New Rochelle News

August 20, 2008

Approval For Key Documents Related to Echo Bay Waterfront

Council Concludes Environmental Review for New City Yard and Adopts Scoping Measure for Echo Bay Project

Two important hurdles related to the Echo Bay waterfront were cleared by the City Council.

Download the City Yard Findings Statement.

Download the Echo Bay Scoping Document.

First, we completed the environmental review for the proposed City Yard on Beechwood Avenue by approving a "findings statement" that deems the new site appropriate and describes mitigation measures for its impacts. Relocation of the current City Yard on East Main Street is necessary in order to modernize and consolidate our aging public works infrastructure and to open the six-acre parcel to appropriate waterfront redevelopment. It is important to note that some issues raised by the public about the new City Yard will be addressed in the upcoming design phase for the facility.

Second, we adopted a "scoping document" that launches the environmental review for the Echo Bay waterfront itself. The purpose of a scoping document is to identify the various issues, concerns, benefits, and costs that must be thoroughly assessed prior to the approval of major projects. The environmental review for Echo Bay is expected to take approximately eighteen months. There will continue to be formal and informal opportunities for public comment during this period.

City Ups Focus On Environmental Goals

Appropriates Funds For Sustainability Coordinator

Download the Sustainability Coordinator RFP.

As you may know from previous bulletins, environmental sustainability has become a central focus of municipal policy in New Rochelle. We have taken a variety of steps to protect open space, reduce energy consumption, and promote transit-oriented development, and we are now developing legislation to encourage green building design. In order to build on this record and ensure that environmental goals are more fully integrated into the City's day-to-day actions, the City Council has unanimously approved funds to retain a new part-time sustainability coordinator, who will oversee environmental initiatives, ranging from local law, to administrative practice, to public education. If you would like to learn more about this position (or apply to fill it) you can download the Request for Proposals, including a more detailed job description.

Council Acts on Affordable Housing Proposals

Shiloh Project Approved, Bethesda Project Rejected

Download my Statement on the Shiloh Project.

Download my Statement on the Bethesda Project.

The City Council recently acted on two affordable housing developments, both of which attracted passionate support and opposition. On a 5-2 vote, the Council approved a proposal from Shiloh Baptist Church to construct a senior housing facility on Kress Avenue. The Council rejected, however, by a vote of 3-4, the proposal of Bethesda Baptist Church to construct a middle-income "workforce" building on Lincoln Avenue at Brook Street. I supported both developments, for the reasons articulated in the attached statements.

First Annual Heritage Awards Presented

Heritage Program Celebrates New Rochelle's History

Six distinctive historic properties received the City's first annual heritage awards in a ceremony at City Hall in June. Each site was selected from a pool of applicants by a panel of judges with expertise in historic preservation.

The winning properties were:

  • the Israel Seacord House and the Leonard Seacord House, both sites of Seacord Family homesteads and farms, circa 1700's;
  • the Mayflower Hill House, circa 1911;
  • St. John's Wilmot Church, 1859;
  • the New Rochelle Rowing Club, est. 1880; and
  • Jefferson Elementary School, 1932.

The Heritage Awards celebrate distinctive properties that reflect New Rochelle's rich architectural history. I thank the Heritage Task Force and the distinguished panel of judges for their hard work, and I congratulate each of the winners on their commitment to historic preservation.

The City is now seeking nominations for next year's Heritage Awards. Nominations may be submitted by individuals, organizations, or businesses for properties fitting one or more of the following categories:

  • Residences older than 50 years that are significant to New Rochelle's history
  • Public or quasi-public structures (e.g. house of worship, home of an organization, etc. ) older than 50 years that are significant to New Rochelle's history
  • Stellar restoration, residence
  • Stellar restoration, adaptive reuse
  • Home of nationally prominent individual
  • Significant architect or architectural style
  • Landscape or landscape feature (e.g. cemeteries, stone walls, signs; excepting gardens)

Guidelines and nomination forms are available on the City's website www.newrochelleny.com or at my office in City Hall. The deadline for nominations is September 19, 2008. Judging and validation will take place in the fall, with the award winners announced in January 2009 and Heritage Awards installed in Spring 2009.

Become A La Rochelle Host

Help Strengthen Sister-City Ties

Learn More about La Rochelle.

In recent months, New Rochelle has strengthened its historic ties with our sister-city La Rochelle, France. In fact, earlier this summer, we welcomed an official delegation, led by La Rochelle's Mayor Maxime Bono. In order to pursue additional cultural, educational, and economic exchanges, however, we need to identify New Rochelle families who are willing to serve as hosts for French guests. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Peter Korn, the Coordinator of our Sister City Committee, at 914-235-1979 or via email at pkorn55@msn.com.

