A Concrete Step Forward on Rebuilding Scarsdale Sidewalks
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In response to months of advocacy from the Council on People with Disabilities, the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees held a work session on sidewalks and paving on Tuesday November 18, 2025 to address their concerns.
Village engineers opened the conversation with a recap of their study on the condition of Scarsdale’s 20 miles of sidewalks. A key early question centered on whether to rebuild the sidewalks with asphalt or concrete. Engineers and board members quickly aligned on concrete as the long-term solution: although more expensive upfront, concrete lasts 40–50 years compared to asphalt’s 10, making it significantly more cost-effective over time. They noted that asphalt may still be used for urgent temporary repairs when needed.
From there, the discussion turned to prioritization, staging, funding, and timelines. Engineers identified 6.5 miles of sidewalks rated “poor” or “failing,” ultimately recommending that the first-year pilot focus on 1.3 miles of the highest-use, highest-risk sections, namely sidewalks near schools, transit, and commuter routes. Mayor Justin Arest agreed that the village should move forward with a concrete-based rebuild beginning in fiscal year 2026. The Board currently has $295,000 allocated for sidewalks, but engineers estimate $700,000 is needed for the first phase, setting off a discussion about securing the remaining $400,000. Trustees emphasized that the initiative is focused on rebuilding existing sidewalks, not adding new ones at this time.
Residents offered thoughtful and passionate input during the public comment portion. Elizabeth Lawrence thanked village leadership for listening to residents and urged a multi-year plan, ideally within five years, to replace all asphalt sidewalks with concrete. She referenced successful work around the library as an example. She also noted that deteriorating sidewalks pose “a legal liability and a hazardous condition, especially for those with special needs.” Fox Meadow resident Marian Green voiced strong support for concrete, calling it an investment with an “immediate ROI and long term” impact, while urging the Board not to allow the project to become a slow, incremental “drip, drip, drip” process. Mayor Arest assured her that this is not the intention.
Longtime resident Barbara Greenbel, who has lived in Scarsdale for 60 years and recalls the construction of the original sidewalks, expressed satisfaction with the improvements near the library and pond, and asked the Board to examine the sidewalks on Fenimore Road. Resident Tom Schiera spoke about the need for safer crosswalks at Popham and Church Lane, sharing that his son, who has since recovered, was hit by a car on his electric bicycle at that location. Via Zoom, Susan Matula echoed the community’s gratitude and noted that while sidewalk maintenance has been underfunded for years, she is encouraged that this Board “appreciates the problem at hand and is ready to open the purse strings.”
After the meeting, Marian Green, Chair of the Scarsdale Advisory Council of People with Disabilities, noted that it has taken eight months of steady work to reach this point and said she left the meeting feeling optimistic. She emphasized that while the effort may have been initiated because people with disabilities struggle to navigate the deteriorated sidewalks, “It will enhance all pedestrian safety, from commuters, school children, parents, joggers, walk-to-worshippers, dog walkers, and anyone else who enjoys the pleasure of walking.”
In the end, the meeting marked a meaningful step toward safer, longer-lasting sidewalks and while funding and phasing details remain ahead, the shared commitment from village leaders and residents suggests that Scarsdale is finally on a real path to progress and lasting improvements.
Letter to the Editor What You Need to Know About the Scarsdale Pool Project
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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The following letter was written by Susan Levine
Most residents seem not to know much about the proposals for the Scarsdale Pool renovation.
Those who have been pool members and love the four pools as they have always been would like to see them totally removed and then restored to their former glory with necessary upgrades to the pool building as well. The cost to all Scarsdale taxpayers would be 35 million dollars paid over 25 years. The value of restoring the 56 year-old outdoor pool complex as a valuable Scarsdale amenity for those who Need It as their summer refuge can be understood by everyone.
BUT here is the problem. A group of residents wants to remove the beloved outdoor Diving Pool and build instead a large structure with Indoor Lap Lanes and Diving Boards for use in the cold months. And add many new elements to a newly constructed building that are not necessary but only desired and very costly.
The Cost for residents in taxes would now Double to 70 Million dollars paid over 25 years and the tax amount Increases each year. The cost also Increases from the original estimates if your home’s assessment is over $1.6 million.
My sincere concern is that a minority of indoor lap swimming enthusiasts would appear not to mind adding a huge tax burden for everyone else in Scarsdale, the silent majority. For 25 years. And the large Indoor Lap Pool and Diving building with glass doors that open on one side in the summer changes the Outdoor Pool Complex that its members love just as it is ... forever.
