Former Village Trustee Urges Historic Preservation Committee to Save Our Community
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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It was a late night at Village Hall on Tuesday September 19 when the Committee for Historic Preservation assembled to consider applications to tear down ten properties, an unusually long agenda. The tear down application is the first step for developers who seek to replace original Scarsdale homes with grander ones, and often take down one home, subdivide the property and build two homes to the outer property limits.
One home on the list, sited in a part of Edgewood called “The Woods,” attracted a group of neighbors and a former Village Trustee. They voiced their opposition to the demolition of the much admired Colonial home built in 1927 at 27 Woods Lane, formerly owned by John and Mary Jane Clerkin.
Speaking for that application to tear it down, a woman named Yeren Sun said she was representing the buyer. She appeared to have little knowledge of the neighborhood or its history. She claimed, “The house is simple. It is not historical. We think it is a teardown house. It will be better for the neighborhood. The lot will be subdivided to make two homes to blend into this zoning.”
She did not appear to be aware of the area or its history. In his 2012 Cultural Resources Survey Report, Architectural Historian Andrew Dolkart singled out Woods Lane as a study area for preservation.
He says, “The Woods is a small subdivision along the New Rochelle border in the Drake Edgewood neighborhood of Scarsdale. The development runs along Woods Lane, Southwoods Lane and Eastwoods Lane. The project appears to have been planned in the late 1920’s since several houses were erected in the area late in that decade, but the plan was revised in 1920. Most houses in The Woods were erected during the Depression years of the 1920’s. The study area consist of a cohesive mis of Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival houses, designed by a variety of architects. Both Franklin Hammond and Lorillard Wise, who were active elsewhere in Scarsdale, designed Tudor Revival houses early in the history of the development in The Woods – Hammond at 8 Woods Lane in 1928 and Wise at 2 Woods Lane in 1920. Colonial Revival is the dominant theme in the area, with facades of stone and wood….. Little information has come to light about the mechanics of development in The Woods. More research might discover additional information about the developer who created this fine subdivision at the edge of Scarsdale.”
A group of neighbors and former Village Trustee Jonathan Lewis recognized the special nature of the house and the character of the neighborhood.
Jim Detmer of 29 Woods Lane said he has lived next door to the property for 29 years. He said, “The house is a beautiful example of a wood frame colonial on a larger lot. They will jam two houses there – which will have a negative effect on the neighborhood and the community. The addition on the home was done by a historic architect Cherry and Matz.” He provided a list of historic properties they had designed including the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scarsdale and the Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights and the First Reformed Church in Piermont NY which is on the National Register. He said, “For those two reason I would ask that the committee move toward preservation.”
Maura Lee of 19 Woods Lane agreed. She said, “This is our neighborhood. That is a beautiful home. It’s the one home that people comment on –--- a beautiful farmhouse and a much admired Colonial. It will alter our community and our streets. We have bigger lots and lots of trees. Putting two identical houses next to each other will alter our neighborhood. Tearing down this beautiful home will change our community.”
Former Trustee Jonathan Lewis, who lives at 56 Woods Lane urged the committee members to save the house. He advised that if the current laws did not give the committee the tools they need to preserve neighborhoods, they should speak to the trustees about amending the law.
Discussing where Scarsdale now finds itself, he said the following which drew a round of applause from many in the room.
Lewis said: “First, let me begin by thanking you all for your service on the CHP. I appreciate the time commitment you have made and the dedication to our community that it represents.
27 Woods Lane is a beautiful home. It's elegance contributes to the grace and beauty that make walking along the winding road that defines Woods Lane so special.
We have a great neighborhood for walking and for many of our neighbors a stroll along Woods Lane is a highlight for its beauty, the lovely tree canopy, the distinguished architecture that characterizes the street, and the historic consistency of its homes. The homes may be different, but they are of a specific time and place. Woods Lane is a great representation of the attention to quality, and architectural detail, that characterized the development of Scarsdale as a great suburb after WW1. While there has been some development on Woods Lane, it has been very modest. Tearing down this house and building 2 homes, in my view, will severely degrade the qualities that make Woods Lane historic and special. The character of the neighborhood will be irreparably harmed, historic vistas will be destroyed
As you consider the application for to demolish this house, and the other homes on your list I hope you give consideration to the great challenges before you:
We are witnessing an unprecedented transformation of our community by developers who while seeking to make a profit, a fair objective given their business, are at the same time making our community and its 100 year old infrastructure less sustainable and more costly to maintain. Developers will have their profit in hand, while we raise our taxes to deal with the rising costs of climate change.
