Parking in Scarsdale: A Complex Issue
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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If you’ve ever been confused about where you are permitted to park in Scarsdale Village, for how long and how to pay, you’re not alone. Scarsdale’s parking rubric is a complex system of metered parking and permit parking which can be paid at pay stations, via Pango or through the purchase of permits of varying lengths.
Take a look at the graphic above to see the mix of parking solutions ranging from 20 minutes to 12 hour spots.
How well are Scarsdale’s parking systems serving residents, non-residents, shoppers, diners and commuters and what can be done to improve them? That was the subject of a work session of the Village Board of Trustees on June 17, 2025.
Deputy Village Manager Stephen Shallo gave a comprehensive presentation about parking permit fees, usage, demand and revenue.
Fees for parking permits, on-street meters and Pango generate significant revenue for the Village with $1,092,657 from permits, $811,376 from parking meters and $363,356 from Pango, for a total of $2.26mm per year. See the breakdown of these fees here:
The chart below shows that demand for spaces near the station and a Christie Place is strong, while the parking garage at Freightway is underutilized by both residents and non-residents.
Shallo outlined a host of questions about how to maximize usage, revenue and serve the community.
Here are some challenges
-One of the main complaints from those who visit the Village is that it is often difficult to find a place to park. According to the Scarsdale Business Alliance though merchants can park at Freightway, they often do not, citing the distance and safety concerns. This results in merchants parking in the public spaces, leaving fewer spots for customers, shoppers and diners.
-For those who use Pango, some report a lack of internet connectivity with the app in the Village. Sometimes the app prepopulates with the wrong parking zone, resulting in parking tickets. And since there are 18 Pango zones, this can be confusing. To address this, Shallo recommended consolidating these zones by parking meter limits, though consolidating the number of zones will diminish the ability of the Village to track and analyze parking by location.
-Currently, there is no overnight parking permitted in the Village. All parking ends at 11 pm. This leaves some Village residents with nowhere to leave their cars overnight.
Recommendations
Shallo reviewed some operational recommendations for permit holders using vendors IPS or FBS for the parking portals.
He recommended adjusting the time limits for meters at different locations as follows with the goal of providing drivers with more flexibility when visiting the business district:
East Parkway meters:
Increase 90 minute meters between Popham Road and Christie Place to two hours.
Decrease 8-hour meters between Christie Place and Crane Road to 4 hour meters.
Chase Road meters
Increase 90 minute meters between Popham Road and Boniface Circle to 2 hour meters.
Since different meters have different hours of operation, some beginning at 6 am and others at 8 am he recommended making these consistent to be in effect from 6 am to 6 pm.
To address the need for overnight parking for people living in the Village, he recommended offering overnight parking permits from 11 pm to 6 am at the Christie Place Garage.
Shallo said that some residents have expressed frustration with the process for renewing permits, as there is no preference given to those who currently have a permit. He recommended giving existing permit holders a two-week renewal period and then making permits available to all.
To address the issue of merchant parking, he said that currently merchants are allowed to purchase resident parking permits, which reduces the number of spaces available to residents. He recommended restricting merchants to merchant permits only. In order to encourage merchants to park in the Freightway lot, he recommended that they be permitted to park on levels 5 and 4.
Currently parking at Christie Place is free on Saturdays. In order to make parking consistent with other locations in the Village which requirement payment for Saturdays, he recommended charging for parking at Christie Place on Saturdays.
There’s more information and recommendations to review here:
Though no formal changes were made following the presentation, the board was in agreement about offering a limited number of permits for overnight parking at Christie Place from 11 pm to 6 am for those who require it.
At the conclusion of the meeting there was time for public comment.
Marian Green of 43 Butler Road who is the Chair of the Council on People with Disabilities expressed the need for accommodations for the handicapped. She suggested that people who are in handicapped parking spaces should get extra time on the meter. She said, “In White Plains you pay for 1 hour and get 3 in a handicapped spot. If you can’t find a handicapped spot, you could park with your permit and get extra time and extra space.” She asked to have some input into the parking decisions. Saying “We would like to be counted.”