Residents Cheer Long Awaited Proposal for Indoor/Outdoor Pool Complex
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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When will the Scarsdale Pool be replaced? And with what?
We’re finally getting to the finish line of years of discussion about what will replace the aging Scarsdale Pool Complex that has outlived its useful life. At a long-anticipated presentation on the future of the Scarsdale Pool on Wednesday October 29, 2025, the Board of Trustees presented a schematic design for an indoor/outdoor pool complex along with the associated costs to build it and anticipated membership fees to join it.
The board presented several options – and the good news is that they will make a decision in January 2026, with plans to keep the current pool open for the summer of 2026. Construction on the new complex would begin when the pool closes in September 2026 and the outdoor pool would re-open for the summer of 2028.
Opening the meeting, Deputy Mayor Gruenberg explained, “In January 2025, after extensive input and no clear community consensus between pursuing an outdoor-only or indoor/outdoor facility, the Board chose to preserve flexibility by advancing plans for an indoor/outdoor complex. This approach allowed us to gain a clear and realistic understanding of what such a facility could offer—and what it would cost to construct and operate.”
She previewed the presentation which provides:
-Cost estimates for refurbishing and rebuilding the existing pool
-The complete schematic design plans
-Construction and operational cost analyses for both an indoor/outdoor and outdoor-only complex
-The tax impact for the construction of an indoor/outdoor facility as well as an outdoor-only facility.
Click here to see the presentation:
Gruenberg explained “We are not advocating for a specific path forward. Our role is not to lobby for any particular outcome but to present a clear, viable path forward and invite community feedback and direction on how to proceed.”
She added, “We recognize that the projected costs are substantial and while there will be opportunities for value engineering later in the process, the estimates presented tonight reflect what is realistic today in both cost and value. There is no perfect plan that everyone will be satisfied with but with these plans we have tried to thread the needle to meet the wants and needs expressed by residents.”
Larry Medvinsky, Chair of the Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee and Tony East, Vice Chair, presented three options to the community:
-An indoor/outdoor pool complex with three outdoor pools, sited in place of the current outdoor pools along with a natatorium with an indoor pool with large glass doors that can be closed in the winter and open in the summer. The complex includes community space, a year-round bathhouse, another seasonal bathhouse and the concession (food) stand. ($70.4mm)
-A new complex with outdoor pools only. ($47.5mm)
-Removing and replacing the current pool complex and bringing it up to code. ($36mm)
According to Trustee Jeremy Wise, if the community decided to leave the current pool in place, we risk closure of the facility altogether as current mechanicals cannot be replaced and it is not up to code.
But more on the plans:
The indoor/outdoor plan offers even more thana place to swim. The large natatorium which would house the indoor pools would include community meeting rooms, a balcony above the pool for viewers and large retractable glass doors to give the site and indoor-outdoor feel.
The overall pool complex would include 16 lap lanes, 6 indoor lanes and 10 outdoor lanes. There will be indoor and outdoor diving areas, with 5 diving boards in total. The children’s area will include a splash pad, a zero entry wading pool and an intermediate pool. Basketball and volleyball courts could be used year-round. The complex would have two entrances – a separate one for the recreation camp. The concession area would be expanded.
There are two sets of locker rooms. The year-round locker rooms include men’s, women’s and individual family locker rooms. Separate seasonal locker rooms have men’s, women’s and family locker rooms as well as locker rooms for girls and boys.
In order to preserve the trees and the view, the complex is sited so that upon entering the complex, the site line includes the outdoor pools and the golf club beyond that. Every effort will be made to preserve the trees and the park like feel.
At What Cost?
The indoor/outdoor complex is an ambitious project, with a price tag of $70mm. Trustees provided an estimate of the cost per household for a home with an assessed value of $1.6 mm which you can see here. On average, for a homeowner with an assessed value of $1.6mm, would see tax increases as outlined in the chart below:
Mayor Arest said that the total tab could potentially be reduced by the use of reserve funds or with contributions from the community.
Another option is to build a new outdoor pool complex at a cost of $47 million. For this option the adult pool would be larger to accommodate both diving, lap swimming and leisure. The average tax increase over 26 years is outlined below.
Last, an estimate was provided to remove the existing pools, locker rooms and buildings and replace as is, at a cost of $35mm. Assuming, this would be half the tax impact of the indoor/outdoor option, the cost would be about $375 per year over 30 years.
What are the fees?
In addition to the tax implications, trustees offered five scenarios for membership fees which you can see below. They vary based on assumptions of membership numbers, revenue from non-resident permits and contributions to an Enterprise Fund for repairs.
