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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 23 October 2024

Created: 23 October 2024

Last Updated: 23 October 2024

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Did you know that the Harwood Building in Scarsdale Village originally had bowling alleys, billiard and table tennis tables, chess and checkers, a piano, a radio and davenports?

That’s just one of the interesting nuggets shared by Village Historian Jordan Copeland with a group of 19 Scarsdale seniors who enjoyed on a walking tour of Scarsdale Village on Monday October, 21, 2024. Several of the seniors on the tour not only raised their own families here over the past 50 years but grew up in Scarsdale themselves and had their own memories of Scarsdale as it was.

Copeland discussed how the arrival of the railroad in the mid 1840s connected Scarsdale to New York City. In 1844, steam powered service began in the Bronx River Valley -- but skipped Scarsdale. The nearest stop was “Hart’s Corners,” now known as Hartsdale. However, because the railroad passed through the Popham family’s land, they arranged that trains would halt on a signal from a member of the Popham family at “Popham Gate.”

Some wealthy New York City residents began to build estates, and by 1877, train service became regularly scheduled. The Pophams persuaded the railroad to build a platform, and later a wooden station.

Before the current train station was built, the train tracks crossed Popham Road and a flagman was employed to warn people of approaching trains. In 1902 the Tudor revival train station was built in stucco, half timbered with Spanish tile and likely established the architectural style for the rest of the Village.

Turning to Garth Road, Copeland explained that it was the site of the Village’s original business center. The current Florence Building was first built in 1903 as a one story commercial building, and later raised to three floors. It housed Angell & Co. Real Estate, O’Farrell’s Drugstore, the Flagge & Hooley Grocery Store, Luikert Meat Market, the plumbing firm of Curran & Curran, and contractor Frank Bracalello.

Here's more:

-The Bronx River parkway (1925) increased Scarsdale’s connection to New York City, and was surrounded by a linear park, aimed at preserving rural beauty rather than encouraging speed.

-The 1920’s were the time of substantial growth in Scarsdale as a whole and downtown. In the 1920’s the population of NYC grew 21%, Westchester by 51% and Scarsdale by 176%. Commuting was easier, and people were fleeing the political, social, and economic disorder of New York City.

-In 1920, local businessman formed a bank, and soon a real estate development company to develop the current downtown bounded by East Parkway and Chase Road, and to protect Scarsdale and build a higher quality, well thought out commercial center than out-of-town speculators would have built.

-When the Scarsdale National Bank and Trust opened in 1920, the original staff consisted of the president, a cashier, a bookkeeper and a stenographer. There was no custodian, so the responsibilities of this position were shared by the four.

-In 1923, there was no residential mail delivery in Scarsdale, so residents had to come down to the post office to collect their mail. When mail delivery was proposed, local merchants objected, because they wanted potential customers to have to come downtown. Luckily home mail delivery began September 2, 1924,

-The Harwood Building originally had bowling alleys, billiard and table tennis tables, chess and checkers, piano, a radio, davenports and chairs in the basement from 1930 until about 1947 when they were leased by Robison for storage.

As a finale to the tour, the group descended into the World War Two memorial at Boniface Circle which even some long-time residents noted that they hadn’t seen it up close before. A total of 2,142 Scarsdalians served in the war, and 81 are recorded as dying or missing in action, including three sets of brothers, and one woman.

About the Senior Club:

All Scarsdale residents, 60 years of age and older are welcome to become a member of the Scarsdale Senior Club. The fee is $15 for residents. Former residents of 20+ years, or parents of children who live in Scarsdale, even if they live outside of Scarsdale, are welcome to join the group for $20.

Benefits Include:

-One-way taxi service transportation, up to $25, to local medical and dental appointments for current Village of Scarsdale residents only
-Exercise classes via Zoom and in-person on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
-Special membership rates for luncheons, trips and programs
-Pool admittance on Thursday afternoons during summer pool season
-Aqua Aerobics at the pool complex

How to Join:
-Join online at www.scarsdale.gov
-Come to the Scarsdale Parks, Recreation & Conservation office at 244 Heathcote Rd to register in person. Checks are to be made payable to the Village of Scarsdale.
-Call Maida Silver, Senior Coordinator, at (914) 722-1162 for assistance.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 28 October 2024

Created: 28 October 2024

Last Updated: 28 October 2024

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Is the application for a subdivision in a wetlands on Garden Road tabled or dead? That’s the question now that the Village Planning Board declared it’s intention to give the proposed 9-lot subdivision a “Positive Declaration,” meaning that the Planning Board determined that the project as proposed could have significant adverse impacts.

Following years of hearings, beginning in 2013, the applicant has sought permission to subdivide a wet area adjacent to the water tower on Garden Road. Due to the high water table they proposed to truck in 30,000 cubic yards of landfill in1,600 truckloads to raise the ground level and permit the construction of homes with full basements and swimming pools. The project would have required the removal of 437 mature, regulated trees.

