WPCNR CITY HALL DISPATCH REPORTER. By John F. Bailey. October 23, 2003 UPDATED 5:15 P.M. E.D.T.: Mayor Joseph Delfino announced today that he and Herbert Pardes, Chief Executive Officer of New York Presbyterian Hospital have personally reached a "handshake" agreement in principle that will furnish 55 acres of parkland on the New York Presbyterian Hospital Site for the people of White Plains to use as a public park.
"A GREAT DAY:" Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains proudly announcing the historic Pardes-Delfino plan to bring 55 acres of parkland, running the length of Bryant Avenue, West to East, and from Bryant Avenue at Mamaroneck Avenue North to the entrance of the Hospital on Maple Avenue. Photo by WPCNR News.
The 55 acres would be leased to the city for "no cost" over a longterm, in exchange for the city rezoning the north end of the hospital property along Westchester Avenue as commerical medical.
Mayor Delfino announced the agreement Thursday afternoon, saying it was "a great day." He said he and Mr. Pardis had been meeting 1-on-1 for many months, at least 15 meetings since the Common Council had approved the biomedical-proton accelerator facility on the driving range sector of the hospital property in July, 2002.
City Gets Park. Hospital Can Consider Corporate Partners.
The Mayor said the mutual agreement that Dr. Pardes and Mr. Delfino have forged allows the hospital through the commercial medical zoning piece to "partner with the corporate sector to create approximately 720,000 square feet of commercial medical research facilities."
George Gretsas, the Mayor's Executive Officer, said the 720,000 square feet would be built out following the procedures required of any building proposal the hospital would suggest, building by building, and not all at once. Gretsas said he had no knowledge at this time of hospital plans for usage of the northend piece of the property.
Jim Benerofe, of SuburbanStreet.com, queried by WPCNR, said 720,000 square feet is roughly the size of Westchester One at 44 South Broadway, or, he said, would work out to three 6-story buildings.
Bryant Corridor, Western glen, "Bloomingale Pond" Go to City.
The Mayor added the Delfino-Pardes Plan "guarantees" no development would take place along the Bryant Avenue corridor, preserving it for a park. The Mayor said the park would include the portion of property including a pond that is between the Bloomingdale's site and the Bloomingdale Road entrance to the hospital.
The parkland to be leased "at no cost to the city" is three times larger than any city park presently owned by the city, the Mayor explained.
The Mayor said he plans to discuss the details of the "Pardes Delfino Park Plan" at a special meeting of the Common Council next week. The Mayor said he had explained the proposal to the council in Executive Session in August, informing them of the direction his talks with Dr. Pardes were headed. WPCNR had learned of these discussions after that meeting.
Asked whether Dr. Pardes had received approval from his Board of Directors, the Mayor said Dr. Pardes was the only person who could supply that information.
Shortly after the Mayor's announcement the New York Presbyterian Hospital released a statement saying the agreement had to be approved by the NYPH Board of Trustees. The statement also said that the hospital required an enforceable regulation that would prevent any future reversal of zoning privileges by the City, after commercial medical status is granted, should the Common Council accept the agreement in principle announced today.
Leaders, 1-1 Get Things Done.
The Mayor said "Today is a great day. We've had 25 years of dialogue with New York Presbyterian Hospital. Their proposal for "a city within a city" in the 1980s, created lots of hard feelings in the city. But, they are a great hospital, and we are proud and honored to have them in our city. I have taken time of late to deal privately with Dr. Pardes. One-on-one meetings are very productive. Two leaders sitting down together can accomplish a lot more. They can get things done."