Development exacerbates the loss of our tree canopy and increases water runoff as less permeable surfaces replace lawns. Development generates greater volumes of physical waste being transported by our sanitation department and greater volumes of liquid waste transported by our sewer system.
If you find the current laws do not empower you to preserve our community, I encourage to speak out directly to our Village Board in public comment period. As a former trustee, I am particularly mindful that such an action would be unusual but we are living in unusual times.
My own view, after serving, is local government with its current level of staffing and reliance on volunteers like us cannot keep up with well-financed developers. I would encourage you and our Village Board of Trustees to review the pace of change, hire the best legal minds available, and enact a code that is moden, focused on neighborhood character including nature (which is an important part of our historic legacy) and save our community. Our village has among the highest level of cash reserves in decades. The money to support your work is available.”
The committee did not respond to Lewis’ message to address the inadequacies in the law but did vote to adjourn that application to the next meeting while they gathered more information about renovations to the house and asked for an opinion from historian Andrew Dolkart.
Discussing the additional homes on the list, the same developers and architects had submitted multiple applications and were nonchalant about their reasons for tearing down several homes and even entire streets.
As justifications for one demolition, an architect said, “It’s not an exciting house and we want to tear it down.” Commenting on a house on Rock Creek Lane, the developer said, “We have built six or seven on this street,” meaning we are already well into replacing the entire subdivision.
In that vein the committee quickly approved applications to demolish:
85 Spier Road
16 Lebanon Road
239 Rock Creek Lane
75 Brown Road
18 Lincoln Road
41 Wildwood Road
The committee voted to preserve the stone from 41 Wildwood Road
The committee came up with a new twist on preserving a remnant of a home at 41 Wildwood Road that is clad in natural stone. While approving the demolition of the home the committee drafted provisions to require developer Eilon Amidor to reuse the original stone in the construction of the new house.
A Carriage House at 6 Cooper Road, formerly 2 Cooper Road
Architect Bana Choura presented an application for developer Bobby Ben Simon to take down a carriage house/garage that formerly belonged to the mansion at 2 Cooper Road. The history of the house and the developer's plans have been a long and twisitng tale. The property was purchased by Bobby Ben Simon in 2019 who first applied to subdivide the property into three lots and build two additional homes on the property. In 2021 he claimed he was unable to sell the main house and applied to and take it down. Though he got approval to demolish the home in May 2021 the main house was subsequently sold for $3,000,000 was subsequently sold for $3,000,000.
The main house has now been renovated and is on the market again with a new address, 11 Murray Hill Road.
A Garage/Carriage House on Cooper RoadThough the demolition of the garage was approved at the January 29, 2019 meeting of the Committee, the developer waited too long to demolish it and had to re-apply. Village code says, "Any certificate or permit to demolish a structure issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire 12 months from the date of issuance if the work authorized thereby is not commenced by the end of such twelve-month period. Any such certificate or permit shall expire."
Committee members questioned whether this was more than a garage – and included bedrooms and a kitchen for the staff of the home. They also felt that more research was needed on the history of the structure and moved to adjourn the decision until the next meeting. Chair Adam Lindenbaum explained, “Some of us are new on the committee. There is a lot of history to consider.”
69 Greendale Road
There was more discussion about an 1,840 square foot Tudor style home at 69 Greendale Road. Built in 1925 by builder Vivian Green, the home was part of the early development of Scarsdale. The committee acknowledged that Green was a prolific builder who incorporated the name “Green” into all his streets and buildings including Greendale Road. However the committee did not feel that the home warranted preservation and voted unanimously to approve the application.
