White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>King Komments:</i>Councilman Patrols Battle Hill. Observes. Suggests B&Bs

King Komments, by White Plains Councilman William King, Filed 3/8/02: The peripatetic Councilman walked the streets of the Battle Hill neighborhood this week, and noted these conditions.

I walked along Tarrytown Road to City Limits for breakfast and then back the length of Robertson Ave. in Battle Hill. Could I point out a couple of things?

1. Need a trash receptacle or two along Tarrytown Road - there's one in the parking lot across from City Limits but what about at Chatterton Ave., another at School Street - wouldn't hurt.

2. There's what looks to be an old fire alarm box pole or something with a wire hanging out near the intersection of Battle Ave. and Tarrytown Rd. that has been there forever. It's in the greenspace between the street and the sidewalk. Can we get that out of there? It's really unsightly.

3. Can a city cleanup crew go into the forested areas near the houses that border the greenspaces along Tarrytown Rd. and pick up all the trash that's there? This is a major city gateway and should be pristine. Volunteers can help at different times but it would be a big boost if city employees could spend some time on these things so we are not totally dependent on volunteers.

4. I noticed some leftover pavement in the greenspace near the sidewalk along Tarrytown near Robertson. It would be nice if this was ripped up and replanted with grass. Maybe then neighborhood kids could play some informal games of baseball and soccer in this area. I know there has been talk over the years over having some of this space for a veteran memorialization area.

5. There is a lot of litter along people's fences and walls, etc. along the sidewalks of Harding Ave. Again, can a city crew go off-street a little to pick stuff up? Maybe ask the neighbors in a letter to help volunteer? Ask the neighbors to show up for a cleanup day and see if anyone shows up? They might appreciate the attention.

6. Something could be done with the Harding & Robertson firehouse on the outside - how about coming up with some plantings - could be done at the same time as the 'neighborhood cleanup day.'

7. There's an old, white, rusty, 'bad looking' guardrail along property on the east side of Harding just north of the intersection of Battle Ave. Can this guardrail, which has served its time, be replaced with a more attractive, residential style wood guardrail? I think wood guardrails should replace the metal ones in residential neighborhoods - a much better look.

8. Ultimately, I think it would be great if the streetlights along Harding and elsewhere on this side of Battle Hill were replaced with a more historic 'gaslamp' style of light that would highlight the turn-of-the-century (and earlier) appeal of this neighborhood.

As Tom Roach has imaginatively suggested, this would be a great area for a bed & breakfast or two, close to the train station, if it was rezoned to allow.

(Editor's Note: There already is an operating Bed & Breakfast in White Plains, Soundview Manor. It advertises on the internet at www.soundviewmanor.com, and is mentioned and pictured in the Westchester County "Westchester Way" lodgings brochure.)

9. The bench on Battle Ave. between Harding and Tarrytown needs to be replaced with one of those new black steel benches like in the Downtown that you have on order.

These are all low-cost items that would together make a difference.

Councilman William King

"King Komments" is William King's weekly commentary he circulates to city officials and to WPCNR with his observations on neighborhood and city issues.


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