Indoor Pool Advocates Present Plans to Village Trustees
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Advocates for an indoor pool and community center in Scarsdale presented an extensive study including financial projections, a concept design and cost evaluation to a meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Trustees on November 4th. Ed Morgan, a Co-Chair of the SCC, Steve Bush, the organization’s controller, architect Bart Hamlin and an architect from ikon.5 all participated in the report to the Board.
The 150-page document that was distributed outlines plans for a new facility at the site of the outdoor pool on Mamaroneck Road. The new Community Center would include an 8-lane pool, a therapy pool and locker rooms to be built underground, with an above ground extension of the existing bathhouse to accommodate a fitness center as well as community meeting rooms.
The group retained ikon.5 Architects to plan the center as they recently completed a Wellness Center at the College of New Rochelle that is largely below ground and required extensive rock excavation. The current plans for Scarsdale call for removal of 12,000 cubic yards of rock, upgrading utilities and reallocating parking. The 34,000 square foot project would require the relocation of the existing mechanical equipment for the outdoor pool. It is estimated that it would cost $24-$25 million, with approximately $20mm in construction costs and $4.8mm in soft costs. The group hopes to begin construction in January 2012 and believes it would take 20 months to build the project.
The current plan was developed after the SCC considered nine possible sites for the facility. When the site at Harwood Court was rejected due to resident’s concerns, the outdoor pool area was selected due to synergies between facilities.
Discussing the financial viability of the project, Steve Bush explained that the group originally had 1,200 paid members and now, four years later, 1,080 remain active. Sixty of those members donated additional monies to fund the architecture and engineering study, demonstrating that there continues to be a real commitment to the project. His projections call for 1,600 members by opening day with a full family membership at $1,318 per year. The plan ultimately targets a membership of 2,000. The group came up with membership numbers by studying demographics, the population and analyzing membership rates at the outdoor pool and at other similar facilities in the Northeast.
Three quarters of the revenue to support the facility are expected to come from membership fees, with the balance derived from increased summer camp fees, aquatic and fitness program fees, funds from the use of the community meeting rooms, vending machines, merchandise sales, child care and guest fees. In order to finance the project, the group plans to raise $8mm in private contributions. Once they reach this target, the Village would bond the remaining $16 million dollars.
The Trustees questioned the presenters about the validity of the membership 
projections and the financial projections. Trustee Eisenman asked what would happen to the outdoor pool during the construction of the facility. Hamlin explained that they planned to do the rock excavation during the fall and winter and pour the concrete before the pool opened in May. Though parking would have to be relocated the architects claimed they could minimize disruption to the pool during the summer months. There was also a discussion of why the project was expanded from an indoor pool project to a community center and Hamlin explained that the pool alone would not be financially self-sustaining and that together, a Community Center and indoor pool would heighten community interaction in a vibrant environment.
In order to move forward, the SCC is asking the Trustees for a commitment to issue the $16 million dollar bond, once the group raises the required $8 million in contributions. The Trustees thanked the group for their thorough job and opened the floor for comments from the audience.
There were very few people in attendance, making it difficult to gage community support for the project. Mrs. Landau called the outdoor pool site “sacred” and voiced her concerns about use of the outdoor pool during construction. She said “20 months for the project sounds hopeful.” Mr. Landau questioned the financial plan assumptions derived from the experts, saying, “what if things don’t work out?” Mrs. Mackler asked the Trustees to do due diligence to determine if the 1,080 members were still on board and discussed the “financial realities” we now face. Trustee Toder objected answering that if the list was given to the Board it would become a public document.
The Mayor complimented the group on an extremely thorough job and invited comments from the community. The meeting was televised and the plans will be available on the SCC website and at Village Hall.
Trustees Consider Changes to Historic Preservation Law
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The Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation presented their report on proposed changes to the Village Historic Preservation laws to a joint meeting of the Trustees Law and Land Use Committees on Wednesday night November 3rd.
Former Mayor Noreen Fisher headed up the ad hoc committee that was established earlier this year to determine how the Village might safeguard historic homes, and Scarsdale sites from demolition. Membership of the committee included Fisher, Thomas Giordano, David Karp, Lucas Meyer, Carl Pforzheimer, Emily Sherwood, Terry Singer, Eda Newhouse and Eric Rothschild.
