The Front Page:

Macy's is coming down.

Macy's may be coming down in scant weeks.

Cappelli, moving quickly, securing permits to demolish Macy's within next 6 to 8 weeks putting pressure on the Council.

City determining now whether he can level site prior to Council approval of Cappelli Center Plan.

30 utilities connections to be severed before demolition can begin.

By John F. Bailey

(A previous addition of this story reported erroneously that the city had already determined the developer could demolish Macy's without Common Council approval. City Hall contacted WPCNR to report this decision has yet to be determined, and that the Common Council might have to approve some street closings. The following is what we are told is the correct city position on early demolition at this time.)

CityLine: May 3, 2001 -- City Hall

The City of White Plains is holding meetings to determine if Cappelli Enterprises may begin demolishing the abandoned Macy's Building at Main and Mamaroneck in preparation for building the new Town Center project, presented April 24 by Louis Cappelli.

In meetings held this week and last, department heads met to determine if Cappelli Enterprises was within its rights as owner to clear the site without Common Council approval of Mr. Cappelli's newly proposed Cappelli Center Plan.

Paul Wood, Economic Officer for the City, contacted WPCNR today to correct the story that the demolition had already been approved.

He said that approval of the early demolition was still being considered. He said the Department of Public Works will be assisting in preparation for the early demolition by opening up the streets to disconnect some 30 utility connections: gas, water and electric still connected to the building site. Tishman Speyer was at this stage when they suspended work on the Town Center last fall, prior to selling the property to Cappelli April 23.

After these utilities are "tied off," Wood said, he expected the demolition could begin. Wood estimated it would take some 4 weeks of work to sever the utility outlets.

Demolition is expected to begin sometime in June, should various city department heads agree on the approvals needed. Wood also said today that though it looked as if Cappelli could demolish Macy's as owner of the property, he pointed out that the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Public Works, and the Building Department all had to sign off before the raising of Macy's was to begin and that has not happened yet.

He also said that should any streets, (Main Street or Mamaroneck Avenue, or EJ Conroy Drive, or Martine Avenue) have to be temporarily closed off for a certain amount of time during any demolition process, the Common Council would have to approve the closings.

Wood reported that Cappelli Enterprises is taking the position that it wants to begin demolition as soon as possible.

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