Lightning Strikes New Rochelle High School

Rapid Response from Fire Department Limits Damage

New Rochelle High School was struck by lightning on August 15th, igniting a blaze that quickly consumed the pinnacle of the building's south tower. Fortunately, a quick and effective response from the Fire Department limited the damage and prevented what might have been a true disaster. For those who recall when the entire high school was destroyed by fire in the 1960s, this recent episode stirred uncomfortable memories. You can see an image of the fire in progress.

Memorial Day Parade A Great Success

Terrific Volunteers + Beautiful Weather = Big Crowds

Watch news coverage of New Rochelle's Memorial Day parade from WABC and WCBS.

Download the text of my Memorial Day remarks.

New Rochelle's Memorial Day parade returned in grand style, as thousands of residents turned out to honor those who have served in the armed forces. Special thanks go to the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association and to Kathy Gilwit, the City's Director of Marketing and Communications, for their invaluable efforts and leadership in bringing the Parade back.

Paws Place Opens at Ward Acres

Largest Off-Leash Dog Park in Region

In June, the City of New Rochelle officially opened "Paws Place" at Ward Acres, the largest off-leash dog park in Westchester County. "Paws Place" features approximately three acres of meadows, with shade trees, park benches, and stone walls, surrounded by an unobtrusive black-coated deer fence. Additionally, Paws Place contains a separate 1/3-acre run for small dogs 30 pounds or less.

Paws Place is open for daily use by permit holders from sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs may also be walked throughout the remainder of Ward Acres Park during this time. All persons entering Ward Acres with a dog must have a current Ward Acres dog permit for each dog. Persons providing a dog walking service are required to carry on their persons the permit(s) secured by the dog's owner(s). No one may bring more than four dogs into Ward Acres at any given time.

To obtain or renew permits, dog owners must bring the current dog license and proof of current rabies vaccination of each dog along with proof of residency of the owner of the dog to the Parks and Recreation Department Office at City Hall, 515 North Avenue. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The fee for 2008 calendar year is $50 per dog for New Rochelle residents and $100 per dog for non-residents.

It is no secret that the issue of dogs in Ward Acres has generated a great deal of controversy, and Paws Place has not satisfied everyone, but general feedback has been positive. I hope that this new facility, coupled with invasive vine removal and a number of other ecological improvements in the park will help Ward Acres realize its potential as a uniquely beautiful public resource, that is welcoming to all residents of our community.

Supporting the New Rochelle Public Schools

Response Published in the Journal-News

Read my response to the Journal-News.

A recent front-page article in the Journal-News explored the view, held by some in our community, that educational resources are not distributed fairly among various public schools. Although, as Mayor, I am not directly responsible for our school system, I felt a duty to express my support for our schools and to counter an argument that, in my judgment, is untrue and divisive. The Journal-News published my response on August 14th. You can link to the full text.

Fiscal Status Report

National Economy Impacts New Rochelle

The weak national economy is beginning to impact New Rochelle's fiscal outlook. Our community's fundamental strengths -- high employment and education levels, exceptional physical assets, and well-managed public institutions -- argue for long-term confidence, but in the short-term our budgetary policies must account for a deteriorating economic environment.

New Rochelle does not face a fiscal crisis of the dimensions confronting New York State, which is heavily dependent on income taxes and, therefore, experiencing dramatic shortfalls because of a shrinking bonus payments on Wall Street. Nonetheless, several local revenue sources have been negatively impacted by the economy. These include our mortgage tax and property tax receipts, which are tied to the housing market, and our investment income. On the expenditure side, New Rochelle, like all municipalities, must bear a variety of costs that rise faster than inflation, including energy expenses and labor.

We built up a healthy reserve in recent years, which will help cushion the effects of the present downturn, but drawing down our fund balance is not, by itself, a responsible or sustainable course. Therefore, the City's management team has undertaken immediate cost-saving measures, including holding positions vacant, and we will approach our 2009 budget with an eye on ensuring long-term fiscal stability. Careful and prudent budgeting and cost-controls now can help avert a crisis later.

First Night Returns to New Rochelle

Planning Underway For Cultural & Arts Celebration on December 31st

For the third consecutive year, the New Rochelle YMCA and its community partners will sponsor a First Night New Rochelle celebration. The programs, performances and events associated with First Night will take place on December 31st between the hours of 4pm and 10pm and will include a procession downtown and a celebration on Library Green.

If you aren't familiar with First Night, it is a fun, safe and alcohol-free way to celebrate the New Year through the visual and performing arts. In New Rochelle, we have also worked to highlight local talent and community organizations. In fact, New Rochelle's First Night logo, created by local artist Alvin Clayton, was honored with the Best Button Design Award by First Night International in 2006.

There are many ways for residents to enjoy or support First Night. First and foremost, if you expect to be in town for the holiday season this year, please include the First Night celebrations as part of your New Year's Eve plans. Catie, the boys, and I have done so for the past two years, and have always had a great time.

Second, please consider volunteering or contributing to First Night. For volunteer or sponsorship information, contact Angela Taylor at colmatsmom@optonline.net. The local First Night website will be up and running next month, and I will keep you posted in my future bulletins.