Susan Douglass discussed a parking study done by the Scarsdale Forum’s Municipal Service Committee who monitored parking in Freightway, in the open lot, the Beatty lot and merchant parking. They found that Freightway was vastly underutilized.
Douglass said, “The downtown should be lively and utilized. People don’t want to park in indoor lots. They complain because the metered spots are filled. The merchants park there and fill up the spots rather than parking at Freightway. We recommend that the Village offer discounts to park at Freightway and leave the street parking for the shoppers and diners.
David Lampert said he requires overnight parking and said that excess capacity could be leveraged.
If you have questions about parking feel free to reach out to Deputy Village Manager Stephen Shallo at [email protected] or 914-722-1108.
Uncovering the Identity of Bella Montgomery
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- Written by: Leslie Chang
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The following was submitted by Leslie Chang, Trustee, Scarsdale Historical Society and originally published on the SHS website.
How much do you know about your great-grandmother? What if you found out she was a courageous suffragist, as evidenced by countless newspaper articles she left behind in Scarsdale, N.Y.? This is what happened to several families across the country when they heard from me during research for our documentary Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists.
This is the third part of a blog series sharing the stories behind my investigations of the suffragists.
Finding Bella Montgomery (1865 - 1939)
This 1904 photo is one of my favorite photos in the Village archives. It captures a casual domestic moment, and it’s also one of the only photos we have of these prominent Scarsdale women. They have names like Popham, Burgess, Montgomery, Obry, and Hyatt (you may recognize these names from streets and parks around town). The photo was heavily featured in our latest documentary, particularly because it includes one of our Village matriarchs, Bella Montgomery (in stripes).
Verne Montgomery’s first birthday party, shown with his mother Bella wearing the striped dress. Taken June 11, 1904. Source: Scarsdale Public Library
As for Bella, she was the daughter of a Civil War veteran, and married C. William Montgomery in 1897. During research for the documentary, I kept seeing “Mrs. C. W. Montgomery” come up in old suffrage articles - traveling through the state as a leader in the women’s rights movement. The Montgomerys lived at 34 Drake Road, but the only thing there now is the grassy field at Drake Road Park (below). I wondered: where did the house go? With only one photo of Bella and a lost house, she was a bit of a mystery - just the type of mystery that I love to solve!
All that remains on the former Montgomery land at 34 Drake Road is a grassy park
The 1904 photo was taken at the first birthday party for Bella’s son, Verne (1903-1978). It’s amazing to think that a few years later, Verne would have walked down the hill from Drake Road to Schoolhouse No. 1 where Village Hall now stands. Verne was also one of the early graduates of Scarsdale High School in 1922.
Sidenote: As an adult, Verne lived in Downers Grove, Illinois, which made me jump because that’s where my great-grandparents (the Worsleys) lived at that same time. Of all the towns in the United States, that was a funny coincidence. They may have known each other, and my great-grandfather could have been their family doctor. When I was looking up their home addresses, it was even spookier that my great-grandparents lived on a street named Montgomery. I took this as a sign that I should keep researching Bella Montgomery!
It was somewhat easy to find Verne’s grandson Pete in Illinois thanks to social media (via Verne’s obituary), since he still has the name Montgomery. It was thrilling, and I imagine he was quite surprised to hear from me! Verne passed away when Pete was young, so he didn’t know very much about the Scarsdale Montgomerys. In fact, he didn’t know Bella was a suffragist! He and his family were in for a treat. They graciously shared some photos over email, and it was gratifying to match up the photos with the information I knew about them.
The Photo Collection
An undated portrait of Bella (Immen) Montgomery; but I’d guess it’s from the 1880s.
The only photo I’ve seen of Bella’s husband! He’s always referenced as “C. W. Montgomery,” and he was a real estate broker, a Scarsdale town assessor (before we were a “village”), and a charter member of Scarsdale Fire Company No. 1 when it was on Sprague Road.