12 Burgess Road
A rendering of a Scarsdale home designed by architect Robert D. Radliffe
The committee also agreed to take down a 4,900 square foot Colonial home built in 1925 on one acre at 12 Burgess Road. For this one, the architect Robert D. Radcliffe of Radcliffe and Shipway was known as he also designed 24 Tompkins Road and 47 Brewster Road, both called out in Dolkart’s survey. The work of a noted architect, or master, is one criteria for preservation, but the committee dismissed this point. Take a look at this vintage drawing of Radcliffe’s work in Scarsdale here:
Radcliffe’s partner, Verna Cook Salomonsky Shipway, was a pioneering woman in architecture and designed several notable homes in Scarsdale. Read more about her here.
Two Food Openings in Scarsdale Village
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Scarsdale is now home to a new French bistro and a gelato shop.
On September 13, the Village celebrated the opening of Micheline at 878 Scarsdale Avenue in the former site of Metro Diner. The fully renovated restaurant seats 70 indoors and 40 outdoors and is now open for dinner on Wednesday to Sunday nights. You can make your reservation on RESY.
On Wednesday, the Mayor, trustees and representatives from the Scarsdale Business Alliance came out to join managing partner Jonathan Aubrey, chef Joshua Capone and the entire staff for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Aubrey, a Scarsdale resident with his young family in tow, was excited to welcome the community to sample the new menu.
Also open next to Scarsdale train station is a new gelato shop. We stopped in an were offered tastes of tempting flavors like Hazelnut Cremino, Tirarmisu and Whiskey Cream and Pecans. Stop by for a cup or a cone and let us know what flavor you recommend.
Jonathan Aubrey and Family
Micheline
Gelato!
Letter to the Editor: Drive Carefully Until New Light Is Installed
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-The following letter was submitted by Christine Weston in response to the news that a traffic light will be installed on the Post Road at Edgewood Road.
Many thanks, but caution is imperative for the next two years.
The Edgewood and Crane Berkley neighborhoods are sincerely grateful to New York State Assembly Member Amy Paulin and New York State Senator Shelley Mayer for their successful negotiation with the New York State Department of Transportation to install a much-needed traffic light at the intersection of Post and Edgewood Roads. The support and hard work of Village Manager Rob Cole is also recognized—many thanks to you.
While this news is encouraging, the timeline is concerning. Edgewood Elementary school opens next week, and when those doors open, there will be many Crane Berkley families with young children crossing there at least twice a day. There are a lot of school days between now and the estimated installation of the light in 2025. These parents will be putting their lives and the lives of their young children at risk for more than two years.
Until that happens, we implore the community: BE CAREFUL. Drivers, please slow down on the approach to Edgewood Road. Pedestrians, cross very carefully; assume cars can’t see you.
Relief is on the way, but we have to continue to stay vigilant until we see that first red light.
Sincerely,
Christine Weston
26 Taunton Road
Welcome Funky Monkey to Scarsdale
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In an age when merchants are abandoning storefronts for websites, it’s nice to see someone buck the trends. Jared Greenman, the fourth generation in a long line of toy sellers, has opened his newest store, Funky Monkey in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center in Scarsdale.
Greenman’s father, Stan Greenman, was the creator and founder of the beloved national chain of toy stores Noodle Kidoodle. His great uncle, Nat Greenman, was one of the first inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
The Scarsdale store is the third Funky Monkey store, following successful ventures in Greenvale in Long Island and on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich. We stopped by to visit and were impressed with the ample merchandise, the appealing design and the welcoming atmosphere for adults and kids too.
Greenman explained, “The store is floor-to-ceiling toys — trendy toys, plus the classics. We have everything kids want. We shop all over the country for the perfect gifts for kids. Plus, we will help you pick out the right gift for any age, and we’ll wrap it in funky, fun gift-wrap for free. We do party goodie bags, too. We’re kid and parent-friendly, here to help in every way.”
We asked Greenman about the move to Scarsdale and here is what he shared:
How has the reception been so far to the new store in the Golden Horseshoe?
It's been amazing! We've had a ton of positive feedback and excitement so far around the opening.
Why did you select Scarsdale for your third location? What seems right about the environment here?
Our customers have been telling us for years how their friends in Scarsdale always talk about how they really need a store like Funky Monkey. We listened. And after spending some time exploring the area and talking to members of this wonderful community, we knew Scarsdale was the perfect fit for our next location.
With so many businesses moving from brick and mortar to online, why are you moving in the opposite direction?
