Trustees Consider Repairs to Freightway Garage While They Search for a Better Plan
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It’s the eyesore that won’t go away. And in addition to looking unsightly the Freightway Parking Garage is badly in need of costly repairs. There are cracks on the structural slab and membrane, moisture is seeping through to the concrete slab and there are signs of corrosion. The top two floors are no longer in use and there are temporary supports in place to shore up the structure.
In 2019-20 the Village engaged proposals Village engaged proposals for Transit Oriented Development to transform the Freightway site and adjacent lots to a mixed use complex of residential and retail units and parking. The idea was to replace the garage, provide additional housing, add new vitality to the retail environment and even include community assets such as a dog park or a skating rink.
However, after vocal opposition from those who feared an increase in the school population, negotiations were shelved and the garage was left to rot in place.
Since 2020 no preventative maintenance has been done on the structure. At a work session of the Village Board on September 12, Superintendent Jeff Coleman warned the trustees that repairs would need to be made in order for the structure to pass inspections and remain safe for the parking permit holders who use it.
How much will it cost? He explained that $770,000 is already in this year’s budget for steel work and deck repairs and that another $3 million will be needed over the next five years to keep the garage operational. He called it “a combination of repairs and preventative maintenance.”
Trustees voiced concerns about spending considerable funds on a garage that will ultimately come down. They wondered what the minimum spend could be to keep the garage open while the Board seeks out information, data and proposals for a better use for the site.
They wondered how many of the parking spots are filled, what the future portends for commuting to the city and what other Villages have learned about Transit Oriented Development. Will there continue to be demand for station parking? How many children would a new development bring to the school district and would that increase be manageable? Can stormwater and traffic concerns be mitigated?
Trustee Ken Mazer said, “It looks like $10,000,000 in repairs are needed. How does this compare to the cost of a new garage?” Coleman said it would cost $20-$30 million to build a new garage in addition to the cost of demolishing the old one. He added, “It is better to spend the $10 mm over time than to spend $20-$30 million on a new one.”
Trustee Jeremy Gans was concerned about the long term. He said, “I can’t engage in this without thinking about the grand plan. 40 years ago it was called an eyesore. The figures we have before us are to restore this to the condition people didn’t like 40 years ago. It may be that this is best suited to be a parking structure. But we should think about how many spaces we need at the Metro North site.”
Trustee Randy Whitestone concurred. “This opened fifty years ago. How much do we have to put into this to keep it going? What are the best uses of the site without the structure?”
Trustee Dara Gruenberg asked, “How long do we have to consider this before the garage is dangerous?” Coleman responded, “There is a narrow window – we know we have to do something today. Even if you made a decision today it won’t be implemented for years – we need to design it, get approvals and build it. We have a responsibility to do this $3 million investment. Today some parking spaces are closed. We need to make repairs now so that it’s not dangerous.”
Referring to the survey report done in 2020, Coleman said, “I would propose staying on track with Desmond’s proposal until we have a grand plan or else we will start losing parking spaces in that garage.”
Mayor Justin Arest agreed, saying, “I think we have to do what is needed to keep it open. “
The question turned to timing. Whitestone said, “We need to buy time until we have a bigger plan. Gans added, “If it takes five years we’re spending $5 million to keep this operational. The sooner we can make the decision the more efficiently we are able to spend our money. How do we start to get to a plan?”
Raising the possibility of reopening the discussion of a Transit Oriented Development Project Mayor Arest asked, “What were the impediments to development? School population, stormwater? I think we have an obligation to start the conversation again. We have a good relationship with the schools now. Let’s look at the school impacts in neighboring towns.
Referring to Governor Hochul’s proposal to build additional housing along the Metro North corridor, Gruenberg added, “We also don’t know what is going to come down from Albany.
And Gans said, “We have the opportunity to do it our way. It is something we discussed and it happens to coincide with certain people in Albany.”
Concluding the discussion, Arest said, “We have a meeting with the schools soon. This could be part of the conversation. We need to work with our Village Planner and our Superintendent of Public Works to get information about parking, stormwater and traffic. Everything can be fixed. It is just a question of money. We deserve to have those answers before we take a next step.”
Commenting on the discussion, Susan Douglass from the Scarsdale Forum said, “It doesn’t seem wise to spend $7 to $10 million when we should be moving forward on a plan. Nothing has been done since the last plan was turned down. The Forum is meeting to come up with some ideas on what could be done.”
Former Village Trustee Lena Crandall said, “I was a Village Trustee when Freightway was being considered. Is there a way to find out what incentives Albany might offer? It would also be good to know what other requirements they may make for affordable housing.”
