WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. July 12,2010 UPDATED 8:40 A.M. E.D.T.:
What was a disaster for 13 businesses last week: The Bengal Tiger fire, now presents an opportunity for White Plains, if the city has imagination to revitalize the moribund East Post Road corridor with something either completely different or the lack of imagination and deliver more of the same.
THE BENGAL TIGER BLOCK TODAY. DEMOLITION WAS IN FULL SWING OVER WEEKEND
As demolition proceeded on the site over the weekend, WPCNR thought of just a few possibilities for the block which of course could be reconstructed the way it was or turn into something completely different and dynamic.
WPCNR thought of just a few possibilities (at the right in our brand-new poll) which the city might consider seriously to counter the economic stagnatio of pay-and-keep-out parking policies, a rowdy drinking district and a deteriorated West Side. The city has been talking for years about revitalizing the West Side and even still has yet to tell specifics of the Lexington Avenue plan even though the developer has already been picked. Now, there is an opportunity to key note it as the Bengal Tiger block has to be rebuilt.
Here is Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains opportunity in the survey at the right to tell the city how to plan and what it needs on the burned-out block. If any of the choices appeal to you at the right, vote early and often:
New Bengal Tiger/Restaurant Mall: Rebuild the block similar to before with a new improved (sprinklered) Bengal Tiger, and shops as before.
Bi-level Retail Shopping Mall: A two-or-three story mall with parking deck, with shops, restaurants and retail, creating a dynamic upscale presence complimenting the Downtown Drinking District on Mamaroneck Avenue.
Multi-story Office/Mixed Use Building: A 10 or 20 story combination residential/office/with retail at the street level, bringing new residentialites, professional office space and a cosmopolitan mix of retail to the street.
New Performing Arts Center: The White Plains Performing Arts Center in the City Center has failed to ignite the imagination of the public. It lacks funding or street presence. How about building a Lincoln Center for White Plains on the Bengal Tiger block and Municipal Parking lot behind it, which would be a regional draw for concerts, theatre, a home for the Westchester Philharmonic, theatre groups and more – something the White Plains Performing Arts Center management has failed to do thanks to high rents and failed programming over the last 7 years.
City of White Plains Museum: White Plains played a significant role in New York State history but you would never know it because there is no museum in the city. The site could be transformed into a Revolutionary War history, a history of the four White Plainses: 19th century, turn-of-the-century, the 1950s, urban Renewal, and of course, the just-ended Renaissance. The museum could serve as a base for a freedom trail through the city, and much more. Such a White Plains facility is long overdue.
Permanent Farmers Market/Food Court – Take the Bengal Tiger block, combine it with the Municipal lot behind it – acquire the office building behind the BT Block and create a Faneuil Hall International Food Court, a permanent destination with parking underneath.
Chain Food or Entertainment Complex: This would envision White Plains and the Bengal Tiger owners who own the block, again removing the office building behind the BT Block and attracting some destination chain such as SHAKE SHACK, HARD ROCK Cage, ESPN ZONE, SCORES (a neat fit with the Drinking District a weaving stroll away),
Sports Arena Convention Center Complex: Sports Arenas are a mainstay of communities I’ve visited: Charlotte, Providence, Grand Rapids. Westchester needs an intermediate facility and White Plains would benefit from a 10,000 seat facility for hockey, basketball, and big concerts. You’d fill it up with state tournaments which now are held in places like Albany, Lake Placid and Buffalo. It would also attract conventions which White Plains cannot do now.
RETAIL CHAIN BIG BOX: Think Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond.
Transit Center: White Plains needs a center city hub. Take out the office building behind the Bengal Tiger block, and combine the Municipal Parking lot with the Bengal Tiger block and you create a retail/transit center hub which could be a center for the Department of Transportation Bus Rapid Transit station, a taxi station, and a hub for the Ben Boykin Trolley System (coming someday to White Plains). What do you think?
New City Hall: The City again could acquire the Bengal Tiger Block and the office building behind it and combine it with the Municipal Parking lot and build a new City Hall (right across from the county office complex. Makes great sense – and opens the very attractive old city hall site for development. The new City Hall could combine all city offices in one place. Call it the Adam T. Bradley City Hall.
New Public School; The block could be swapped out to the School District for a new public school to handle the growing elementary school population that is exceeding district estimates. Growing at a 100 kids a year, the district will need a new elementary in five years.
