Forum Committee Asks to Participate in Freightway Development Process

(This letter was sent by the Scarsdale Forum)
Dear Mayor and Village Trustees:
We note with gratitude the Mayor’s letter of January 9, 2026 to the Scarsdale community regarding the potential development of the Freightway site. Having studied this matter extensively and concluded that such development could be of great value to the community, the members of the Scarsdale Forum’s Freightway Working Group are eager to participate in a process leading to a project that offers a variety of significant benefits while avoiding the detrimental effects that could result from changes not well considered to meet the community’s needs and desires.

While we appreciate the Village’s thoughtful approach to this issue, we believe that the deteriorating condition of the Freightway garage, the shortage of housing to meet residents’ changing needs, and a range of other factors require timely action. Appropriate development would improve the Village’s finances with more productive uses, improve the quality of life it offers, and create a positive impact on the appearance of our lovely Tudor-themed Village Center.

We fully appreciate the concerns voiced by some residents regarding the potential impact of development on our school system, infrastructure, and municipal services, and on traffic in the Village Center. These matters require serious consideration on the part of the community, the leadership of the Village and school district, and such outside experts as may be appropriate. Any plans for development must satisfactorily address these issues.

In order to ensure the lasting value of any project that may be undertaken, planning must be forward-looking, allowing for changing needs and available technology relating to transportation and other areas of life. Preservation of green space and sensitivity to the environment are values we embrace. The opportunity to create a full range of public benefits far into the future can be maximized by a process that is thoughtful and well-informed.

Our members have devoted substantial time and effort to researching the issues relating to this matter and educating the community with our findings. We would be pleased to continue our involvement in any way that would be helpful to our fellow residents, Village government, and school administration.

Very truly yours,

Scarsdale Forum Inc.
Susan Douglass, Chair, Downtown Revitalization Committee
Madelaine Eppenstein, Chair, Municipal Services Committee