WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 1, 2008 UPDATED 2:00 A.M. E.S.T. December 2: Councilman Tom Roach Monday evening addressed the Common Council and a citywide live television audience, reporting he has undergone radiation treatment at White Plains Hospital Center Dickstein Center for a rare disease, Nasal Pharynx cancer the last three months. 

Councilman Tom Roach sharing good news with the city on television Monday night, (taken from the Council Chamber television monitor)

He said the treatment (completed in mid-October)  has been announced a success by his medical team and he has no more signs of the disease at this time. He thanked White Plains citizens for their understanding, his wife for her understanding and support, and had effusive praise for the doctors at White Plains Hospital who treated him. He said he first became aware of the problem due to hearing problems and swallowing difficulties. The  presence of  the disease was detected by MRI in August.  He said he would continue to serve on the Common Council as long as the city wished him to serve. 

In scheduled action, the Council surprised observers by untabling the controversial Ritz Carlton "rock" on the traffic island on Renaissance Square, and referring the LC Main request for licensing and lease of the space out to Commissioners. They also approved completing a financial package for the White Plains Kensington developer granting $1 Million in tax relief, at a cost of $287,000 to the city.

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, said that White Plains Kensington had received verbal approval from the Housing and Urban Development in Washington, on HUD’s willingness to back any construction loan on the $32 Million project.  The effect is that HUD has agreed to insure the loan and guarantee repayment should the project for some unforeseen reason, White Plains Kensington default on the financing.

$2,225,554 revenue prior to construction.

In her remarks Ms. Habel noted that the Urban Renewal Agency will receive $2.4 million for the land from Kensington, of which $2 million will be used for to pay off 1/2 of the bond for purchasing the land on which the Longview Garage was built. White Plains, according to the Financial Analysis will receive $68,600 in property taxes, the city school district, $233,450 and the county $47,950. The annual estimated revenue to the city of White Plains is $102,323 and the School District, $233,450.

The statement also notes Kensington will pay $225,000 in Building Permits and other City Charges, esitmating total net revenue to the city prior to construction of $2,225,554.

The revised financil analysis was prepared at the request of Councilperson Rita Malmud.

Financing to come.

Harley Cook of White Plains Kensington, in the Council Chamber audience, told WPCNR that his financing was not in place yet and that Capmark, the firm that is going to offer the project to the finance market had not offered it yet. Cook said it could be offered as soon as written approval is received from HUD. Asked by WPCNR if the approval would be issued by the HUD office now operating in the Bush Administration, or if it had to wait until the President-Elect Obama Administration assumes office, Cook said that was a good question, and said he expected it sometime in January.

Ritz Rock is Off the Island into Commissioners' laps

In a surprise, Council President Benjamin Boykin introduced a motion to untable the request from LC Main LLC, to consider either a license or lease with the City of White Plains on the traffic island at the intersection of Main Street and Renaissance Square. The request for referral has been “tabled” for about eight months, the length of time Judge Susan Cacace in the New York Supreme Count has been considering the city legal action asking the stone Ritz-Carlton sign be removed from the island.  LC Main LLC challenged the city effort to remove the Ritz Rock (a granite slab with the words "Ritz-Carlton" on it, situation on the traffic island in the middle of Renaissance Square), in its suit, claiming the city showed "abuse of discretion."

The Ritz Rock, May 2008 -- Seen in middle of Renaissance Square

Paul Wood,City Executive Officer, asked to speculate on why the council suddenly untabled the motion, said I’d have to ask the Council. Glen Hockley, a Councilman, said the council feels that the city was not likely to prevail in the court, and had moved to consider the matter. WPCNR asked Mr. Wood if this was the start of revised legal strategy on the part of the council or the city. Wood said, "could be, you'd have to ask them."

Council Goes Greyhound

The council as part of the Consent Agenda approved a four year contract leasing the Transcenter long distance bus station to Greyhound Lines for a total fee of $12,283.56 a year ($1,023.63 a month), in the first year $12,774.90 the second year, $13,285 in year three and $13.816.40 in year four.

Mamroneck Avenue (South of Maple)Opens to Professionals.

The council approved professional offices of professional persons in the BR-1 and BR-2 district on both sides of Mamaroneck Avenue from Maple Avenue to the junction with Bloomindale Road. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel assured the council that there would be no increase in the amount of parking spaces required by the city on the properties along both sides of the avenue on that stretch of road. Ms. Habel said that the change would enable greater flexibility in the tenants and owners of those properties to rent their space, and that one of the reasons the legislation was proposed was the availability of lot parking behind the properties on both sides of the street.

  She also said that increase in rental fees in the Central Business District had driven architects, accountants, and similar professionals out of the downtown and this legislation was an attempt to reverse this trend by giving these professional persons other options.