Our stores are known for providing a one-of-a-kind and fun in-store shopping experience. Everyone can remember the feeling of joy, wonder, and excitement when they walked into their favorite toy store as a kid. That feeling can't be replicated online. We specialize in providing that magical sensation while also serving the need for a local toy store where our toy experts can help our customers choose and gift wrap the perfect gift face to face.
Any thoughts on the state of the toy industry? What are the current trends?
The toy industry has been very strong especially since the pandemic and the outlook remains positive! Barbie was a big hit this summer with the release of the movie. The trend of product re-launches and nostalgia from the 90's and Y2K's continues to be a popular theme.
Are kids welcome to come in and browse the store with their parents?
100%. We love seeing children's eyes grow wide when they step in the door. We welcome customers of all ages to come shop and experience Funky Monkey.
Tell us about a few of the services you offer - such as goodie bags, personalization etc?
We specialize in our complimentary gift wrapping and bundling. Our customers love us because we make their lives easier when they need a birthday, baby or holiday gift. Shoppers can visit us in store or give us a call with their budget, the child's age and some general info about what they like and we carefully select the products and beautifully gift wrap them. We ship all over the country, offer local delivery and curbside pickup. We also sell toy goodie bags for parties and offer personalization on a wide range of items like ride-ons.
Stop by to check out Funky Monkey in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center. There’s something for everyone!
At Village Hall: Ad Hoc Committee on the Pool, New Liquor Store and Trustees Remember Bob Steves
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Village Trustees continue to work through the summer and took action on the pool, professional service agreements and an application for a female-owned liquor store on Christie Place at their meeting on Tuesday August 8, 2023.
At the opening of the meeting the Mayor and Trustee Gruenberg remembered Former Mayor Bob Steves who passed away on July 30, 2023.
Mayor Arest said, “I want to start my mayor's comments this evening by remembering someone who sat in this seat less than 10 years ago. Mayor Bob Steve's who passed away on July 30, at the age of 77 was a dedicated pillar in the Scarsdale community, recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl and called Scarsdale home for almost 25 years. serving on the Board of Education from 1998 to 2005. Bob spent one year as President. He would later join the Village Board as a trustee from 2009 to 2013 and as mayor from 2013 to 2015. My personal experience with Bob was working with him on the Library Project Capital Campaign Committee that he co-chaired. His leadership and knowledge of Scarsdale was invaluable. He was also generous with his time we had breakfast soon after I'd been elected to serve on the Village Board. I will never forget his advice as it was grounded in his experiences but it was far from a soliloquy of greatest hits. There was plenty of humility and lessons learned from experiences with mixed results. And that advice has absolutely helped to make me a better public servant. Bob's legacy reminds us of the importance of selfless service and putting the community first. He truly cared for Scarsdale, and he will be remembered for his dedication.”
Dara Gruenberg said, “Bob and I worked together as co-chairs with Betty Pforzheimer on the Scarsdale Library's Capital Campaign to reimagine our library. With dedication and humility, Bob was a shining light, devoting countless time to uplifting our community throughout his decades. of service. His unwavering willingness to contribute was a testament to his resolute spirit. Above all, Bob was a man of profound integrity and the embodiment of generosity. In a quiet unassuming way he impacted lives, leaving an indelible mark on our community. His gentle spirit and his impressive legacy will continue to resonate with all who had the privilege of knowing him. And one piece of trivia that a lot of people don't know is the reason that the Rec Department has their beautiful new home is that when we were talking about closing the library and moving to a temporary space, we couldn't figure out where to go. And Bob was the one who suggested that we renovate Supply Field and move there and hoped the Rec Department would ultimately move there. And so we have that renovated space thanks to him.
Scarsdale Pool
What’s the next step for the renovation of the Scarsdale Pool Complex? Mayor Arest explained, “The board understands the importance of the pool project and the impact it will have on generations of residents. We also know that getting to the finish line will take a village. We will need the input and diverse perspectives of the community as well as continuity. “
He announced the formation of an Ad Hoc Scarsdale Pool Redevelopment Committee. The mission of the committee is stated as follows:
To advise and assist the Board of Trustees in achieving the successful redevelopment of our municipal pool facility in a manner that reflects the needs, desires, and spirit of our diverse community. We are dedicated to creating a safe, accessible, and engaging space that fosters health, connection, and enjoyment for all residents. Through the integration of community involvement, we aim to design a pool that is environmentally sustainable, financially viable, and is a source of pride for our municipality.
