WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey.  May 21, 2006. UPDATED 10:45 P.M. E.D.T.: Common Council President Rita Malmud advised The CitizeNetReporter Saturday afternoon that she has not received her copy of those pesky amended site plans for the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester at 221 Main Street. Ms. Malmud wrote WPCNR today, supplementing her e-mail of yesterday, emphasizing she has been completely kept in the dark on the Ritz-Carlton design:  "I do not have any such plans."

The plans have not been unavailable for viewing by the general public at the Planning Department, either, and they have not been confirmed as being in the Building Department, raising the possibility the plans are still being furiously created, and not in city possession, even though the "podium" base of the project has been built to new specifications approved by the Commissioner of Building, Mike Gismondi,  according to builder Louis Cappelli, "three to four months ago." (which would make the date of "approval" about February 21. (The podium began to rise above Main Street  March 1.)

Regarding the already-built and redesigned podium plans, Ms. Malmud writes WPCNR Sunday that they "The first I heard about the changes was last Monday."

Vivian Deuschl, Vice President of Public Relations for Ritz-Carlton, was checking into the standard design specificiations  requirements for Ritz-Carlton hotels for WPCNR when I asked her last Thursday, and who requested WPCNR to put questions in writing, (WPCNR awaits her answers).

Sunday, Ms. Deuschl is quoted by Journal News Reporter Keith Eddings as admitting the Ritz-Carlton assumed all the changes would be approved when the company issued their news release last week announcing the Ritz would be managing the second tower and spelling out amenities and the additional 50,000 square feet. Eddings quotes Ms. Deuschl as saying, "When we wrote the release, it was based on the assumption that those things would be approved. I'm sure there are things we can do to work with the developer if there becomes an issue with the council."

The "phantom" Ritz-Carlton rising above Main Street. Photo taken March 13, 2006. The project has moved at the pace of a floor a week since poking above Main Street March 1. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The  Ritz-Carlton, a phantom no more, May 17, 2006, the day after WPCNR broke the Ritz-Carlton story. Photo, WPCNR News.

The Common Council speaks to WPCNR

In a written statement to the CitizeNetReporter, Saturday afternoon, Ms. Malmud wrote: "I do not have the ammended site plan for 221 Main. I assume that is because the zoning changes first needed to accommodate the publicized changes for the Ritz Carlton have not yet been approved."

Sunday afternoon, Ms. Malmud stated in blunt terms to WPCNR today in a second e-mail  that the zoning changes were all she knew about last Monday: "other than the zoning ordinance changes and related communication on last week's agenda, I have no other written documentation."

Tom Roach, speaking to WPCNR Thursday on whether he was interested in finding when the Commissioner of Building actually approved the minor site plan amendents, said he was interested in the timing sequence, and he had not received the revised plans, and he was reserving judgment on approving the zoning changes until he saw the plans.

Arnold Bernstein, the only other Councilperson to return WPCNR's calls on the approval, said he had not received any plans, but emphasized he was not concerned about the dates when the Commissioner of Building approved the minor site plan changes:

"With respect to your question, I believe it (the changes) was on a non-substantive matter. If it's a non-substantive matter the company (Cappelli) simply has to file revised plans and the Building Department approves them.

I'm comfortable with the way it's (the Ritz-Carlton project) going. I haven't discussed (finding out when Mr. Gismondi approved the plans), with my colleagues. I'm confident that if the Building Department approved the buttressing of the sides with an extra 15 feet (the 9th and 10th podium floors) doesn't bother me. I don't need to see the documents (approving the changes)."

WPCNR asked if the council wasn't saying to future developers they could build whatever they wanted, Councilman Bernstein said:

"I do not know when the Building Department approved them (the changes). It's not worth the time. Why bother? Don't hunt for a head, John, when it's something immaterial. There are so many other issues facing the city."

Silence of the Lambs.

Councilperson Benjamin Boykin and  Councilperson Glen Hockley have not responded to WPCNR telephone messages about pinpointing the approval date(s). Councilman Robert Greer (who is unable to converse on the phone), was not contacted. However, if Mr. Greer could send  WPCNR an e-mail on his position WPCNR would be pleased to include it in this report.

Greer, suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, unable to speak or move his limbs, but able to communicate by computer with eyeball movement,  was reported by Councilman Boykin Wednesday evening at the Council meeting (where Mr. Cappelli made public his minor site plan changes),as being solidly behind the Ritz-Carlton project.

WPCNR assumes by Boykin's public  statement on behalf of Mr. Greer that Mr. Boykin meant the legislative zoning changes, (height limitation exceptions and screening of mechanical equipment) since the council indicated they did not to know of any of the changes Mr. Cappelli showcased Wednesday evening.