They committee met six times to:
- Determine the efficacy of the existing law
- Consider amendments to the law proposed by the Committee on Historic Preservation (CHP)
- Examine criteria currently used in deciding on proposed demolitions
- Consider the pre-designation of properties and districts as historic
- Set standards for the regulation and maintenance or improvement of designated landmarks or districts
Fisher gave the Trustees a recap of the work of the Ad Hoc committee and explained that they had researched the codes of many neighboring towns and villages to see how they work and determine what has proven to be effective in identifying and protecting historic buildings and sites.
In addition, they looked back at the activity of the current Scarsdale Committee for Historic Preservation and found that in the past three years, though 57 buildings were considered, only one was determined to have historic significance under the current code. They found that the current code only provided for a review of historic significance when demolition of more that 50% of a home was proposed and that the current code does not give the Village authority to require owners of historic homes to maintain their properties.
Current law covers homes but does not address historic sites, markers, and monuments that may “represent our historic, architectural or cultural past.” Though the current code charges the Committee on Historic Preservation with fostering civic pride and providing an educational role with respect to preservation it gives the Committee no charge on how to carry this out.
The Committee examined the role of the homeowner in designating their home as a historic property. They recommended that the Village adopt a policy to require written owner’s consent prior to pre-designation and stated that it would be “the CHP’s responsibility, as it is in many other municipalities, to work with the owners of all potentially pre-designated properties and gain the owner’s consent. “
In order to provide an incentive to the property owner to maintain and preserve historic homes, the committee advised the Village to consider local tax benefits for owners of designated homes, saying, “Given the relatively small number of properties that would be found of significant historic importance we do not consider this a burden on Village finances.”
Once was home was granted historic designation the status would become part of the deed and it would pass to the next owner when the house was sold.
During the meeting Fisher discussed why age alone was not a suitable criteria for determining historic significance and Trustee Eisenman concurred saying, “age may not be the best criteria,” and that “homes can be significant, despite their age.”
The report from the Ad Hoc committee recommends that the Village do the following:
- Adopt a pre-designation law and continue to enforce current code while establishing “the criteria against which buildings, structures, sites and objects would be evaluated.”
- Hire a consultant with experience in this area to work with the Village Planner and Village Historian in reviewing and surveying Scarsdale to pre-designate historic properties.
- Train CHP and BAR members on standards for reviewing historic properties
From the tone of the discussion, it appeared that the Trustees embraced the committee’s recommendations and would propose them for adoption by the full board.
SNAP Encourages Halloween Safety
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Here is a letter from your Neighborhood Association Presidents on what you can do to make this a safe Halloween: Dear Fellow Scarsdalians: Halloween is a holiday enjoyed by many in our community. It is important that we work together to ensure that our children have a safe, secure and enjoyable experience.
October 31 is a Sunday this year, so extra vigilance is important. SNAP encourages everyone to cooperate with members of the Scarsdale Police and Fire Departments in making the event safe and enjoyable. They are depending on our community partnership to multiply their resources to ensure everyone's safety for Halloween.
Prior to the holiday, Scarsdale patrol officers and detectives visit the schools to discuss Halloween safety and acceptable boundaries of behavior. The police department, in partnership with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), sponsors a Halloween food drive to encourage the youth of the community to donate canned goods. In addition, local merchants have been requested not to sell spray paint, shaving cream, eggs and other items used for mischief in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
In keeping with the theme of “Give the Day Back to the Kids”, SNAP joins the Police Department in encouraging parents to get more involved in the actions of their children, accompanying them while trick or treating and completing all door to door solicitations by specific voluntary curfew times as follows: children under 11 years of age should be finished trick or treating by 7:00 p.m.; children 11 years of age or older should complete their trick or treating by 8:00 p.m. Those children 13 years of age or older should be monitored throughout the evening and all trick or treating will be monitored by police, parents and volunteers. All trick or treating should be completed by 9:00 p.m.
Safety volunteers will be utilized on Halloween evening as additional eyes and ears for the Police Department and particularly to monitor activity and voluntary curfews. Scarsdale volunteer firefighters are strategically placed throughout the community and will report potential problems to the police. Uniformed and plain clothes officers, bicycle officers and detectives (one being the Youth Officer) will mingle with crowds, identifying potential “hot spots” and direct uniformed patrol to the areas of concern. Eggs, shaving cream and other material are to be confiscated and perpetrators removed. Youth who engage in activities that do not rise to the criminal level are to be brought to the Police Incident Command Vehicle, where officers will contact their parents who will be asked to pick up their children. Youths committing criminal offenses shall be treated according to the New York State Family Court Act/Penal Law and held at Police Headquarters.
