White Plains CitizeNetReporter - We Got D'Elia! Property In Controversy for Years Purchased by the City

Special to WPCNR:The Trust for Public Land and Mayor Joseph Delfino announced Thursday the completion of a project protecting of one of the last remaining open spaces, (known as the D'Elia Property), in the City of White Plains after more than 25 years in private ownership.

The 5.3-acre wooded property is located in a densely developed residential neighborhood and has been the subject of numerous plans for residential development over the years. The acquisition as open space, links to two greenways within the city—the White Plains Greenway and the Highland Avenue Nature Trail.

Trust for Public Land Negotiates the Deal

“This project preserves a key piece of open space for a community with limited publicly accessible land,” said Kate Garrett, project manager for the Trust for Public Land. “White Plains has shown its commitment to preserving the few remaining parcels of open space before they are lost to residential development. The foresight and partnership of Mayor Delfino and the Common Council are to be commended.”

Council takes the funding lead. Awaits County to put in its share

The Common Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase bonding for the $1.75 million purchase. The Council is anticipating $500,000 in funding from Westchester County to aid in the purchase. The city is floating a short term bond for the $1.75 million in anticipation of the County participation in the funding.

Mayor quietly proud:

"This is the first of what I hope to be many more acquisitions by the City to preserve open space. This truly is an important legacy that will benefit our residents for generations,” said Mayor Delfino.

CCOS partners with the Mayor

The White Plains community, represented primarily by the Concerned Citizens for Open Space, has been clamoring for the protection of this property for more than a decade. Members of the citizens group were key partners in convincing the city’s Common Council to authorize the funding for the acquisition.

Harrington, Creator of the Green Way hails the Acquisition.

“I’m elated that the city recognized that this property is a critical link to the in-city trail system that we have visualized for so long. After 14 years, we are so fortunate to have this protected from development for open space and we are grateful to the Trust for Public Land for all they did to make this dream a reality,” said Jack Harrington of the Concerned Citizens for Open Space.

Only the beginning

The acquisition of the D’Elia property is the first in a series of acquisitions contemplated by Mayor Joseph Delfino in his environmental protection initiative introduced in early 2001.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), brokered the deal with the owner who has long been mired in controversy with neighbors of the D'Elia piece, his efforts to develop blocked consistently. The Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit land conservation organization that specializes in conservation real estate, applying its expertise in negotiation, conservation finance, and law to protect land for people. TPL has long been involved in land conservation initiatives in Westchester County.


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