Thanks to the Sponsors of the Community Calendar
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September 4, 2023
To the Editor:
The Scarsdale Parent-Teacher Council (PTC) Community Calendar has arrived in the mailboxes of Scarsdale School District residences. Many members of our community depend on the PTC Community Calendar for their academic year planning as it is filled with important community and school-related events. The Scarsdale Parent-Teacher Council is happy to provide this valuable resource and offer it in both print and electronic forms.
PT Council would like to extend a huge thank you to our incredible community sponsors: Scarsdale Security Systems, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Compass Realty/The Zach and Heather Harrison Team, Eye Gallery of Scarsdale and Julia B. Fee/Sotheby’s. The production and distribution of the printed calendar is possible because of their support and generosity. Additional printed copies of the calendar are available for pick-up at the offices of our sponsors as well as the main offices of the seven Scarsdale Schools.
The online version of the calendar may be found here (https://www.scarsdaleschools.k12.ny.us/Page/12996). As a general reminder, all dates/times and locations of calendar events are subject to change throughout the year and the online calendar will reflect these changes as they are made and submitted to the PTC Calendar Chairs. The cover of the printed calendar also has a QR Code that will take you directly to the electronic version.
A huge thank you to the dedicated and meticulous work of the PT Council Community Calendar Co-Chairs, Dana Wiczyk and Rohini Sahni. This large-scale project would not be possible without their volunteer commitment as well as the detailed calendar-planning of the seven school PTAs and their PTA Presidents.
On behalf of PT Council, I extend our best wishes to the entire community, especially to all of the students as they move into the 2023-24 school year!
Leah Dembitzer
PT Council President, 2023-24
Community Calendars Available from Scarsdale Security Systems
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Dear Editor: At Scarsdale Security, we value our connection with the community and our participation in Village life. This year, we are proud to be one of the sponsors of the Scarsdale Community Calendar, compiled and distributed by the Scarsdale Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. These calendars correspond with the school year (September through August) and include all school closings and events, as well as community meetings and information related to village organizations. A telephone directory for the school district, local government, village services and community organizations is also included in the calendar.
As a sponsor, Scarsdale Security has a supply of calendars available for distribution at no cost to you. If you would like a calendar, please contact our office’s outreach liaison at 722-2321.
We look forward to serving you – not only as the northeast’s premier boutique for security, fire, camera and home automation systems – but also as your neighbor. Together, we all make our community a great place to call home.
Very truly yours,
David Raizen
President, Scarsdale Security Systems, Inc.
132 Montgomery Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-722-2323
Letter to the Editor: Save the Hudson
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(The following letter was submitted by Deborah Porder of Lawrence Road)
Dear Trustees and Mayor Arest,
Many municipalities in Westchester have passed resolutions condemning the Holtec entities' plan to dump radioactive spent fuel from the Indian Point nuclear power plant into the Hudson River. Holtec has said that it will begin dumping as early as next month. Read this article and watch the video from Lohud about it.
The Hudson River flows into the Croton Reservoir that provides water to Westchester and New York City. The radioactive water will evaporate and rain on Scarsdale. Some of our neighbors in Westchester get their drinking water directly from the Hudson River.
The Holtec entities want to dump the toxic chemicals in the Hudson to save money. The rate payers footed the bill, paying more for electricity, for Holtec to shut down the nuclear reactor and clean up the Indian Point site. Under the plan, Holtec can keep any money it doesn't spend on the clean up. I believe that Holtec wants to dump because it's the cheapest alternative. Protecting public health costs money.
The radioactive chemical waste from Indian Point can cause bone cancer and leukemia. It is especially harmful to children and fetuses. It causes genetic defects. Holtec is planning to start dumping before it gets test results back showing what is in the spent fuel. Please watch this video that confirms that Holtec will dump before it receives test results.
The NY State Legislature passed a bi-partisan Save the Hudson bill S6893/A7208 that would ban dumping radioactive waste into the Hudson. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and by a wide margin in the Assembly. Governor Hochul hasn't signed it and time is running out.
I live in a neighborhood full of vulnerable children and families. I am ashamed that my Village, unlike many other municipalities in Westchester, has not taken a stand on this imminent threat to the health of its citizens.
Please pass a resolution against Holtec's dumping and urging Governor Hochul to sign the Save The Hudson bill.
Kind Regards,
Deborah Porder
46 Lawrence Rd
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Home: (914) 725-6393
Cell: (914) 419-1044
Congressman Bowman Could Be In For A Challenge Due To His Stance on Israel
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Congressman Jamaal BowmanAt the annual meeting of the Scarsdale Democratic Committee hosted by State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin on August 1, 2023, many local leaders showed up. In addition to Paulin, State Senator Shelley Mayer, County Executive George Latimer, former Congressman Mondaire Jones along with a host of candidates for the Supreme Court were there to meet Scarsdale voters.
