WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey January 19, 2008: Efforts by Glen Hockley, White Plains Councilman, sources say have convinced the Mayor, as  Reporter Keith Eddings of The Journal News reports this morning that Mayor Joseph Delfino will place the two lots owned by developer Michael Neubauer on Orchard Street (near the New York City reservoir), on the open space acquisition list for consideration when the Open Space Committee meets January 30.

The Perceived Threat: City Sell-off of land is feared for development out Orchard Street way if Bernard Place paper street and 3 lot subdivision is approved by Planning Board. The city has refused comment on if it plans to sell the property, Councilman Hockley has through behind-the-scenes diplomacy convinced the Mayor to consider acquiring property from the Developer.

WPCNR has learned that  Mr. Hockley, holding behind-the-scenes talks with activist Al Gasman and the neighbors on Orchard Street, was key in pursuading the the Mayor to take a look at preserving the property. Hockley announced these intentions in a letter to The White Plains Times that he would bring up the Orchard Street property, located contiguous to the reservoir at the end of Orchard Street, as a possible open space acquistion at the OSC meeting. Hockley also expressed the hope that the paper street the developer wants to build and the lands the city owns parallel to Orchard Street be dedicated as parkland. 

Mr. Hockley, according to sources persuaded the Mayor to consider the property at the January 30  meeting. Neubauer's plan currently before the Planning Board scheduled for January 31, is to subdivide the two-lot subdivison to build three homes, which could be worth up to a million dollars or more considering their pristine location. Acquisition by sale from the developer to the city by the developer would most likely cost the city approximately $3 Million or more by WPCNR estimates, considering what the developer stands to lose in possible sales of the homes.

Mr. Eddings reports that the six Democratic members of the Common Council support buying the land, but reports the Mayor's Office as saying it has to proceed "cautiously" since the Planning Board is considering Neubauer's application.

Over $5 Million spent to date paid to private owners for open space 

Previousy, in the Delfino administration, the city has paid $5.2 Million to purchase natural land (with various funding sources, but predominantly city money) from property owners  to prevent development on developable parcels. 

The $5.2 Million includes  $1.6 Million for the Grieco property, $1.8 Million for the Simon property adjacent the Greenway, and $1.7 for the D'Elia property alongside the Greenway, a total of $5.2 Million. The city pays $1 a year for the Liberty Park 30 year lease from County.  However, the Liberty Park acqusition has cost the city over $500,000 to develop the park that has been closed to the public due to extensive algae problems for most of the last two summers.