WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. December 2, 2003, Updated 5 P.M. E.S.T. WITH PIX: The public hearing on the Cappelli Bland Hotel project on Main Street continued featuring the owner of the Bar Building, Anthony Longhitano, appearing before the Common Council. He stated that his building was not for sale and challenged the Council to consider his plan for redevoping the annex of his 199 Main Street building into a mini-retail complex seriously. Longhitano has not presented to the Common Council formally (though drawings of the proposal have appeared in the White Plains Watch). The hearing was continued to the January Common Council meeting. Emphasis of speakers  on reasons why the Bar Building should not be condemned ranged from job loss of employees working on the site, to the moral imperative that the city  should not take private property to give it to another developer (Mr.Louis Cappelli).

LEADING OFF FOR THE BAR BUILDING: Anthony Longhitano, Bar Building owner, called for the Cappelli and Bar Building projects to coexist and develop in a new configuration in order that Cappelli's hotel-office complex and the Bar project could exist adjacent to one another. Photo by WPCNR News.

In other action, the Council approved construction of a $6.8 Million parking deck beginning on Shapham Place and behind the Mamaroneck Avenue & Bryant retail strip beginning at Dunkin Donuts and ending at Rader’s stationary store, by votes of 6-1 on the three ordinances, with Councilman William King opposed all three times. The bond ordinance will be passed at a future date perhaps today when the Common Council meets for a work session. Construction is supposed to begin shortly and take twelve months to complete, according to Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Nicoletti. The $6.8 Million in bonds would be paid off out of city Parking Authority revenues over 20 years, according to Albert Moronie, Director of the Parking Authority.

OVERRUN, WEEDED, LITERED LAND behind the Post Office on Mamaroneck Avenue & Bryant: Nicoletti said the building of parking at street level behind the Mamaroneck Avenue post office as part of the project, would enable execution of  plans that exist for connecting the presently overgrown portion of the New York Westchester & Boston railroad track bed (that lies underneath Bryant Avenue-- the bridge overpass shown here),  to the Greenway which currently stops at Gedney Way. Nicoletti deferred to Department of Recreation & Parks Commissioner, Arne Abramowitz as to when those plans would be executed. Photo by WPCNR News.

DUNKIN DONUTS PARKING WILL BE EXTENDED, DOUBLE-DECKED: Moronie sited a laundry list of advantages to building the sprawling two level (including groundlevel parking behind the retail complex), parking structure. He said its 486 parking space capacity, including the Shapham Place lot that presently exists, would provide permitted parking for 203 people currently on the Parking Authority Waiting List for permits to park in the Shapham Place, Bryant Avenue area. Photo by WPCNR News.

He said it would meet the need for 43 persons who are employed during the day and need parking, and would eliminate the need for the onstreet parking on the East Side of Mamaroneck Avenue, that Nicoletti said later was a hazard to pedestrians crossing over to the retail-post office side.

Moronie said it would save money, getting the Parking Authority out of the lot leasing business which they currently lose money on. The Parking Authority currently uses to take care of residents overnight in the area who have to move their cars by 8 A.M. each morning.  He said it would free up the Mamaroneck Avenue School Shapham lot for evening activity parking (currently taken up by resident parking after 6 P.M.).

The explanation given for the increase in cost from the original $2.5 Million deck proposal in 1999, was that the new deck (extending from flush to the Shapham Place lot to Bryant Avenue level) was bigger, as well as the creation of a lower street level parking area, which raised the price from $2.5 Million to $6.8 Million. Moronie said the cost per space was $15,500 as opposed to the former price of $19,000 per space for the original Shapham Place deck job for the 130 new space project envisioned in 1999.

Moronie noted the cost of the project would be paid off in twenty years, incurring a $148,000 loss the first year.

In other action, the Council raised the maximum real estate exemption for veterans to state-authorized levels of $27,000 for veterans and $90,000 for disabled veterans, and the partial exemption for persons of limited income over age 65. The council approved a Par 3 Hole on the Ridgeway Country Club and extended the cabaret permit for Dooley Mac’s pub.

The Mayor in closing, invited all citizens to his New Year's Eve Ball Dropping ceremony taking place New Years Eve between 9 PM and Midnight with Mamaroneck Avenue being closed this year between Main Street and Martine Avenue that evening. He wished all a happy holiday season emphasing that "we are all working to become one city."

KING IS PLAQUED: Mayor Joseph Delfino presented Councilman William King with a plaque recognizing his four years' of service on the Common Council at his last public council meeting last night. The Mayor praised Mr. King for his service and contributions to the city and his iconoclastic stance. Photo by WPCNR News.