Bella as a child, c. 1870.
A portrait of Bella Montgomery taken by “Harris Sisters - New Rochelle.” From an advertisement I found, they were a studio on Locust Avenue that provided “prosperity portraits” in the 1920s -1930s.
Bella, grandchildren, James and Patricia, with their dog.
The House Mystery: 34 Drake Road
The open acreage at Drake Road Park has always fascinated me, since two grand homes once stood on its sprawling land. At the turn of the century, the Montgomerys owned the whole area all the way to today’s Rodney Road.
The Montgomery estate located in 1901. The circular driveway across Drake Road is today’s Scarsdale Woman’s Club. Source: Bromley Map, Westchester County Archives
Nine years later in 1910, this map shows how a lot of suburban development had taken place! The Montgomery estate is smaller, and the Mercers owned about half of it (and the Hendricksons prior to them). The area near Drake Road shows the footprint of today’s Drake Road Park, where there’s still trees dividing the two former properties. Source: Bromley Map, Westchester County Archives
The grassy side was once the Montgomery plot. The other half (the parking lot side) used to belong to the Mercers, whose great-granddaughter Rachel contacted us years ago. She had sent a photo of the (also demolished) Mercer house, yet I still didn’t know what the Montgomery house looked like.
The Montgomery home, 34 Drake Road, now demolished. Source: Montgomery FamilyAs I had hoped, Pete sent me a photo of the lost Montgomery house at 34 Drake Road! It almost gives me chills to imagine it once stood where children now play soccer.
The house was built in 1902, and Pete knew that it held great value. “I remember my grandmother, Charlotte (wife of Verne) saying that that house is the reason she was able to live comfortably where she did late in her life.”
A photo of today’s field where the Montgomery house once stood, alongside what it may have looked like when the house stood there.I also realized something exciting. In the birthday party photo, the women are sitting on the steps of this same house. If it weren’t for this newly acquired photo of the house, we never would have known where they were sitting! In the photo below, you can see one of the porch columns.
This photo appeared in the Scarsdale Inquirer (July 15, 1971) with a very detailed caption. An excerpt: “The Scarsdale generation gap was bridged on June 11, 1904, at the first birthday party of Verne Immen Montgomery, who now lives in Downer’s Grove, Ill. 1st row l. to r.: Miss Yingling…; Mrs. C. William Montgomery, Verne’s mother; Mrs. George Just and Dorothy; Mrs. Reid and Mime, Madame Obry’s daughter and grandchild; Mrs. Bernard Davis, Verne’s godmother. Second row: Laura Vernon, a cousin of Mrs. Burgess, and Alexander Burgess; Mrs. Thomas Burgess; Mrs. Fred Gunning and Louise; Mrs. William Cravath White and William. Third row: Mrs. Charles D. Immen, Mrs. Montgomery’s mother; Mrs. Lewis Popham, mother of Mrs. Gunning; Mrs. White Sr., mother-in-law of Mrs. W. C. White. Fourth row: Miss Laura Vernon, aunt of Mrs. Burgess; Mrs. Oliver A. Hyatt; Miss Emma Fleming, Mrs. Popham’s sister; Madame Obry (standing); and Mrs. John Rooney, Madame Obry’s daughter.
The two grand homes at 34 and 28 Drake Road were in such a state of disrepair by the late 1960’s that the Village acquired the land for recreational purposes. At the time, the Drake-Edgewood neighborhood was in need of park land.
Scarsdale Inquirer, January 25, 1968.
Today, the street names of Montgomery Road and Mercer Court are the last vestige of those who once owned the land.
Bella Montgomery the Suffragist
Bella appears many times throughout the Scarsdale Suffrage Club meeting minutes, Based on her volunteer roles, she was clearly a finance-minded leader. This newspaper quote from a Suffrage Club thrift sale gives us a glimpse of her no-nonsense attitude: “If three of you want that $1.50 bargain, the price is $2.50." That amusing anecdote gives us a glimpse of her shrewd business mind.