The Mayor's Office has not responded  to WPCNR's  inquiry  requesting the date or dates when Commissioner of Building Mike Gismondi approved the "minor site plan changes." Mayor Joseph Delfino assured the Common Council Wednesday night that the Building Department had approved the changes, but did not say when Commissioner Gismondi did that.

10 Weeks above Main Street.

 Mr. Berg and Mr. Cappelli said the amended plans  started being prepared after they came to final agreement with the Ritz about three weeks ago. However, as the photographs at the top show, the "minor site plan amendments," have been in the process of being set in concrete for 10 weeks, and the podium filled with the minor site plan amendments skeleton is complete at 10 stories. Dan Seidel whose suite of offices overlooks the construction site told WPCNR concrete for the swimming pool was being poured Friday.

The Ritz-Carlton Site showing 10 floor "podium" in place at left of photograph. Photo, WPCNR News

The Case of the Missing Site Plan

Thursday afternoon, WPCNR called the Building Department four times asking if the plans were available for review, and was told by the Building Department personnel they did not know, that the Commissioner would call me. They would not confirm the plans were in the Building Department.

Friday WPCNR called the Building Department at 9 AM,approximately 2 PM and again at 4:45 P.M., all three times I asked if the plans were on the premises (as required by law for viewing). I was again told by the Commissioner's  Secretary, that the Commissioner of Building would call me. Dan Seidel, another citizen told WPCNR he, too had called the Building Department and was told (when he asked to see the amended site plan),  that the Commissioner of Building would call him. So far, Mr. Gismondi, has not returned calls.

I left a message on the voice mail of Bruce Berg of Cappelli Enterprises asking Mr. Berg if the site plans were being "tweaked" prior to presentation this week as a reason why the amended site plans appear not to be in the Building Department for review, and the date when the Commissioner signed the plans. Mr. Berg has not responded to clarify the situation as he usually does, but he may not have received the message.

Our Story So Far.

The site plan changes to which Ms. Malmud refers,  were described Wednesday evening at the Common Council by builder Louis Cappelli as minor site plan amendments undertaken as routine and part of the process in building any project. He said he did not think the council would be interested in those.

 These minor site plan improvements Cappelli said included expanding the podium to 10 floors  from the 8 it was supposed to occupy in order to adopt the cable construction method enabling him to accelerate the pace of construction on the double 400 foot towers.

In the process, the ever-efficient Mr. Cappelli incidentally increased the floorage of the podium from 8 to 10 floors at the request of Ritz-Carlton,  combining the second and 3rd floors to create a ballroom with an approximate 25 feet ceiling  to accommodate events hosting 600 people, plus providing convention meeting space and meeting space,  and articulated a 10,000 square foot health spa in the podium hotel section of the project  under the swimming pool while canopying the pool with a glass all-weather enclosure on the top floor of the podium which he told me is now "topped out."

Just a Sec, I Got a Few Minor Site Plan Changes.

If site plans are being held up as Ms. Malmud assumes because zoning changes  have not been approved, then White Plains now is telling builders that changing the interior functions of their building, upping the  floorage, adding up to 50,000 square feet, altering construction technique,  expanding the purpose and functions of their buildings after site plans are approved, are now "minor site plan amendments" and is  White Plains policy. 

Obviously construction crews needed to build the 10 floors of the podium piece of the Ritz-Carlton that now stand in place  using some plans. Construction crews as the above photo shows,  have executed the reported "approved" "minor site plan amendments," to the project.  Those partial plans if Ms. Malmud's assumption that they await zoning changes is correct, have not been given to the Council either.  

Those partial plans for the new podium are not available to the general public at either the Planning Department of the Building Department.  

Copies of Mr. Cappelli's presentation boards have not (to the CitizeNetReporter knowledge), been provided to Councilmembers or the media. 

Meanwhile, back at The Planning Department

Reacting to the Ritz-Carlton announcement this week, Dan Seidel  Seidel contacted WPCNR saying he visited the Planning Department Thursday afternoon to review the last existing  approved site plans for 221 Main. He said he had to threaten filing a Freedom of Information Law request before he was allowed to see the existing plans.  

Dan reports to WPCNR that those approved plans dated August 4, 2005 plans only call for 8 floors, not 10, show a hotel lobby of 14 feet 4"  with the second floor and subesequent floors having floor to ceiling heights of 9 foot 2 inches each. Mr. Cappelli told WPCNR Wednesday evening the ballroom skeleton  in the now 10-floor podium occupies two floors and a 25-foot ceiling height specified by Ritz-Carlton.

Mr. Seidel said he was told by personnel in the Planning Department that the new site plan was Mr. Gismondi's job and responsibility, not that of the Planning Department.

Perhaps the plans will be available by the time the public hearing on the project legislative changes is held June 5, 2006.