Noticeably absent was Jamaal Bowman, the current representative for the 16th District in US Congress. Why wasn’t he on hand to greet his constituents?
The answer may lie in his stance on Israel, which has alienated many Jewish voters in his district. What has he done to lose their support? He recently boycotted President Herzog’s visit to Washington and voted no on a bill supporting Israel and condemning antisemitism. In 2022 he failed to support bipartisan legislation strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords and called for the US to recognize “Nakba,” the mass Palestinian exodus in 1948 and endorsing the right of Palestinians to return to Israel. He also voted against a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding.
According to an article in Jewish Insider dated July 21, 2023, AIPAC, a bi-partisan pro-Israel political action committee has been seeking a Democratic candidate to challenge Bowman’s seat. County Executive George Latimer, who’s term ends in 2024, is currently considering a run to represent the district. Well liked among Westchester voters of all faiths, Latimer may not be ready to retire and is assessing support for a run against Bowman. We asked AIPAC to comment, but got no response.
The issue is further complicated by potential redistricting that could take Jewish voters out of the district and by the erosion of support for Israel in the US due to Netanyahu’s bid to strip power from the judiciary and undermine Israel’s democracy.
Commenting on Bowman’s lack of support for Israel, Rabbi Jonathan Blake, the senior Rabbi at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale said, “From the time
Rabbi Jonathan Blake of his election in 2020, and through his inaugural term in Congress, I spearheaded an effort to assist Congressman Bowman in his awareness of the complexity of issues pertaining to Israel, and also to help him understand that many voters in his district do not relate to Israel as "foreign policy" but rather through the lens of "home" and "family." Our group of 10 rabbis from across the District encouraged a trip to Israel, which Congressman Bowman took under J Street's auspices. Unfortunately, since returning from that trip, Congressman Bowman's about-face on support for Israel and its allies (including those to sign on to the Abraham Accords) has been striking and disheartening. We believe that Congressman Bowman has now emerged as one of the most caustic anti-Israel voices in Congress, whose positions on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East do not reflect the views of a great number of his voters, nor do they reflect the will of the American people or the longstanding positions of the Democratic Party.
We continue to welcome dialogue with Congressman Bowman and urge him to reconsider his rhetoric and policy stances; in the meantime, a primary challenge would come as no surprise to any of us in the Jewish and pro-Israel community who are paying attention to the Congressman's record in office.”
The challenge to Bowman’s seat was the subject of a recent email from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is using her email list to solicit funds for Bowman’s campaign. In it she charges AIPAC with using “dark money” to target “candidates of color.”
Here is what her email says:
“We just got word: AIPAC is at it again. They’re trying to recruit an establishment executive to run against my brother in The Bronx, Jamaal Bowman.
We know what comes next. AIPAC won’t wait much longer to start funneling dark money against Jamaal and ramping up attacks against our movement.
We’ve seen the AIPAC playbook. They target progressive, working-class candidates of color. They abuse campaign finance laws to spend millions of dollars on misleading attack ads. And they’re willing to undermine democracy to slow our progressive movement — they endorsed 109 insurrectionist Republicans.
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAIPAC has usually held off from opposing incumbent members of the Squad. Not this time.
The fact they’re trying to make a play now, as Jamaal runs for his third term in Congress, means they think they have a path to victory.
It’s up to us to make sure Jamaal has what he needs to defend his seat from AIPAC and keep our progressive movement strong. Will you please help Jamaal fight back today with a contribution?
Jamaal and I form the “Bronx delegation” in the House, and there’s no one I’d rather have by my side. Jamaal unapologetically speaks truth to power. He’s unafraid to call out the BS that holds us back from real progress. And he does all that from a place of deep compassion and radical joy. When he greets you with “peace and love,” he means it.
As a former middle-school principal, community leader, working father of three, and proud Black man, we need Jamaal’s voice in Congress — especially as MAGA Republican extremists continue to target our schools and our children.
So today, I’m asking you to take a stand against dark money and shady special interests – because when we do, we win.”
Beyond his views on the Middle East, Bowman has raised eyebrows in Scarsdale with his support of Governor Kathy Hochul’s housing proposal which would have overridden local zoning code to build multi-family housing in areas now zoned for single family homes. More recently Bowman co-sponsored legislation to ban the preferential treatment of the children of alumni in college admissions, a.k.a legacy admissions.
It’s still early to be planning for a 2024 election but this will be a race to watch. As Bowman’s views diverged from his Westchester constituents he has made little effort to retain their support. Though he scored a big victory in his election for a second term, a third term win might be harder to achieve.