One of Bella’s biggest roles was serving as the longtime treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Westchester. Pete sent us photos of a silver cup she had been awarded by the Westchester League. The inscription on the front of the cup reads "Joan of Arc Budget Cup" and on the back it reads: "Awarded to The Second Assembly District by the Westchester League of Women Voters and presented by the District to Mrs. C.W. Montgomery."
I found mention of the award in a 1925 Scarsdale Inquirer article, when she was recognized for her success in fundraising. It must be nice for the Montgomerys to now know more of the story behind this cup that they’ve had for all of these years. They should feel such pride in their great-grandmother!
If this list of leadership roles is any indication, we can see why the Scarsdale Inquirer called her one of Scarsdale’s “most prominent women.”
-A founding member of the Scarsdale Equal Suffrage Club
-A charter member of the Scarsdale Woman's Club
-Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Westchester County for 13+ years
-Chair of the Club’s Scarsdale Inquirer Reporters Committee
-Member of the Westchester County Democratic Committee for 50 years
-Vice-Chair of the Scarsdale Democratic Committee
-Member of the American committee for the League of Nations Exhibit at the New York World’s Fair
I’m proud to shed light on her forgotten story, filling in some of the missing pieces so she can be rightfully remembered as one of New York State’s pioneers of the women’s rights movement.
Coach Jennifer Roane Nominated for Coach of the Year by NFHS
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Scarsdale Tennis Coach Jennifer Roane has been nominated for the National Federation of Coaches Association [NFHS] Coach of the Year Award for the 2024-25 school year. Nomination criteria include, but not limited to, years coaching, win/loss records, participation in league / sectional or state sport committees and being a positive role model within their school and community. Roane coaches both the boys and girls varsity tennis teams which have long and impressive records.
Commenting on the news, Scarsdale High School Athletic Director Cindy Parrott said, “Jen Roane is nominated for the 2024-2025 school year, but this is a very well-deserved honor, celebrating a long and storied career of coaching tennis at SHS. Jen's passion for tennis and dedication to student-athletes have helped elevate our program to new heights. More importantly, she has instilled in her players a sense of integrity and sportsmanship. Jen is more than a coach - she is a role model, a motivator, and an asset to Scarsdale High School's athletic program.”
In 2024, Roane was named NFHS Coach of the Year in New York State for Boys' Tennis.
Raiders Baseball Team Scores 2-1 Win Over Arlington in Section 1 Playoff
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- Written by: Dave Taber
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Junior Matthew Zoland (#3) is congratulated at the dugout after scoring a run.The Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive with a gritty 2-1 win over Arlington on Tuesday, May 27. The game was a hard-fought Section 1 Class AAA matchup and the victory extended Scarsdale’s run in the double-elimination tournament.
Noah Zoland (#1) applies the tag to catch an Arlington runner trying to steal.
Scarsdale’s strong season came to a close the following day with a loss to Mamaroneck on Wednesday, May 28 — just one game short of the championship round.
Junior and Captain Gil Krausz (#0) fires in a pitch to the plate.
Junior Aidan Dunsky (#34) tracks down a deep fly ball in left.
Kojiro Hirata (#6) make a great sliding catch in the 7th inning.
Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game
To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/
Junior Kojiro Hirata (#6) bunts at the ball during a squeeze attempt.
Junior Max Gasthalter (#10), scoops up a grounder near third base.
Gil Krausz (#0) hits a line drive.
Senior Noah Zoland (#1) slams a hard-hit ball.
Senior and captain Michael Vibbert (#17) runs down a fly ball in center.
Kojiro Hirata (#6) and Michael Vibbert (#17) celebrate after clinching the win.
Casa Purchase: Elevated Mexican Fare Close to Home
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We were thrilled to hear that our favorite Mexican restaurant in Bronxville has opened a second location in Purchase and made a reservation for dinner a few weekends ago. We’re pleased to report that the menu is similar, the setting is warm and spacious and we had a delightful dinner.
