New Rochelle’s Downtown Farmers Market opens on the newly-renovated Anderson Plaza this Sunday, June 25, then continuing every Sunday through October 29 from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Sponsored by the Business Improvement District and managed by Events to Remember, the Farmers Market will feature lots of tasty treats, fresh produce, plus performances and other activities. Another great activation for our growing, thriving downtown. More in this press release.
Like many other communities, New Rochelle strives to support Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), with the goal of sharing the benefits of economic development and public sector procurement as broadly and equitably as possible. Despite best efforts, however, MWBE participation often lags behind our goals. To help meet this challenge, New Rochelle is teaming with a group called “Tough Leaf” to build capacity among MWBEs, assist with the often cumbersome certification process, and enhance communication about opportunities. This presentation contains much more information.
Rendering of 33 Westchester, viewed from Huguenot
New Rochelle’s downtown continues to make historic strides, with the groundbreaking of 33 Westchester Place, a new 27-story tower at the site of the former Modern Hardware. This is the last of three adjoining developments from Allstate Ventures of varying scales that will together surround an entirely redesigned Westchester Place (now little more than an alley between Centre and Division), with significant arts and cultural components, including artists’ housing.
In addition to ceremonially shoveling some soil at the construction site, City officials and I also explored the nearly complete Arc building at 64 Centre with spectacular views of the emerging downtown skyline and Long Island Sound beyond. You can take a neat virtual tour here. More from the Patch.
Even as New Rochelle strives to shape a walkable, transit-served, less car-dependent downtown, we still recognize that cars are a dominant form of transportation in our region and that adequate parking facilities are part of the overall equation for a successful business district. That’s why I am happy to report the opening a brand new public parking garage at 25 Maple Avenue, incorporated into one of our new developments. Featuring 200 municipal parking spaces, as well as 20 electric vehicle charging stations, the Maple Avenue garage will be an important asset for local businesses, visitors, and residents. More in this press release.
I was honored to join New York Housing Conference Executive Director Rachel Fee, North Castle Supervisor Mike Schilliro, and former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy for an excellent conversation about housing. The Governor’s Housing Compact was not included in this year’s State budget, but there is broad agreement that a comprehensive, effective strategy is needed to address a serious regional housing shortage. Thank you Michael Romita and the Westchester County Association for organizing an important discussion.
New Rochelle has initiated a comprehensive redesign of our transit center, designating the talented team at fxcollaborative to be our partners in the planning process.
A vital resource for our community, the New Rochelle Transit Center nonetheless suffers from a variety of flaws: hidden below grade, with entry points that are obscure or unattractive, poorly connected to nearby neighborhoods, challenging to navigate, especially for pedestrians, and aside from its core functions, mainly inactive.
New Rochelle deserves better. So, in addition to confronting these problematic conditions head-on, our vision aims to preserve, restore, and celebrate the station house itself, a true gem of the 19th century, while bringing the rest of the Transit Center fully into the 21st in its amenities, sustainability, appearance, and connectivity. The local benefits are obvious, and this initiative has regional significance, too, with Penn Access soon bringing many more travelers to New Rochelle.
There’s more information in this presentation to the City Council. You can also watch our announcement from earlier this week or read my full remarks.
Design is only step one. Successful execution will require time, public dialogue, and resources. But having proven that we can set big goals and achieve them, New Rochelle is more than up to the challenge. I look forward to creating a true community hub, ready to serve our growing, thriving city.