It is important for the entire Village to work together to foster an enjoyable and safe Halloween. Remember that the actions of the participants reflect upon our entire community. By working together with the Village authorities and volunteers, SNAP hopes that Scarsdale will eliminate problems that occurred in past years.
SNAP encourages you to visit these helpful websites for additional Halloween safety tips and ideas:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/treats.html
http://www.candyusa.com/Healthy/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1408
Sincerely,
Linda Ettinger Lieberman, Chairman
Confederation of Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents (SNAP)
David Emmer Passes Away
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David Emmer, owner of Scarsdale Wrapping and Shipping Center on Harwood Court passed away on Saturday October 30, 2010. Emmer was a respected business owner in the Village and previously owned Arcade Stationers with his brother.
Emmer, 49, was an active member of the South Salem community and served on the Board of Trustees and was co-president of the Jewish Family Congregation (JFC) in South Salem. He is survived by his wife Jane, his sons Andrew and Matthew, his mother Bea, brother Jeffrey, sister Susan, and their families.
The funeral was held on Monday, November 1, at 1:00 pm at JFC, with burial at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, NY.
Donations in his memory can be made to a college scholarship fund for David's two sons, Andrew and Matthew. Click here to make your contribution.
New Initiative Announced to Support Scarsdale Seniors
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Join Scarsdale adults over age 60 and their families on November 7th, 2010 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club at 37 Drake Road, Scarsdale to celebrate the opening of the newly created, At Home in Scarsdale Village. Meet At Home Project Coordinator Susan Gilbert, SFCS Executive Director Geraldine Greene, At Home founding committee members, and learn about the varied programs At Home in Scarsdale Village offers members.
Connecting Scarsdale adults with each other, the community, and key support services is the goal of At Home in Scarsdale Village, made possible by the Rita Aranow Service for Seniors at Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling Services. Newly appointed project coordinator Susan Gilbert, directs this dynamic initiative which models itself after similar organizations in Westchester, Connecticut, Massachusetts and across the nation. At Home offers members not only social, educational, and cultural opportunities to get together and socialize, but also provides a valuable network of services and referrals.
Ms. Gilbert has been working with active adults for the past five years in various community settings. A former public relations specialist, Ms. Gilbert recently received her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University with a concentration in gerontology. Excited to get started, Ms. Gilbert has already begun working closely with the At Home founding committee and community organizations to begin setting a calendar of events and listing available services. “Scarsdale residents want to continue celebrating life-cycle events and host families and friends in their own homes. Membership benefits include social events, assistance with locating resources through a proven provider list, the support of volunteer visits, escorts to medical visits, and help with technical skills such as computer and other electronic information needs. We plan to purchase a van that can transport between 12-15 adults. Some of our members may want to take a yoga class together or go to a play on Broadway, while others will be happy to have a teen volunteer visit on their birthday, read to them or perhaps change a light bulb that they can’t reach. We aim to meet the requests of all of our members.”
“The At Home program has been in the planning for well over a year,” explains Geraldine Greene, SFCS Executive Director. “When we received a generous grant from the family of Rita Aranow, the agency and a Scarsdale planning group decided to partner and form At Home in Scarsdale Village. With the SFCS appointment of Susan Gilbert, we have a designated professional who will work with the volunteers and recruit membership.”
The original volunteer group’s first meeting was organized by the late Judy Handelman in 2007 at the home of Lynne Clark. Deborah Porder, Founders’ Committee Member and Chair, says, “Our original idea was to offer social events, trips to performances, referrals to vetted home repair contractors and volunteer assistance. SFCS and the At Home group agreed to partnership when the Agency received a grant to develop an initiative to connect older adults with community support. It was a natural fit. SFCS has a long history of service to families and older adults, as well as collaborative partnerships.”
Like similar organizations, such as At Home on the Sound in Larchmont, Mamaroneck, the Gramatan Village in Bronxville, the Scarsdale group will be recruiting not only members, but also interested volunteers. For adults, this can be a meaningful and satisfying way of supporting their neighbors; for teenagers and students, this is a great opportunity to explore working in service to your community and meet school-based community-service requirements.
For further information or to join or volunteer, please contact Susan Gilbert at (914) 723-4529, or via email at: sgilbert@sfcsinc.org.
Pictured Above: Geraldine Greene, Executive Director of Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service and Lynne P. Clarke, founding member of the neighborhood organization.
