Architectural Historian Recommends Preservation of Colonial Revival Home
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Sometimes a house does not need to be large or grand to save it from demolition. Homes that meet the criteria for preservation under Scarsdale’s Historic Preservation Code do not have to be manses or stately Tudors. They can be modest but still qualify for preservation.
One such home in question is a modest Colonial Revival built in the 1930’s in the Heathcote Crest area of Scarsdale at the corner of Graham and Lawrence Roads. Though you might not notice it when you drive by, an analysis of the home and it’s provenance reveals that it exemplifies a broad pattern of Scarsdale history, was designed by a known architect and possesses “high artistic value.”
After an application was filed by Westchester Modular Homes LLC to demolish the home – and presumably replace it with a modular home -- the Scarsdale Committee for Historic Preservation asked Architectural Historian Andrew Dolkart for his assessment.
In an opinion filed this month, Dolkart did some research and concluded that a permit to demolish the home should be denied.
Why?
Dolkart found that the house was designed by architect L.S. Beardsley and built in 1930 by the Westchester County Small Estate Corporation in a new development called Heathcote Crest. Dolkart says, “The Heathcote Crest development was part of the significant movement that changed the character of Scarsdale from a rural area into one of the prime suburbs of New York City,” and says, “this transformation of Scarsdale is, indeed, the most significant issue in the broad pattern of Scarsdale’s history.”
The house was a part of “a new movement in residential building called the “small estates” idea. The objective was to build houses in the best neighborhoods where real estate values would be maintained; to design building, “regardless of price,” that would have “beauty, individuality and utility,” and that “every material from cellar to roof, inside and out, must be a product of known excellence.”
About the design of the home, Dolkart notes it is a “Colonial Revival,” with irregular shingles designed to look as if they have been handcut. He notes that the rear of the house is “marked by a double gable in the manner of several seventeenth-century New England houses, such as the Whipple House in Ipswich, Mass.”
As the house has undergone only minor changes he believes it could be easily repaired.
Dolkart concludes that the home meets two and possible three criteria for preservation:
-It represents a broad pattern of Village history.
-It was designed by a talented and innovative architect
-It is a distinctive example of a small-scale Colonial Revival design that has high artistic value.
He therefore recommends that the Committee for Historic Preservation deny the application to demolish 53 Graham Road, saying “The neighborhood would be seriously compromised if it were lost."
See his opinion and photos here:
The application to demolish the home was adjourned from the May 2025 meeting but is on the agenda for consideration at the June 17 meeting of the Committee for Historic Preservation at 7 pm at Scarsdale Village Hall.
Famed Physicist Richard Garwin Passes Away at 97 in Scarsdale
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Perhaps Scarsdale’s most renown resident passed away quietly at his home at Christie Place on May 13, 2025. Richard Garwin, who worked on the first atomic bomb and created the breakthrough mechanism for the more powerful hydrogen bomb -- along with many more pioneering discoveries, died at the age of 97. He was a Scarsdale resident for 64 years and raised three children here. He and his wife Lois lived in Greenacres on Ridgecrest East until 2010 when they moved to the apartments on Christie Place. While living in Scarsdale Lois worked as a substitute teacher in the Scarsdale elementary schools and volunteered for the Alzheimer's Association in White Plains. She passed away in 2018 and he is survived by three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
To get some idea of the breadth of his accomplishments, here are remarks made by Scarsdale Mayor Jon Mark on December 13, 2016 when Garwin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama:
“On November 22, 2016, President Barack Obama presented Dr. Richard Garwin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Garwin is a long-time resident of the Village. In making that award, the President noted that Dr. Garwin is a polymath physicist who earned a Ph.D. under Enrico Fermi at age 21 and subsequently made pioneering contributions to U.S. defense and intelligence technologies, low-temperature and nuclear physics, detection of gravitational radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer systems, laser printing, and nuclear arms control and nonproliferation. He directed Applied Research at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center and taught at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Harvard University. The author of 500 technical papers and a winner of the National Medal of Science, Dr. Garwin holds 47 U.S. patents, and has advised numerous administrations. So, Dr. Garwin we congratulate you on this high honor in recognition of your accomplishments and contributions.”
This week, the New York Times published an article about Garwin’s personal crusade to undo the damage of the bomb that was dropped at Hiroshima, killing at least 70,000 people. The article says, “… what drove him, what made him eager to advise presidents, was not his gift for coming up with marvels of discovery and innovation but, courtesy of Fermi, a personal crusade to save the world from his own creation.” Read more here.