Estimates show that a summer family membership would be $760 and an annual family membership would be $2,200. Please see the cost estimates below:
Reaction from the attendees in the room and those online was enthusiastic, some expressing great excitement at the prospect of this major new community asset. Commenters had questions, suggestions for improving the plans and kudos for the Board.
Marian Green said, “I am sure if we move forward with the major plan we will have a spectacular facility. I have a pool but my family joins the public pool.”
Claudine Jessel said, “We enjoyed the pool for many years.” She encouraged the board to organize tours so that residents could see the aging complex and recognize the need for the new project.
Elaine Katz asked if the Village had considered where Scarsdale residents might swim during the summer of 2027 when the pool will be closed.
Harris Sokoloff said, “I thought the committees did a great job listening to the community.” Discussing non-resident permits he said, “The out of towners want to use the pool – please let them in – there is plenty of capacity.”
Myra Saul said, “People who haven’t moved here yet should be considered. Those people may want the more expensive option. The price of houses are getting higher and higher. These people will want a new pool.”
Joan Ross Sorkin said, “I am in favor of the indoor/outdoor combination.” She asked, “Will the locker rooms be nicer? Hair dryers? Doors? I don’t want to go bare bones on that.”
Barbara Carleton said, “I am happy that something is going to happen. The indoor facility will be great for the rec camp. The pool will be nice for kids swimming on swim teams.”
A woman from Thies Court discussed the timing. She said, “Inflation is real – in four years costs are rising. Make a decision and a timeline and get the show on the road.” She added, “The pool is the happiest place for my family.”
Anne Hintermeister asked if the interest on the bond was included in the estimated tax increases and was told that it was included.
Elaine Weir called the plan “very impressive” and said, “I think the indoor/outdoor pool is a good idea. Having a nice facility will increase property values and make Scarsdale more attractive.”
Jean Mary Buongiorno asked if the indoor pool would be big enough to handle the kids at rec camp on a rainy day? The response was yes.
Josh Glantz offered kudos on the indoor/outdoor option. He asked what happens during thunder and lightning and was told that all pools need to close in the event of lightning.
Bob Berg, a frequent critic of the board, who now lives in Greenwich said, “It was always a deficiency that Scarsdale did not have an indoor pool. This is a terrific plan. It is magnificent. It captures what you need here. It will bring the community together. The cost is high but it is well worth it. It is fabulous and I am proud to support it.”
Former Village Trustees Kay Eisenman gave a pitch for a dedicated space for seniors upstairs in the natatorium. She said, “Parking has become difficult at the Girl Scout House.”
Chip Rich said, “this is really exciting. I appreciate all the effort that has gone into this. I am an early morning lap swimmer and was initially disappointed that there was no indoor pool. I think the design is thoughtful and maintains the bucolic view. I hope the design looks like the library and not the building at the Five Corners.”
Robert Schwartz said, “We are a new family to Scarsdale with four young kids. This is a no brainer for the community. In terms of usage, a year-round facility, differentiates Scarsdale as a Village that provides tremendous value. Make it as soon as possible!”
Chelsea Weng said, “We use the pool and compete on the teams. There were 110 kids on the Scarsdale town team last summer. I support the year-round facility for residents only.”
Rachana Singh complimented the Board on the presentation. She said, “I liked the multiple scenarios. I wish the school district gave us multiple scenarios. Where did you come up with $1.6 mm as median assessed value? The School Board is using $1.3 mm.”
However one frequent observer of Village business was against the proposal and claimed she spoke for the “silent majority” of current pool members. Susan Levine of Ardmore Road came to the mic twice and said, “I am here to represent the 1,200 families who join the pool – the other 4,000 will never join the pool. Renovate the complex, take it away and put it back as is. Make the changes that will keep us up to code. We should not be asked to pay these taxes for 20 years to improve the project. It will save us millions. The silent majority should not have to pay for what the vocal minority wants.”
Next Steps:
The Board has scheduled a series of meetings with neighborhood associations and community members to share the plans and garner feedback. You are encouraged to attend, review the plans and provide feedback to the board.
