WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. December 7, 2004: The Common Council approved purchasing a 2.5 acre piece of property off Hillair Circle for $1.868 Million to be paid through parking fines, the open space acquisition fund, profits from the Starbuck’s “open space incubator,” and the Recreation Trust Fund. It continued hearings on The Hamilton condominiums at Church and Barker and the Storage USA self-storage facility expansion off South Kensico to January in view of opposition.

A young resident stressed the importance of the city continuing to add actual affordable housing units in new buildings, saying that payment of funds by developers building condominium buildings to satisfy the city 6% set-aside--affordable-housing ordinance was not working, since the $25,000 available through existing downpayment assisance plans did not begin to cover the cost of acquiring a house or a condominum. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Acces Telecast  by WPCNR News

A hearing on the ASB Capital Management Hamilton Condominium to build a 13-story condominium was adjourned to January, and faced commentary from former Councilman Glen Hockley, advocating a density bonus plan where developers would be allowed to build larger to accommodate affordable units.  Ann Pollack, Chair of the White Plains Affordable Housing Committee, urging the council require the developer to provide actual affordable units instead of payment of a fee to satisfy their affordable housing obligation. ( A city ordinance requires 6% of rental units of any new project to be set aside for affordable housing, and a consensus agreement by the council offers a payment alternative.)

The Mayor said that he appreciated the concern for affordable housing, and reported that right now in the city, 38% of the housing in the Central Business District fit the income profiles of “low and moderate income” (60% of median income, and 80% of median income) persons seeking residences. He noted the city was getting affordable units online in the future: that  The City Center towers were going to provide 36 units (from Mr. Cappelli), that 16 were going to be available at The Jefferson, and 5 were in Clayton Park.

A 58-YEAR RESIDENT , a Mr. Cooper of 12 Minerva Place objected on behalf of himself and 28 other residents of the street about the city proposed zoning change that would allow building expansion of the Storage USA self-storage facility on Kensico Avenue. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Access telecast by WPCNR News

A proposal to rezone 7 Minerva Place as light industrial to accommodate an expansion of a self-storage unit by a new owner, Storage USA, faced opposition from a Mr. Cooper speaking for owners of property at 12, 13, 14 and  the 26-unit, 16 Minerva  Place saying expansion of the facility and rezoning to light industrial would lower their property values. 

Commissioner of Planning Explains the Advantages of the 4 New Affordable Housing Units. PhotoCapture from WPGA-TV Government Access Telecast by WPCNR News

 In light of this opposition, the hearing was continued to January, when a full-blown presentation was promised by Mayor Delfino. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel noted that the new owner, Storage USA, had promised the city use of a 6,000 square foot lot for 4 units of affordable housing, and she cited that as one of the benefits to the city seeking to rezone the 25 foot frontage of 7 Minerva Place to reconfigure the storage building there. 

The city extended the site plan permit for the senior affordable housing project spearhead by former Councilman Bill Brown.

The Council renewed the cabaret license of Coughlin’s restaurant, and approved the application of the Novita/Caffe Bar at 93 Mamaroneck Avenue to operate a cabaret and present outdoor dining on an interior terrace.

Amedeo Fusca, Unsung Hero. Employee of the Month. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Access Telecast by WPCNR News

The Mayor recognized Amedeo Fusca, Automotive Mechanic II with the Department of Public Works as Employee of the Month. Mr. Fusca was praised for his design of a Squad 4 Fire Department truck to provide the fire department with a first-response apparatus to respond to unusual life-threatening emergencies.

WHITE PLAINS CEREMONY TREE LIGHTS SUNDAY NIGHT. The Moment of Light.Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor told the citizenry he was very moved by the Tree Lighting ceremony held Sunday evening in Tibbetts Park on the North Broadway median, saying approximately 2,000 persons attended, which he said was the largest crowd he had every experienced in his seven years of executing the ceremony.

MAYOR DELFINO SINGING JINGLE BELLS with White Plains Youth Bureau After School Choir Sunday evening. Photo by WPCNR News.

MAYOR DELFINO WELCOMES SANTA Sunday Night. The Mayor invited the view public of Monday evening's Council Meeting to attend the City Ball Drop on New Year's Eve, which he announced would be televised live. Photo by WPCNR News.