In Scarsdale Garwin was a member of the Scarsdale Forum and there are several articles about his participation in Forum events on Scarsdale10583. Following a storm in 2010 that flooded the Village and left 80% of Scarsdale residents without electric power for many days, Garwin spoke with Jonathan Lewis at the Forum’s Sunday Speaker Series on “Dealing with Local Disasters: What Can Nuclear and Pandemic Disaster Planning Teach Us?”
Former President of the Forum and Village Trustee Jonathan Lewis said this about Garwin: “Dr. Richard Garwin was an extraordinary patriot, who served his country quietly, behind the scenes, making the nation safer during the most challenging years of the Cold War and beyond. His sense of duty was an example to us all. He advised Presidents, and as a Scarsdale resident he devoted time to helping us as a community think more deeply about safety issues. I had the privilege of speaking with him at Scarsdale Forum presentation on public safety. In our preparation for the meeting I was impressed with his commitment to doing the best possible job to help his community understand the issues. A great public servant.”
In 2015, Garwin appeared at the Forum again when they showed a documentary about his life.
Garwin’s participation in the life of the Village of Scarsdale went beyond science. In fact, in February 2016 when the Village Board of Trustees was considering enacting the Homestead Option, which would have changed the tax treatment of the Christie Place condominiums, Garwin wrote a letter to object and it was also posted on Scarsdale10583.
Here is what he said at the time:
I am Richard Garwin, living with my wife Lois Garwin at 1 Christie Place, Unit 402W since September 2010—5 years ago. We had lived for 55 years in a house at 16 Ridgecrest East which we sold in order to buy our condominium apartment at Christie Place. Our ages: 87 and 88. Our three children attended and graduated from the Scarsdale schools.
For Scarsdale to adopt Homestead would be a misuse of the law, the stated purpose of which is to "prevent any large shift to the residential class of properties" as a result of revaluation. Homestead would apply only to the 42 residential units on Christie Place and not to the cooperative apartments in Scarsdale that are of comparable size and market price. Contrary to the implication that the traditional valuation of residential condominium units is "special interest legislation" for Christie Place, it was the only valuation approach possible under NYS law. Although the NYS legislature passed Homestead legislation in 1981, Scarsdale could consider it only after the revaluation of 2014, when the Village Board unanimously rejected the Homestead option.
The Christie Place development is an award-winning public-private partnership which made possible the 42 residential suites that can be sold only for occupancy by a resident over 55, two restaurants and three commercial units, plus off-street parking for the residents, the short-term municipal garage on Christie Place, and underground commuter parking, for which the Condominium provided the mortgage—all on 1.73 acres of land. The Village controls, manages, and profits from 310 of the 370 parking spaces; on weekends and holidays the 234 underground commuter parking spaces are available to all for free.
According to the Village Assessor at the Joint Board meeting of 02/01/2016, the 42 condos are valued for tax purposes in 2016 at $31 million, and under Homestead they would be valued at a market sales price of $59 million, so that the tax bill would just about double if Homestead were adopted. As a matter of fact, without Homestead, my own tax bill doubled last year as a result of the 2014 revaluation and would apparently double again if Homestead is adopted.
The Town of Greenburgh will consider adopting Homestead as it completes its revaluation, but Greenburgh has 5,000 residential condominium units in contrast to the 42 in Scarsdale, If Scarsdale adopts Homestead it risks turning Christie Place from a triumph of public-private partnership into a travesty.
It was not in the distant past that the Village leadership saw the Christie Place development as a good package deal, including the traditional approach to real estate tax on the 42 residential condominium units. Less than two years ago, the Village Board confirmed that judgment. I ask it to do so again.
In Store for Mother's Day in Scarsdale
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Spa treatment, flowers, jewelry, home goods, spring clothing and accessories are all in store in Scarsdale for Mother’s Day on Sunday May 11, 2025. We’re fortunate to have so many wonderful options at our doorstep.
Shop local this year and you won’t need to worry about late shipments and out of stock items. It’s all here for you and all the special moms, grandmothers, aunts and sisters in Scarsdale!
Here are some tempting suggestions for gifts, services, food and gift certificates, all a quick drive from home.
Latest Looks
Mother’s Day is easy at I Am More Scarsdale: Celebrate the women who do it all with I Am More Scarsdale’s curated Mother’s Day gift ideas. We have you covered—from chic statement pieces to everyday essentials she’ll wear again and again.
