WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. August 25, 2006:  As the City Administration was congratulating itself on the Urban Renewal Agency bond program, in effect, creating the city's own Industrial Development Agency,  Westchester County pulled a $2 Million grant for the affordable housing project.

In a private announcement to The Journal News, Susan Tolchin told Journal News reporter Keith Eddings in an e-mail that Westchester County was taking back its $2 Million grant to developer Martin Ginsburg to build the 52 units of affordable housing at 260 Main Street. The announcement apparently was volunteered in response to a Journal News reporter E-Mail query,  before the county notified Mr. Ginsburg or the White Plains Mayor's Office.  

Last night the Common Council (including Councilpersons Benjamin Boykin, Arnold Bernstein and Dennis Power, Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach not being in attendance),appeared unaware of the County "Takeback."

They set up public hearings for September 5, to stage a financing of $11 Million to Mr. Ginsburg for the construction of that housing. The $2 Million dollar takeback leaves Mr. Ginsburg with $6 million to raise or pay himself through tax credit sales and other means in addition to the Urban Renewal Bond Issue of about $11 Million.  City Bond Counsel, Randy Mayer assured the Common Council the city had no liability should the revenue bonds default, that the bank underwriting the bonds and its insurer took the full risk.

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A representative for the Ginsburg Development Corporation said in response to Benjamin Boykin's worry about when the project would start (meaning the 260 Main Affordable Housing apartments), said Ginsburg was planning to demolition the 260 Main area beginning in mid-September, but said the affordable housing apartments, planned to be built above the retail piece of The Pinnacle project would not begin until financing through the Urban Renewal Bonds was secured.

Susan Tolchin, the County Executive's assistant, has not returned a WPCNR call asking to confirm the report of the county $2 Million takeback. The Mayor's Office of White Plains has not answered WPCNR's query as to whether the city will add more to the amount the Urban Renewal Agency will bond in support of the project.

The Armory Senior Housing Apartments Need an Increase in City's Rent for Senior Center.

In other action last night, the council learned that the senior housing apartments at the White Plains Armory which houses the White Plains Senior Center was requesting the city for an increase in their rent. Matthew Finkle, Vice President  of Related Apartment Preservation of New York, which manages the senior apartments there said the said has been paying $125,000 a year rent for the last twenty years. Now that the present Housing and Urban Development contract has ended, Finkle said, HUD has advised that the firm has been charging too much rent. Finkle reported the company is going to invest $1 Million in improvements in the Armory.

Asked by Councilman Arnold Bernstein how much more money Related Apartment Preservation  was seeking in rent, he was told by the Commissioner of Planning the city was still "negotiating." 

As he was leaving City Hall, Mr. Finkle told WPCNR the company was seeking as part of the increase in rent, money to match the reduction in rent based on HUD's analysis. Asked what the reduction in rent was, Mr. Finkle did not remember and could not estimate a percentage for me. He advised me to contact him Friday. I asked him if Related was asking the city to match the rent deficit. Finkle said, "Yes, but not dollar for dollar."

North Street Community Zoning Hearing Will Close After September 5.

The Mayor's Office also requested of the Council to close the North Street Community Hearing on the Senior Housing Zone amendment after the Council Meeting of September 5.  That developer is requesting to build the 391 senior condominiums on the St. Agnes Property. The reason given was to spare persons coming out to comment on the pros and cons of the zoning amendment, when their comments would not be considered since comment period has closed on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. As the Mayor put it, "I cannot imagine anything more can be said (on the Senior Housing Zone proposal)."

The Final Environmental Impact Statement is now being prepared by North Street Communiyt, is expected by October, when it will be reviewed by city staff, then submitted to the Common Council in December, according to the Planning Department. The Planning Department will draft appropriate zoning amendment which may change based on the Council's previously stated concerns about it, at which point the zoning change would have to be reheard anyway, so in the city view it does not make sense to continue the hearing on the present zoning after September 5.  

After the Final Environmental Impact Statement is submitted to the Commoun Council, a Findings Statement will be prepared by the Council stating what they want to do with project. This would place the start of the project (should it be approved)  to come probably in the early spring or by midyear about one year after North Street Community submitted the proposal.

Heyman Properties owners of One North Broadway, proposed a renovation of their North Broadway entrance, transforming it into retail space with cosmetic changes.

The subject matter of the Executive Session on litigation was not disclosed. The Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, attended that session.