WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2004, UPDATED WITH EXCLUSIVE FOTOS, 12:30 A.M. E.S.T.: As reported earlier today by WPCNR, Louis Cappelli introduced a dramatic redesign for his 221 Main Street Hotel & Condoplex to the Common Council Wednesday evening. He proposed cutting the proposal back to 2, taller spires, eliminating the office building/headquarters component. The twin spires would still together house 290 condominium units, above a 175-room luxury hotel, and office suite combination.
THE BIG SHOW: Louis Cappelli Introduces "The New 221 Main Hotel-Condoplex," Calling for towers to soar to 399 feet above Main Street. Photo by WPCNR News.
Mr. Cappelli proposed raising the heights of the twins from 350 feet to 399 feet above Main Street to provide more appealing "view corridors" and 35% more separation between the two.
Cappelli announced he was prepared to begin the project in the third week in January by demolitioning the Bar Building annex, which has one tenant left in it. The new design at this time appears to be headed to the Common Council as a site plan amendment.
IN WITH THE NEW. OUT WITH THE OLD: Mr.Cappelli began his presentation contrasting the new design (left) with the former three-tower setup at the right. The Bar Building is at the lower right of the New model and the old model. On the easel in background is the affordable housing Mr. Cappelli proposes for the 189 Main Street property he has just acquired where he offers to build 41 units of "affordable housing" in return for the Common Council agreeing to the new 399 foot height of the new twin spires. Photo by WPCNR News.
THE NEW MAIN STREET VIEW LOOKING DUE EAST DOWN MAIN: Mr. Cappelli showcased this computerized graphic showing "The New 221 Main" in perspective with the City Center (right) down Main Street. He said that the City Center is on slightly higher elevation enabling the twin spires to appear only 25 feet higher than the City Center rather than 49 feet. The white building in the center of your picture is the Bar Building. Photo by WPCNR News.
Louis Cappelli, Developer of Affordable Housing
The Super Developer, rapidly acquiring a reputation also as "The Super Donor," sweetened the proposal by offering a unique way to satisfy his obligation to either build or donote money to the city affordable housing fund to satisfy the obigation he has to provide 6% of his units as affordable housing.
He said he had acquired the building across Court Street, 189 Main Street where Western Union has an office, (scene of a fire three weeks ago).
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON MAIN at new Court Street Extension. You are looking at Mr. Cappelli's 41-units of housing, a 7-story complex he proposes from your table at Starbucks.The Bar Building is behind the tree. Photo by WPCNR News.
If Cappelli can purchase the building next to 189 Main, he will build 41 units of affordable housing for approximately $10 Million, instead of paying $1.3 Million to the city. The affordable housing marketing position would be up to the Common Council to choose whether it be rental or condo.
If he could not purchase the second building next to the Western Union Building, (for which he said he was in negotiations), he'd build the balance of the 41 affordable housing units on the Donut Nook/Main Street Bookstore/ Deli site on 240 Main Street at City Place.
This fallback location to build affordable housing would effectively kill The Pinnacle project.
Goodbye Office Building.
Cappelli said he would reduce the office component to 150,000 square feet from 310,000 square feet, previously planned for the "office headquarters" that was to be the third building of the 890,000 square feet he has to develop on 221. The Office headquarters portion would be folded in to the second 400 foot tower.
THE STAR: The New 221 Main, as seen looking East North East. Bar Building would be at lower right, but is not part of the model. The spire on the left would contain 110,000 square feet of office, then transform to condominiums. The 175-suite Cappelli Hotel is located on the panoramic facade connecting the two spires. Photo by WPCNR News.
The Council Loves It.
The Common Council, with the exception of Mr. Delgado, was enthusiastic over the design and the affordable housing component proposed by Cappelli, and did not appear at all horrified by the proposed escalation in height of the towers.
Mr.Greer liked the height, and elicited the fact that the 35% more open space was "in the air." Ms. Malmud reserved judgment on a number of issues, but said she liked the affordable housing on the Court Street corridor. Mr. Bernstein liked it because the reduction of the business piece reduced traffic impact. He also was cheered by the introduction of tangible affordable housing units. Mr. Delgado reserved judgment, but suggested loosening up White Plains building codes to allow Mr.Cappelli to use more of the spires height to advantage.
Mr. Boykin wanted more affordable units from Mr. Cappelli, noting Cappelli would make more money from the higher-in-the-sky expanded condo suites. Cappelli pointed out he was going to take a $5 Million bath on building the affordable units, far more than if he would pay if he paid the waiver fee of $1.3 Million. Boykin did not voice any strong objection to the escalated height.
Mr. Roach was strong for the tangible affordable units that Mr. Cappelli was offering. No objection was voiced at all about the height change. Mayor Joseph Delfino had no comment, but presided with his benign presence.
Too Close together.
Mr. Cappelli said he had been looking at changing the project because of the foreshortened "view corridors" of the present 221 design. Now, he felt with changing the project to two towers, he had created 35% more open space above the 25% of open space the previous plan provided. Asked where the open space was, Cappelli, noted that it was "in the air" not on the ground.
Ginsburg Development Aghast.
The proposal to take the Nook-Book-Deli property at 240 Main on the East side of City Place, and take it "affordable," (if Mr. Cappelli could not acquire the second building adjacent 189 Main, from the proposed hotel entrance, brought ashen looks to the faces of representatives of the Ginsburg Development Corporation observing.
They need that Cappelli-owned site along side City Place to build their 280-foot high ediface, The Pinnacle.
RUMBLE IN THE ROTUNDA: Bill Null, attorney for the Ginsburg Development Corporation, partially hidden, makes a point with Louis Cappelli, right, discussing the finer points of realty negotiation. Susan Elan, Reporter takes notes as the positions are stated. Photo by WPCNR News.
A tense, heated discussion between Mr. Cappelli and the Ginsburg contingent ensued on the Rotunda after the presentation, exploring the issue.
Mr. Cappelli ended the informal Rotunda negotiation with the Ginsburgians, encouraging the Ginsburg party to ask the Common Council to condemn his(Cappelli's) 240 Main Street property. ("Why don't you?" were his words.
Cappelli said he simply wanted the Ginsburg organization to lower its spire 40 feet to bring it down to the 235 foot level and they could build the building. However lowering the spire kills the design concept of the building in the Ginsburg camp's opinion.
We're not selling. I'm Not Buying.
WPCNR asked the Ginsburg contingent if they would consider selling their parcel and their rights to the A & P site to Mr. Cappelli, they said "No." Mr. Cappelli denied interest in purchasing the Ginsburg property and helping them out of their dilemma. The Ginsburg attorney, William Null said the 240 Main Street propert was still in litigation.
But the announced detente between Mr. Cappelli and Martin Ginsburg of little more than a month ago to coexist appeared to be history, now that 240 Main Street, the lynchpin of their project, is in jeopardy of being snatched away forever, or at least until Mr. Ginsburg finds some legal leverage on either the Common Council or through the courts.
Views on the Big Night.
LOOKING NORTH ON MAIN STREET FROM HEAD OF MAMARONECK AVENUE. Photo by WPCNR News.
THE VIEW LOOKING WEST FROM GRACE CHURCH. Photo by WPCNR News.
Sense of Euphoria Drifted Engulfed the Mayor's Office after Mr. Cappelli presented his show. Reporter collars Mark Weingarten, center and "The Busiest Building Commissioner in America," Mike Gismondi. Photo by WPCNR News.