And if you’re looking for something more flexible, I Am More gift cards never disappoint.
Let I Am More help you find a gift she’ll truly love—because moms deserve more—and when you shop with I Am More, you’re also shopping with purpose, supporting a women-led, philanthropic business dedicated to empowering women and giving back to the community.
Enjoy spring savings with up to 30% off select regular-priced clothing and accessories. Shop on-line here at or In-store at 6 Spencer Place, Scarsdale Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm, Sundays 11am-4pm, and by appointment.
The Eye Gallery of Scarsdale invites you to their stunning new store on Boniface Circle to check out the latest sunglasses and eyewear for spring. With new styles from Celine, Chanel, Chrome Hearts, Jacques Marie Mage, and Barton Perriera you will never run out of options for gifts this year! And while you’re in town make sure to make an appointment for your annual eye check-up.
Saint Laurent Corner Angle Sunglasses are a perfect blend of modern style and timeless elegance, making them an ideal pick for a Mother’s Day gift. With their crystal-clear acetate frame and soft brown-tinted lenses, they offer a sophisticated look that complements any outfit. The subtle transparency of the frames adds a contemporary twist, while the classic shape flatters a variety of face shapes.
Elevate her everyday style with these classic Celine Triomphe sunglasses, featuring a rich tortoiseshell frame and the signature gold Triomphe logo. Effortlessly chic and undeniably luxurious, they’re a standout Mother’s Day gift for the fashion-forward mom.
Eye Gallery of Scarsdale, 15 Boniface Circle, Scarsdale, (914) 472-2020.
Spa Treatments
Give the gift of radiant skin and relaxation this Mother’s Day. Celebrate Mom with the ultimate self-care experience at Julianne Steiner Skincare Studio — a private, one-on-one skincare oasis located in the heart of Scarsdale’s Five Corners. Our results-driven treatments are designed to refresh, rejuvenate, and reveal a healthy springtime glow, while protecting her skin from the sun and seasonal elements.
Make this Mother’s Day unforgettable — give her the gift of glowing, healthy skin and time to unwind. Services include: Hydrafacial, microdermabrasion, anti-aging facials, customized skincare, laser hair removal, waxing (specializing in Brazilian). Gift certificates available.
Julianne Steiner Skincare, 6 Palmer Avenue, Suite 8, Scarsdale, 914.874.4453.
For over 30 years now, Tranquility Spa in Scarsdale has been Westchester’s destination location for an 
extraordinary, life-enhancing experience: a short-term getaway vacation to focus your mind, relax your body and free your soul. Give the moms in your life the gift they deserve. Allow them time away to recharge. There is no better Mother's Day gift than a day at Tranquility Spa. Visit their website to see current specials for the special person in your life. Choose a de-stressing massage, consider a HydraFacial with dermaplaning to turn back the hands of time, or purchase a package with multiple services and allow them to have a longer experience.
Tranquility Spa, 917 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, 914.713.0066, Open Monday-Friday 10AM to 7PM, Saturday-Sunday 9AM to 6PM
Jewelry
Give her something that dazzles from Holsten Jewelers! Adina Reyter’s diamond charm necklace is a chic blend of classic beauty and contemporary flair. It’s as radiant and unforgettable as she is.
Daring, vibrant, and beautiful! Helena Rose Jewelry makes pieces for the mom 
who was born to shine. Add a burst of color and fun to her everyday style!
Holsten Jewelers, 5 Harwood, Court, Scarsdale (914) 472-4554.
Brunch-Lunch and Dinner Out!
Celebrate Mother’s Day at The 808 Bistro! They will be open from 10:00 AM on Sunday May 11, serving a delicious brunch and dinner with a beautifully crafted menu to make Mom feel truly special. Reserve your table today. Call 914 722 0808 or on our website: the808bistro. Visit them at 808 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale.
New to Purchase! La Casa Purchase serves award-winning, fresh and elevated Mexican cuisine + artisanal cocktails in a chic, upscale casual setting. Winner of Westchester’s Magazine’s Best Mexican & Best Margarita 2024. Now serving Sunday brunch plus dinner 7 nights. Special diet-friendly: La Casa is proud to offer comprehensive gluten-free and vegan menus!
Casa Purchase, 578 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase NY 10577.
Frame it!
