by FASNY, Anti-FASNY Writer Feels.
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. DECEMBER 8, 2015:
This (ACT White Plains movement ) is just another example of FASNY’s heavily financed PR in action.
I have not seen this letter yet but I am certain it contains the same names that we have seen over and over again; most whom have some personal ties with FASNY and/or live nowhere near the project. It is silly for anyone to actually believe this is a group separate from FASNY.
A super majority (5-2) is needed on an Environmentally sensitive site for a good reason; to protect the environment. To suggest the council who voted “NO” to closing a public street and giving the property to FASNY so they could build their mega development, should change their vote because this small group is launching a website is silly.
The only thing that FASNY has demonstrated is they want what they want and they will do anything to get it. The new President of the Board of Trustees of FASNY waited just two days before the council voted to write a very strong letter to the City threatening to bring legal action if they did not get what they want.
Make no mistake about it, this latest publicity stunt is nothing more then trying to influence the judge by using the media. They even go as far as to claim they deliberately did not file a damages suit because why??????? Could it have something to do with the fact they have already received handsome offers to buy the property? Even an offer from a golf course developer who has offered almost DOUBLE what they paid for the property. We are not going to stand by while they try to bully their way into destroying a neighborhood.
Ellen Lee
White Plains
Neighbors Organization– ACT White Plains Says “Tail is Wagging the Dog” at Citizens to Be Heard Asks Krolian, Lecuona, Hunt-Robinson to “Reconsider Your Vote” on French American School.
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 5, 2015:
Four persons representing some 90 signers of a letter to the Mayor from a new political action group they call ACT White Plains, called upon Councilmembers Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Milagros Lecuona, and Dennis Krolian to “reconsider” their 3 negative votes that denied the closing of Hathaway Lane August 5, which killed the proposed plan for a new French American School of New York campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club.
The letter said the three councilpersons who voted “No” on Hathway Lane closure, as “The tail is wagging the dog.”
The vote that Monday night in August resulted in a suit filed by The French American School of New York to reverse the council ruling. That suit is now under consideration by Judge Joan Lefkowitz in New York Supreme Court.
The group in their letter to the Mayor and Common Council which was read to the council, did not specifiy what they wanted the Common Council to do.
WPCNR has learned that the French American School has financing in place with a “reputable” financial institution to start and complete the project if the Common Council should reverse its decision either before or after the Judge makes their decision.
WPCNR has also learned that the school’s present attitude is simply that they want to build the school, and the source told me the school deliberately did not file a damages suit, because any court decision in their favor would have the potential of amplifying the damages the school they could ask for.
The letter presented by ACT said they were acting before it was too late and the city lost the prospect of a park and a school that would benefit the neighborhood of Gedney Farms and city.
A knowlegeable source from the French American School told WPCNR, they had no idea the group was being formed or was going to present this evening before today.
THE DAY OF INFAMY –74 YEARS AGO TODAY. PEARL HARBOR HORROR REMEMBERED
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Out of the Sun
A Memorial Poem
Out of the sun on quiet Sunday morning they came
Birds of death blazened with red suns raining fiery havoc on Battleship Row.
One by one, ruthless planes dove, destroyed wantonly to their nation’s eternal shame.
Thunderous explosions scattered fiery death in Sunday dawn’s glow.
Flames belched from bowels of stricken Arizona, America’s pride,
On Hickam Field pilots raced to planes to defend
As their birds were crippled on ground by Zeros’ glide
Gunners in turrets on ships floundering filled skies with flack’s din.
In search of aircraft carriers, marauders could not find
Ruthlessly strafed and bombed leaving Pearl
Smoking ruin. Ships sunk, burning as raiders flew back into the Sun
The day of infamy had been ignited in the Zeros’ swirl.
America listened a world away, somber FDR
Spoke of this day that will live in infamy.
America must never forget that Pearl Harbor Scar
When an unsuspecting America slept in complacency.
To the 2,403 perishing that day under merciless bombs
Hails of bullets,terror of torpedos out of nowhere
America must remember forces against our freedoms
Relentlessly work always to remain aware of surprise of deadly bombs’ glare.
Vigilence is the price of freedom always to be defended
Against those who would destroy our republic from within
By dark forces in far off places we have offended.
The answer is not curtailing freedom at home rather it to champion.
The USS Arizona lies today in Pearl’s waters, bleeding lives
Of her men through the eerie eternal slick marking the rusting hulk.
Beneath Pearl’s waters, the blood of free people oozes from the shadowy bulk,
Bleeding forever, freedom’s spirit living eternally in lost lives remembered.
The Arizona never rests.