After an exhaustive review by many experts retained by both the applicants and the village, on September 19, 2024 the Planning Board expressed its intent to issue a “Positive Declaration” finding the project may result in one or more significant adverse environmental impacts requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

Following this directive, Village Planner Kellan Cantrell drafted a resolution for the Planning Board to approve at their October 23, 2024 meeting.

The Positive Declaration says the following:

The Applicant is proposing a 9-lot subdivision of7.6 acres with eight (8) new single-family dwellings, a new private roadway, and associated improvements. The current conditions reflect 3 separate tax lots with a single-family dwelling on each lot. The proposal seeks to demolish two (2) of the existing single-family residences and subdivide the premises into 9 lots, consisting of eight (8) new lots for the construction of eight (8) proposed single-family dwellings and one (1) reconfigured lot where the existing 90 Garden Road home will remain.

Potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action have been identified by the Planning Board based upon a review of the Full Environmental Assessment Form Parts 1 and 2. These impacts, which may be reasonably expected to result from the Project, have been compared to the criteria for determining significance identified in 6 NYCRR§617.7(c)(1)and in accordance with 6NYCRR§617.7(c)(2)and(3).

The Planning Board finds that the proposed project may have a significant adverse impact on the following resources for the reasons more fully set forth in the EAF Part 3 (the list below is not intended to be all inclusive):

-Impacts to protected wetland
-Impacts related to stormwater runoff in a sensitive drainage area
-Impacts to the Sheldrake watershed
-Impacts to groundwater
-Impacts related to the importation of extensive fill
-Impacts to water supply resulting from on-site wells Impacts resulting from extensive tree removal
-Traffic and roadway impacts during construction

The items resolution was placed on the Planning Board’s agenda for their 10/23/24 meeting.

On October 10, the applicant’s attorney’s Cuddy and Feder sent an additional plea asking the board to refrain from declaring a Positive Declaration. The lengthy letter contends that “that not only will the Proposed Action not have any significant environmental impacts but will result in substantial environmental benefits.”

However, the resolution remained on the agenda until the day of the meeting when the applicants adjourned their application. The letter from Cuddy and Feder says, “The Applicants are considering design updates and as such, respectfully requests that the Planning Board adjourn the above referenced applications from the October 23, 2024 agenda.”

If the developers plans to make a new application --and what they will propose are unknown for now – and at least for the present, neighbors appear to have warded off this risk to their already fragile environment.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 October 2024

Created: 15 October 2024

Last Updated: 15 October 2024

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Founded in 1883, Fox Meadow Tennis Club is steeped in history. It was the first tennis club in Westchester County and one of the earliest in the country, as tennis as we know it was only invented in 1873. The club was also the home of the country’s first paddle tennis court which was built in 1931. Now with 6 tennis courts and 9 paddle courts, it’s a popular place for netmen of all kinds. In fact, it’s so popular that there is a wait list to get in.
Though much has remained the same over the past 140 years, racquet sports continue to evolve. Interest in Pickleball has grown and the club has adapted by placing temporary pickleball lines on the platform courts.

Also new to the club this year is Director of Racquets Geoff LoConte, who recently joined Fox Meadow bringing his prowess in tennis, platform tennis and pickleball and his experience in teaching and managing.

Geoff LoConteLoConte grew up in Marblehead, Mass where he started playing tennis at the age of 8. He went on to play college tennis at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. After college he got a graduate degree in education and spent three years teaching sixth graders language arts and social studies in New York City.

But a summer stint as the Director of Tennis at a sleepaway camp convinced him that he wanted to return to the court as a coach. He got his certification to teach tennis and took his first coaching job at the Bridgeview Racquet Club under the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn, where he taught people from 4 to 84 years old.

From there he took the head pro position at Pleasantville Tennis Club followed by several positions at clubs in Westchester. Prior to his move to Fox Meadow, he was the Director of Pickleball and Platform at Beachpoint Club in Mamaroneck.

Why did he make the move to Fox Meadow? First he pointed to the club’s history. He said, “This is the birthplace of platform tennis. When I am inside the clubhouse I get goose bumps thinking about the history – and how to honor it.”

He continued, “This is a dream opportunity to be running a racquets club where people can play and socialize…. It’s a member run club that is inclusive, competitive and has some families with three generations playing during the week and weekends.”

His mission is to increase programming for all members across the three sports and provide opportunities for members to learn and play. His priority is to meet the needs of the members and children. There are children’s tennis lessons in spring and fall and children’s paddle during the winter. There’s open paddle on the weekends, men’s and women’s leagues and clinics for all. The club recently ran a series of Platform Tennis Boot Camps to get members ready for league play.

He encourages players to get involved in the club, to get out of their comfort zones and try new things. He said, “It’s a nice community to be a part of,” and he wants to make sure everyone has place within the club.

LoConte also emphasized that he is only one member of a team now running the club, including Head Tennis Professional Karina Blas, Head Platform Professional Jim Kaufman, Club Administrator Kat Sasaki and Facilities Manager Oscar Gallego.
He’s given the club the hash tag “#better together” and is making that his motto and his mission.

Geoff and his partner Matt take silver at the 2024 National Pickleball Championships.