Do you have a special photo or artwork to frame? Visit Framing at Depot Place for a free consultation and take advantage of our decades of experience for the perfect frame for any project. Mention this ad and receive a 10% discount on any custom ordered 
frame. Scarsdale Picture Framing: 4 Depot Place, Scarsdale, 914.722.6768, scarsdalepictureframing.com, info@scarsdalepictureframing.com
Flowers
This Mother’s Day send a stunning bouquet from Scarsdale Flower Boutique. Choose from roses in red, pink, lavender, white and peach or send a custom Valentine’s Day arrangement with premium flowers like orchids, ranunculus, hydrangeas and anemones. Ask about spring bouquets of peonies, lilacs, ranunculus, anemones, roses, tulips, astrantia, orchids and many more premium flowers.
Bouquets start at $50.00 with same day delivery. Call 914-723-0852, order online or stop by the shop at 7 Harwood Court in the heart of Scarsdale Village. Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm and on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 11, 2025.
Scent
Enhance your mom's sense of calm or energy, with luxurious home scents from Scentfluence this Mother's Day. Mention Scarsdale10583 to enjoy 15% off (through May 10) on our diffusers and library collection scents (excludes signature hotel and spa collection scents and products). FREE gift wrapping!
ScentFluence, 22 Harwood Court, Scarsdale Village, Mon-Fri 12-5.
Dance
For Mother's Day, give Mom the perfect gift of Dance Lessons with Fred Astaire Dance Studio Mamaroneck. Learning to dance is a gift that will last a lifetime - and one that can be enjoyed over and over again! Whether dancing by herself or with a partner -- or even as a special family group experience -- a fun gift of dance lessons benefits the mind, body and soul. Contact Fred Astaire 
Mamaroneck (@ 451 E. Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck) to purchase a special Mother's Day gift certificate -- choose between "two private lessons for $250" or "one family dance experience for Mom, Dad and Kids for $150." Reach out to Fred Astaire Mamaroneck at (914) 381-2562 or at mamaroneck@fredastaire.com to take advantage of these special offers -- and to give Mom the most memorable gift of her lifetime. She'll love you for it!
Unexpected Guests Storm LWVS Annual Luncheon
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Anne Lyons, Heedan Chung and Diksha MudbharyIn a sign of the times, the annual League of Women Voters luncheon at Scarsdale Golf Club on Friday May 9 was like none in its long history in Scarsdale.
It started out with a drenching rainstorm that sent guests running to the club doors. Once we dried off inside, we found a roomful of notable Scarsdalians including past League Presidents, State Senator Shelly Mayer, Scarsdale Mayor Arest, Deputy Mayor, Gruenberg, Library Director Beth Bermel, School Board President Suzie Hahn and Board Members Amber Yusuf and Leah Dembitzer, along with the Board of the League.
The selection of the guest speaker was timely – as newly elected Congressman George Latimer was invited to address the room on what’s going on in Washington.
However his pressing schedule required the event to be accelerated. With little time for lunch and pleasantries, League President Heedan Chung introduced 2nd Vice President Diksha Mudbhary to interview Latimer.
Latimer first invited guests to take copies of the Washington Post and Politico that were placed at the tables, saying unbiased coverage of events in Washington was limited.
He gave his perspective on his first few months in Congress, explaining that he was a “blue collar kid,” whose father was a maintenance man at Beachpoint Club in Mamaroneck and mother worked in a factory. He went to school in Mt. Vernon. He said his background makes him feel “pretty small when he is standing on the floor of the House of Representatives or gazing at the dome of the Capitol Building lit up at night.”
Mudbhary interviews Latimer
At the age of 71, he is a member of the minority party and knows that he will not serve long enough to head a committee. But he is trying to use his years of experience in local and county government to figure out how to get something done. He noted his frustration, saying on Friday, the only piece of legislation that came to a vote in the House was to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
He said, “The majority of both houses has decided not to hold the president accountable.” If we had the majority we would be having public hearings and asking pointed questions when the president is capturing and deporting people without due process. But the majority does not choose to do this – instead they criticize Biden.”
But he said, “The minority is taking every one of these decisions to court. There is a constitutional crisis in the making as there are no means to enforce court actions. Unless the majority goes to the President and tells him to follow the court, there is no enforcement.”
What to do? “We have to go to the court of public opinion and rally support.”
Then the unexpected happened.
Latimer was in the midst of answering a question about tariffs when loud shouts were heard from the back of the room. Without warning, a crowd of angry protesters stormed into the main dining room, yelling and holding signs. They were trailed by two officers from the Greenburgh Police Department who stood by but did not stop the intruders. It was shocking and frightening as well.