Note: The Pearl Harbor attack took place 74 years ago today at 7 A.M. Honolulu time –just about 12 noon Eastern Standard Time. Its aftermath is dramatically depicted at
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm
THE ESPLANADE TO REINVENT ITSELF: CONVERT BUILDING INTO 220 RENTAL UNITS. THE 150 ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS TO BE RELOCATED By Ayana Meade
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A rendering of the new Esplanade presented Monday evening at the Common Council Special Meeting. Esplanade Properties plans a complete interior and exterior “makeover” to create apartments. The construction will require the 150 assisted living residents currently living there to find other apartments or living arrangements. Rendering, Esplanade properties. Photo by Ayana Meade
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR by Correspondent Ayana Meade. December 2, 2015:
A plan to completely re-develop and re-purpose the Esplanade Properties—two buildings located opposite the Pavilion Shopping Center in downtown White Plains—was presented to the White Plains Common Council Monday night, during a special meeting at the Mayor’s Office.
The plan involves converting the two existing buildings at the intersection of South Broadway and Lyon Place into a mixed-use space offering 212 residential units, 9000 sq. ft. of medical office space, 6,750 sq. ft. of restaurants, and about 2,100 sq. ft. of retail.
One of the buildings slated for re-development (95 South Broadway) is currently being operated as a senior assisted living facility and is home to 150 senior residents who will need to be relocated during construction. The other building (4 Lyon Place), currently operates as the Esplanade Hotel. The two buildings are connected by an overhead, enclosed walkway that crosses Lyon Place.
The reimagining of The Esplanade Properties comes at a time when similar revitalization projects are slated for the East Post Road-South Broadway corridor on the hill above The Westchester mall—including the demolition and replacement of the nearly vacant Pavilion Mall with two residential towers as well as street level restaurants, and retail shops. That (The Pavilion) $275 million plan is currently under review by the White Plains Common Council.
Current Residents to Relocate
However, equally important and significant in the Esplanade re-development conversion is the careful transition and relocation of the 150 senior citizens currently residing at the Esplanade Senior Residences.
Esplanade Partners says they have yet to finalize the precise logistics regarding how the relocation will be handled but say,
“Management recognizes its responsibility to see that the transition is handled with a minimum of stress.”
Esplanade Partners estimates that the approval process will provide the time necessary for the residents and their families to explore suitable alternatives—stating that it is not expected for construction to begin in the main building requiring residents to move out, for at least six months.
NOTICE
A communication has gone out to residents—residents have received notice so they can begin planning for alternative living arrangements if necessary between now and commencement of construction. Esplanade Management and staff say they will also work closely with the residents and their families to find housing either at other Esplanade properties or non-Esplanade properties.
To house residents who require more time to find new residences Esplanade Partners is considering using the Annex (4 Lyon Place), saying they could have folks move over from the Esplanade to the Annex and still provide all the services necessary and begin renovation of the tower—however, the implementation of this plan has yet to be decided.
When asked by the Common Council whether Esplanade residents had the option of transitioning into the re-developed property, Esplanade responded that those truly independent residents may choose to stay after construction is complete, with the understanding that the new residence will not be a service provider.
Kensington and The Bristol Suggested
Esplanade noted that the average age for independent living is 82; assisted living 87—saying that the folks that are currently residents at the Esplanade “Would probably seek a different location. This is not a senior assisted living facility—we can transition them to other nearby facilities such as the Kensington and the Bristol.”
The Project
The Esplanade plan entails extensive renovations, including replacement of the exterior of the 15-story main building (95 South Broadway) and the installation of energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, windows and doors to bring the building’s outmoded mechanical infrastructure up to modern day standards. However, nothing will be demolished. The buildings are not proposed to come down in their entirety—there is no expansion of the footprint.
Other plans include improving the pedestrian streetscape and the skyline. On the back corner of the main building, three floors will be removed which will give the building an “L” shape. “Maisonettes”—6 brownstone-like duplex units with sidewalk entrances will be built on Lyon Place providing a residential streetscape. An indoor pool, yoga studio, fitness center and other amenities will be available to residents.
The Mix
The following is the proposed rental unit mix, which is still subject to change: 62 studios, 107 one bedrooms, and 43 two bedrooms. The smallest studio is 400 sq. ft.—that’s 50 sq. ft. larger than the existing hotel rooms there today. The largest unit is 1,155 sq. ft. (2 bedroom apartments at the top corner units). Esplanade properties has not established unit costs, but estimates they will be somewhere in the range of $35 per square foot.
The Market
When asked by the Council who their target demographic is, Esplanade responded that they weren’t at the point of marketing, but that the concept was to attract both ends of the spectrum—younger folks working in White Plains and empty nesters looking to downsize. Esplanade believes that these rental niches are underserved throughout Westchester.
Next
Esplanade Partners has already secured permission from the zoning board of appeals for a new roofline architectural feature, and during Monday’s meeting requested a zoning text amendment that will allow for the repurposing of the buildings and the elimination of a restriction that requires 500 sq. ft. per dwelling unit based upon lot area—elimination of this provision will allow Esplanade Properties to yield the desired 212 units.
Esplanade Partners requested to be placed on the Council’s next agenda to begin formal commencement of review, and to work cooperatively with the Council on the requested text amendment. It is expected that the Council will refer the plan for review by various City agencies.