Late Thursday evening, the shocked, but amiable White Plains Common Council has not officially approved the increase in square footage of 50,000 feet, having they say, no prior knowledge of the plan, and having just been informed of the details Wednesday evening after the podium has already been constructed to the 10-story base, and awaits transformation into the magic that is The Ritz-Carlton world.
Common Council sentiment all but committed to the changes in the project once they got over their shock Wednesday evening and were informed by the Mayor that the Building Commissioner had approved the changes as minor changes in the site plan.
The Council had been presented with a fait accompli, the new “podium” already being built to 10 stories according to Ritz-Carlton standards, according to Mr. Cappelli. Mr. Cappelli took WPCNR on a tour of the site Wednesday evening. He and Bruce Berg, his right hand man said the new plans were devised within the last three weeks leading up to the Ritz-Carlton announcement Wednesday.
A rough night for the Council.
Cappelli, conducting WPCNR on a tour of the site after the Wednesday evening meeting said the Common Council had to decide the level of involvement they wanted in ongoing construction changes. He said he considered his changes (adding 15 feet/two floors to the Podium to speed construction), minor and they had been cleared by the Commissioner of Building, Michael Gismondi at the time, which he recalled as three to four months ago.
Cappelli said there would be no additional traffic impact from the changes he is requesting. He could not, he said, take the extra 50,000 square feet of space Ritz-Carlton requires out of the second tower area because it would upset the economcs of the project. He stressed the changes were key to keeping Ritz-Carlton on board because the Ritz required these amenities.
He characterized his requested changes to Councilperson Rita Malmud as "a no-brainer." He also said he was interested in negotiating a quid pro quo with the city in exchange for the requested site plan change, when Malmud, the councilperson most disturbed at the surprise nature of the site plan change. Cappelli said it was the right time to be asking the council for the changes since the towers had not been built yet.
Louis Cappelli, Center, with his right hand man, Bruce Berg, left, and Mark Weingarten, his trusty attorney after his blockbuster presentation Wednesday evening at City Hall. Photo, WPCNR News.
After Wednesday's Council meeting, Cappelli took the opportunit to show WPCNR the construction to better explain the plans.
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester -- Rough Guide
The Podium, Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in the making, Wednesday evening. Photo, WPCNR News.
The lobby will be on street level, Cappelli said. On the second and third levels, will be a ballroom with a capacity for 600 persons plus meeting space taking up 10,000 square feet. Located below the pool on the top out of the “podium” will be a 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center for the use of hotel guests.
The remainder of the 30,000 square feet will be devoted to a second fitness center of undetermined size in the first tower near Main Street, Cappelli said, for use of the residents of the first tower, the restaurant and kitchen on the mechanical deck at the 408 foot level, and administrative offices one floor below the lobby to handle the Ritz catering and hospitality staff.
Installing the fitness center in the “Podium” and the ballroom height required the extra 15 feet (two floors) added to the podium. It is not known at this time if a third fitness center will be built for residents of the second tower committed to Thursday by the Ritz.
Rendering of the Ritz, indicating approximate locations of the additions to the site plan described by Mr. Cappelli. PhotoTags by WPCNR, Photo Courtesy, Cappelli Enterprises.
In addition, Cappelli reported the swimming pool on the roof would be made all-weather with a glass enclosure. This glass enclosure would lead to more hotel guest residences quartered in the first tower. Ritz-Carlton reports today to the media that stories 1 to 10 are devoted to the podium and stories 11 to 40 in each condo residential tower would be devoted to The Residence-condominiums.
The Ritz provided more detail in today’s news announcement, reporting that the first tower would contain 32 condominium hotel units (which the news release did not define), and 175 residences. In Mr. Cappelli’s talk with the Common Council, he noted that the hotel would take a portion of the first tower. There are 123 Guest Rooms planned for the luxury hotel.
At the Common Council Meeting Wednesday night, Mr. Cappelli asked for an extra eight feet on the Condominium Tower(s); and asked to put a restaurant surrounding the white mechanical structure on the roof of the 408 foot condo tower on the Main Street side. The beacon at right tops out at 496 feet. Photo Tags by WPCNR News. Photo Courtesy Cappelli Enterprises.