Protesters stormed the room.They chanted, “Why didn’t you come to the Bronx today?” Their banners read “Climate Defiance,” and it wasn’t immediately clear why they had chosen to trail Latimer.
Latimer attempted to speak over the din to explain that he is often in the Bronx and that he championed of environmental issues, including the electrification of the Westchester Bee Line bus fleet and implementation of the food scrap recycling to Westchester County. But little could be heard over the cacophony.
When they were finally escorted out, he said, “Here’s what we face as Democrats. We have the far right and the far left.”
State Senator Shelley Mayer spoke in support of the Congressman saying, “I am so proud of the way George handles these things.” Referring to his primary run against Jamaal Bowman she said, “He won fair and square. He represents the Bronx and has a fantastic presence there. He is a professional who is dedicated to serving us.”
Questioned about the lack of action to block Trump’s agenda in Congress, Latimer said, “There are some good members who are not voting their conscience. We have to convince people in the middle that we have programs to solve problems and articulate an environmental, health and education policy.”
He urged the audience to convince their friends and relatives to support the Democratic Party. He also asked for support for Ken Jenkins who is running for County Executive this year. He said, “it matters that he wins.”
Diksha Mudbhary and Leah Dembitzer
Though the event was cut short by time constraints, Latimer’s responses and the protesters unexpected visit provided a window into the unique times in which we live and the pressure from both the left and the right to forge consensus.
Commenting after the meeting, Mayor Arest said, “Congressman Latimer has long been a dedicated friend and advocate for our village—first as County Executive and now as our representative in Washington. He’s one of the most visible and engaged leaders in his district, consistently showing up, listening to all of his constituents, and responding with care and action. We also deeply appreciate his thorough updates on developments in Washington that impact New York’s 16th Congressional District—they help keep our community informed, prepared, and connected to the broader decisions shaping our future.”
The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is a volunteer nonpartisan political organization which promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any candidate for public office; it is political in that it takes positions on selected governmental issues after serious member study and consensus.
The recording of the event is available on the League’s YouTube channel here.
Learn more about the LWVS here.
Latimer Calls Washington a "Very Volatile Enviornment"
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Latimer at an Earth Day expo at Scarsdale Library prior to the Village Board meeting on 4-22.How is the turmoil in the government in Washington DC impacting Scarsdale and Westchester? That’s what was on the minds of County Executive Ken Jenkins and Congressman George Latimer when they visited Scarsdale at the Village Board meeting on Tuesday April 22, 2025.
Latimer did not bring happy news from the Capitol. He called Washing a “very volatile environment,” where, the President has made a policy decision to change the federal government dramatically.” He said, “We will have to see how it plays out in the courts.”
He said that threatened costs in Medicaid, changes to public health policy, the decommissioning of the Federal Department of Education, cancellation of renewable energy contracts and the elimination of DEI programs could all potentially impact the state, the county and the Village of Scarsdale. He said that decisions are being made without long-term consideration of their impacts. About the tariffs, he said, “We don’t know how the situation will change, but we do know that things will be more expensive,” and he cautioned the Village to budget to allow for increased costs.
He called the atmosphere “hyper-partisan,” and anticipated the next fight over the need to raise the debt ceiling so that the government could continue to meet its financial obligations.
He asked the Village Board to provide him with a list of any federal funding they are due to receive so that he could fight for it in Washington. He said, “There are no assurances that even signed contracts will be paid. All things are in play.”
Latimer said that he has established a district office at 222 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains. He invited constituents who need assistance with passports, identification federal programs or other issues to contact the office at 914-325-5550.
Mayor Arest thanked Latimer for coming and said, “Thank you for representing us in DC but you are still somehow everywhere in Westchester.”
County Executive Ken Jenkins reported, “There are challenging times ahead of us from a budget perspective. $700mm of federal funds can impact the budget.” He said the county would continue their work on investments in flood mitigation and fair and affordable housing. He reported that due to federal cuts, eight employees from the county health department had been cut. He hoped to secure funding for EV charging stations in Scarsdale.
He vowed to, “continue to advance the best things we can do for every Westchester resident and said, “We will keep acting like its normal until its not.”
He reported on first quarter county sales tax revenues which contribute to the Scarsdale budget as follows:
Sales Tax
January was up 20% over the prior year
February was down 10%
March was down 20%
He said, “It is not looking good.”
He said he was looking forward to Bicycle Sundays and the kick-off for Destination Scarsdale and the Scarsdale Farmer’s Market on Sunday May 4, 2025.