The following residents were appointed to the committee:
Larry Medvinsky, Chairperson
Lynn Brooks Avni
Anothny East
Diane Greenwald
Casey Klurfeld
Mark Mathias
Anne Moretti
Aubrey Phillibert
Andrew Sereysky
Carol Silverman
Anita Singhal
The Mayor continued, “Our next steps for this project will be engaging a construction manager, to assist us in ensuring that we are building a new complex that fits within our project constraints and is completed in an efficient manner. In the coming weeks we will also refine the needs of the facility that have already been identified with the help of our expert consultants and move into schematic design.”
Con Edison Gas Lines
Village Manager Rob Cole gave an update on the continuing work on Con Edison’s installation of a gas main and gas service lines in Scarsdale.
He said that the utility continues to make progress along Fox Meadow Road, with two crews working simultaneously near Chesterfield and Kent Road. They skipped a portion of Fox Meadow Road just south of Fenimore Road where they were unable to traverse the Village’s water system and are looking into how to do that work.
Con Edison will continue to work south on Fox Meadow Road until they reach Crane Road where the work will go east on Church Lane. They are on schedule for completion of this phase of the project to Church Lane by the end of 2023.
Simultaneously Con Ed is currently working on Church Lane between Crane Road and Wayside Lane on a residential service main that provides connections for each residential property up and down Church Lane. This is not connected to the larger project along Fox Meadow Road. This work is supposed to be done before the beginning of school this fall.
After the project on Church Lane is complete, similar work is expected to be done on Drake Road.
Community Events:
Cole highlighted the following upcoming events:
The last summer concert of the season featuring the Westchester County band will be held on Thursday, August 10 at 8 pm where they will be playing a medley of rock, classics and marches.
There will be a Party in the Park at Hyatt Park on Friday, August at 11 from 6pm to 8pm.
The Farmers Market, will be open this Sunday from 9am to 1pm and each Sunday during the same hours through November 19.
Senior Program Coordinator
Cole announced that after a long search, the Department of Parks Recreation and Conservation had hired Mehta Silver to be the Senior Programming Coordinator. She is seeking to collaborate with the Scarsdale Public Library, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service and the Village Advisory Council on Scarsdale Seniors to produce frequent and helpful programming.
New Liquor Store
An application has been filed for a special use permit for the location of a female-owned liquor store on Christie Place, in the space formerly occupied by Patisserie Salzburg. Amici Dei Vini will sell domestic and international wines and spirits. If approved,the 2,543 square foot space would be renovated from a bakery to accommodate a liquor store. The Trustees scheduled a public hearing on the permit for their meeting on October 10, 2023 at 8 pm.
During public comments, Yaliana Hernandez from Studio Architecture spoke in support of the application. She explained that Amici Del Vini is a liquor store that hopes to go into One Christie Place which is located within the planned unit development 1.4 zone. This specific space that they are hoping to go into is on the ground floor of the building across from DeCiccos and next to Chat and said, “We would like to be able to apply for a special use permit for this liquor store within the zone.”
Master Service Agreements for Architectural and Engineering Services
In order to get access to the highest quality services at the best value for the Village, Village Managers issued an RFP for professional and technical services for architectural and engineering services. Thirty firms submitted proposals and the staff reviewed the proposals and interviewed multiple firms.
After deliberating, the staff recommended four consulting firms to be a part of this master services agreement and proposed to sign two-year service agreements with these firms:
H2M Architects and Engineers, 2700 Westchester Avenue, Suite 415, Purchase, NY 10577for architecture/building design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), landscape architecture, and surveying services.
Mott MacDonald, NY Inc. 120 White Plains Road, Suite 140, Tarrytown, NY 10591 for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), traffic engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services.
LiRo Architects + Planners, P.C, One State Street Plaza, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10004 for architecture/building design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), structural, civil engineering (including stormwater and wastewater conveyance), traffic engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services.
Peter F. Gaito & Associates, 102 Waller Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 for architecture/building design services;
The resolution was approved by Village Trustees.