Here’s the schedule:
Neighborhood Association Feedback Sessions
11/5/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (OSNA), West Quaker Ridge, Murray Hill/ Mid Heathcote
11/17/2025 at 8pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Greenacres, Sherbrooke Park, Overhill, East Heathcote, Fox Meadow
12/1/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Crane Berkley, Drake Edgewood, Arthur Manor
12/11/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Colonial Acres. Quaker Ridge, Scarsdale Meadows
Morning Public Feedback Sessions
11/14 at 11:30am Scarsdale Senior Council, Scarsdale Public Library
11/21 at 9:30am in the Scott Room, Scarsdale Public Library
With only a few weeks remaining until the end of the year, the Board will need to move quickly to be ready to break ground on whatever plan is chosen in September 2026. Review the plans nowReview the plans now and let the trustees know what you think by emailing [email protected] or attending on of the upcoming sessions.
Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee
Larry Medvinsky, Chair
Tony East, Vice Chair
Lynn Brooks Avni
Diane Greenwald
Casey Klurfeld
Mark Mathias
Anne Moretti
Aubrey Phillibert
Andrew Sereysky
Carol Silverman
Anita Singhal
From the Village Board: Trees, Parking and a New Ass't Village Manager
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Emily Giovanni, Ruby Tower, Alex Marshall and Stephen ShalloTrees, the pool and the appointment of a new Assistant Village Manager were on the agenda of the Village Board meeting on October 14, 2025.
Mayor Justin Arest opened the meeting with some reflections on the season. Though Scarsdale was spared the effects of the weekend rainstorm, he thanked first responders for their preparations. He noted the observance of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Breast Cancer Awareness Month and wished joy and peace to those celebrating Diwali on October 20. With Election Day coming in just a few weeks on November 4 he encouraged residents to make a plan to vote.
Village Manager Alex Marshall noted the following:
-Leaf pick-up has begun. She asked residents to pile leaves near the curb, on the edge of their property – but not in the street. She also warned that leaf piles should not contain branches or twigs.
-The Heathcote Bridge is currently being painted and one lane will be closed for six weeks.
-Central Taxi is operating and ready to serve customers.
-There will be a Fire Prevention Fair at the Crossway Firehouse on Saturday October 18 from 10 am to 2 pm.
Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg noted that “Paint the Dale,” a community mural painting event has been moved to October 26, 2025.
Garden Road Development
During public comments developer Eilon Amidor of 69 Morris Lane spoke about a proposed project for a subdivision at 80 Garden Road. He noted that the area faces serious drainage issues and the Village is waiting for grants for stormwater improvement projects to alleviate flooding.
Amidor said that the proposed development site is only 3% wetlands and that the project would reduce the amount of water draining into neighboring homes.
He suggested that the real estate taxes from the additional homes could be used to fund the stormwater improvement projects. He said, “The subdivision will generate $600,000 to $1,000,000 a year in taxes. The work can be done and paid back over time with residents’ tax revenue. We will win because we can develop the property….. The Village would issue a bond that would be paid back from revenue from the subdivision. What is not an option is doing nothing. That does not make sense for anyone. This turns the problem into an opportunity.”
The Mayor responded, “Since there is currently litigation and the matter is before the planning board we cannot comment.”
Alternative Device Fair
Ariana Green and Lisa Berman discussed their work on delaying kids’ use of social media. They are hosting an alternative device fair at the Scarsdale Library on November, 22, 2025. See more here.
Resolutions:
Tennis Courts
The Board approved two resolutions: $656,880 to build three new tennis courts at Crossway Field and $204,000 for repair and resurfacing of tennis courts at the middle school and the high school. The Mayor said that the school district is expected to reimburse the village for half of the cost of the work at the middle school and high school.
Parking
The Board approved a resolution to extend metered parking from 11 pm to 12 am to allow people to park in the Village later at night. Trustee Kofman pointed out that the current Metro North 11:15 pm train arrives at 12:07 am and wondered if the metered parking should be extended to 12:15 am. The Board agreed to monitor it.
Pool Project
In preparation for the pool project, the board approved $67,250 for subsurface investigation for Geotechnical Investigation Services.
Taxis
Regarding taxis, the Board passed a resolution to allow 25 taxicab licenses for 2026.
Assistant Village Manager
A new Assistant Village Manager was appointed at the meeting. Ruby Tower, who now works in Rye, will join the Village Manager’s Office in Scarsdale on October 27, 2025.
Trees
After considerable discussion, the Board approved new regulations that require licensing for companies doing tree cutting, pruning or removals. The law requires the vendor to purchase a license for $250 and display a decal in their vehicle. Tree work can only be performed between 8 am and 6 pm on weekdays (except for emergencies.) The law will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Trustees asked if Con Edison subcontractors would also need licenses and the response was yes.
The Village will work on a communication plan to let residents know who to call if they have questions about tree removals or believe that illegal removals are in process.