Casa Purchase is located on Anderson Hill Road in Purchase in a smartly designed, two-story clapboard building with ample space, high ceilings and bars on both the first and second floors. Valets are available to park your car and we were greeted by enthusiastic staff.
Only recently opened, the restaurant was buzzing with positive vibes and we quickly scanned the drinks menu to find a long list of margarita options along with cocktails such as the Palma, Negroni, Pina Tropical, Oaxaca Mule, Mojito and more.
Even though the place was crowded our drinks arrived quickly and our server led us through his favorites on the menu. There were lots of appealing appetizers, tacos, quesadillas and entrees and it was hard to pare them down.
With so many good options we decided to share some guacamole and enjoyed the Tartar de Atun appetizer which is sushi grade blue fin tuna, marinated with soy, cilantro and ginger sauce and accompanied by avocado, cucumber, serrano pepper, radish and plantain chips. Yum!
We also order the Tostada de Jaiba, crabmeat, avocado, tomato, cilantro, and lime juice and the Tacos Al Pastor, marinated grilled pork, pineapple, onion and cilantro.
Street Corn
We couldn’t pass on the entrees, though we were pretty full by then. The Enchiladas Verdes are chicken in tortillas with green sauce, cheese cream and avocado, which I found to be tasty but not too spicy. The Carne Asada, skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, plantains, black beans and rice was also a hit as well as the Blackened Mahi Mahi with jicama slaw, plantains, rice and beans.
The restaurant also has a full Vegan menu with some imaginative choices for those who want to avoid meat. Check it out here:
Reservations are available and in addition to dinner they are also serving Sunday brunch.
We spoke to owner Spencer Pingel about the new location and here is what he told us:
What attracted to the new location?
MargaritaThe Purchase location was very appealing to us for a number of reasons. It’s extremely convenient to so many towns with people who love to eat out: obviously Scarsdale, but also Rye, Greenwich, White Plains, Hartsdale. It’s close to many corporate headquarters which will be great when we start to open for lunch (soon). Plus, the layout of the space is flexible since we’ve got seating in a lively bar area downstairs and a quieter dining space upstairs. The second floor also works well for hosting private parties or get togethers.
How extensive was the renovation of the building?
Happily, we were able to use the existing layout and didn’t need to renovate extensively.
How did you find a chef for the new location?
Our Executive Chef is Erick Lopez and he’s really talented. He oversees the kitchen at both of our restaurants and came to us after 9 years at Casa Enrique, a Michelin-starred Mexican Restaurant in Long Island City. Erick grew up watching his mother, grandmother and aunts prepare traditional Mexican family recipes but he has a modern take on many classics and infuses local ingredients as well.
What has been the reaction from customers?
Tostada de Jaiba
We’ve heard from customers that they’re thrilled to have an elevated version of Mexican in their neck of the woods. They’ve also really embraced some of the traditions we started at La Casa Bronxville, like our popular steak nights. We started offering these in Purchase when customers asked us to. It’s something we know offer once a month: a prix fixe menu for $67 per person that includes multiple courses: Caesar salad, street corn, different choices of sides, even a bottle of wine for the table. And of course, the steak entree which is a perfectly marinated and grilled ribeye that’s served family-style with chimichurri sauce. People really love it!
Anything else?
We have a great Sunday brunch and are starting soon to offer brunch on Saturdays. Also we want people to know that we are friendly to different diets. We have a separate and very large vegan menu. And we also have a separate gluten free menu and separate fryers, etc. in the kitchen to try to avoid cross contamination.
La Casa Purchase
578 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY
914-222-9016
Reserve here:
Tuesday, Wednesday 4:00 pm - 9:30 pm 
Thursday 4:00 pm -10:00 pm
Friday 4:00 pm -10:30 pm
Saturday 4:00 pm -10:30 pm
Sunday brunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday dinner 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