Is It Time to Re-Open the Discussion About Downtown Development?
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The Avalon, A Transit Oriented Development in HarrisonIt has been six years since the Village Board closed discussions on the development of the Freightway site after opposition from a faction of vocal residents. From 2017- 2020 the Village engaged in an intensive three-year process to develop the Freightway site, holding workshops, forums, surveys, walking tours and conducting research. Ultimately they solicited RFP’s from six developers to build parking, multi-unit housing, retail space and other community assets on the site. But after considerable dissent broke out in the community the discussion was tabled in January 2020.
At the time, the group feared that new development would snarl traffic and swell the school population, resulting in over-enrollment at Fox Meadow Elementary School. Though school enrollment figures have been declining, opponents were able to persuade the Village Board to put the development on hold.
Perhaps they were prescient because in January 2020 no one could envision that the COVID crisis would change our way of life and throw many of the underlying assumptions about future development into question. At the time, the Village assumed that commuters would continue to require the 700 parking spaces on the three lots; Freightway plus two outdoor facilities. Before COVID these parking space were prized and the Village ran a lottery to allocate them fairly.
But shortly thereafter the COVID crisis hit in late March 2020, shuttering offices and ushering in the era of remote work. Rather than commute, Scarsdale residents were huddled over their computers at home conducting Zoom rather than in person meetings.
Demand for the parking spaces fell precipitously and so did revenue for the Village.
In the intervening years, the Village has spent millions to shore up the unsightly structure and maintain the elevator in order to keep it safe for current customers. Recognizing that the site offers opportunities to revitalize downtown and provide additional housing, the Scarsdale Forum’s Downtown Revitalization and Municipal Service Committee has been studying the site and is asking the Board of Trustees to re-open the discussion.
At a work session of the Village Trustees on Tuesday September 30, 2025, Mayor Justin Arest raised the matter. He said, “Is it the right time to discuss what redevelopment could look like and examine what has changed? The school administration is willing to collaborate. They are willing to be a partner to understand the differences could mean for the school population.”
Seth Ross
Former Village Trustee Seth Ross, who is a member of the Scarsdale Forum committee said, “It is obvious that the site should be developed. It is under-utilized, it is unattractive and we could create housing for a better functioning downtown.”
He explained the work of the committee. “After the pandemic I thought it was important that we take the temperature of the community. We don’t need as much commuter parking as we did before COVID. There are 700 parkin g spaces – and the assumption was that they all needed to be replaced. The developers proposed large projects to accommodate this much parking. A smaller, less objectionable development might be possible.”
Trustee Ken Mazer asked, “Do you think this change in the need for parking is permanent?” Ross replied, “This needs to be studied.”
Rob Lawson said, “We are talking about three parking lots, each with different owners and circumstances. Don’t look at the site as one spot with 700 spots.”
Trustee David Goldschmidt asked, “Were there traffic studies done to assess the impact of the development?” Ross said, “There was never a specific development proposal to evaluate.”
Mayor Arest said, “The SQRA process would need to be done – and that would include parking. We should take advantage of the information we gathered in the past. We are not going back to 2020 – it would be a re-start. There would be a new process.”
He explained that the site had been under review since 1984 and said, “I think it way past time to act on this. Additional retail and restaurants are needed. I don’t think the garage is a good use of Village land or priorities. Many generations have wanted the Village to do something with that site. We should approach this with enthusiasm and excitement. Parking and traffic flow will need to be discussed but I think we should move forward with this.”
Commenting from the public Phyllis Perkins, a 52-year resident of Scarsdale and wife of architect Brad Perkins said, “Freightway was hated even when we moved here. In 1979 the first proposal came to paint it. Countless hours and great expertise went into every one of these iterations – which were each allowed to die and not built upon.”
Perkins warned, “Until you can figure out how to design a rational process that is not going to be hijacked by self-interest groups, you will not get anything done either…. You need people who have worked on this kind of project. You’re going to have to sell yourself. You need a plan on how to manage this project. Spend some time coming up with a process and then talk to people. “
Trustee Jeremy Gans said, “It is a community asset. We need to hear from the community and then move forward.”
Rachel Arenstein of 1 Rectory Lane said, “I also grew up here. In the last iteration the commentary became unhinged from those who did not understand the process. A small vocal minority was making things up and hijacked a sensible process.”
Arenstein continued, “I work in preservation. At this point we are preserving an unsightly garage. Sensible urban planning and project management can make Scarsdale better. What we are preserving at the moment does not serve us.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Arest said, “There is consensus to have additional conversations.”
