The owner of the BLD Diner and an adjacent small building, where another family business, Fofie and Mia, now stands, wants to develop a new seven story apartment building on the West Boston Post Road site.
A presentation of the currently unnamed project was made to the Mamaroneck Town Board on Wednesday. Gregory Katsaros and his 2399 Boston Post Road Realty Corp would construct the building, which would include 98 one and two bedroom units and two penthouses with views of Long Island Sound. It is not yet determined whether the development would be offered as sales or rental apartments. A covered parking garage is also included in site plans.
An unusually large crowd of approximately 45 people attended the work session. At the onset Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson announced that this was the first time that the council as well as the public would hear details of the development and this served only as informational meeting.
As was evident by the numerous grumbles, snickers and the occasional expletive from the audience, most in attendance are concerned about the size and scale of the building, increased traffic and impact on nearby Chatsworth Avenue Elementary School. The Mayor of Larchmont and a Larchmont Village Trustee were also in attendance.
Mark Blanchard, the attorney representing the proposed project, told the Board that they are looking to market to empty nesters wanting to downsize.
“We are very aware of the school capacity concern,” Blanchard said, “However the development will not be a designated age 55 and older community.
Richard F. Hein, a Larchmont architect, designed the project which he and Blanchard said “would be a very green building,” meaning environmentally friendly. Plans also include the creation of an easement, such as a nature walk, for public access to the marshland. The property borders what is known as the Premium River Marsh.
The formal filing of the proposal and application is expected within the next two weeks. Town Supervisor Seligson instructed everyone that the Board must first decide if it is even “willing to entertain a zoning amendment.” If the Board decides to move further, Seligson explained that there would be many steps which include public hearings.
“This is now the opportunity for the Town Board to see this, hear this and begin to digest it, so that when we come together after the submissions and notifications have been accomplished…we can then talk about it as a Town Board to determine how we’d like to move forward, if we’d like to move forward.”
Jay Rubin lives on Deane Place, a street that borders the proposed development. “I feel a project of this nature is out of character for our block, and our community on that location,” he said.
Paul and Cathy McCarthy, who also live nearby, questioned the height of building. “I didn’t think it would be seven stories tall,” said Cathy McCarthy. “It also matters greatly if it will be rentals or condos.”
The illustrations and diagrams will be posted on the Town of Mamaroneck’s website at https://www.townofmamaroneckny.org/
Video of the meeting can be viewed on demand at LMC-TV http://lmctv.org
Sheesh, based on the comments you’d think the developers were proposing a waste site. It’s called progress. Old buildings go down, new buildings go up. People with money fill the condos, adding revenue in both taxes and local spending. Local business, local builders. We do live in America, where a property owner should be able to pursue a fair business. Seems as if the same old cliche arguments always pop up. When the BLD Diner was built, where were all these same voices?
Rapid growth will only cause more of what we have..congestion..traffic..and the loss of
small town charms…sorry to see this happen…new construction on North Avenue..and New Rochelle has been designed to fill the need for growth..there is no access to Metro North..No busess. this.seems to be a flaw in this planning…young families need assistance in schooling, which is another flaw in this plan…..again the downfall of this town..at the hands of builders, that do not live here..or their families..
You are right on target. The best way for both renters and real estate owners and investors to share the cost is to add a gasoline tax if possible so that both renters and owners absorb the costs of the future costs. In California gas is about a dollar more but after buying real estate the tax is 1.2% of the purchase price and it does not go up. This way both renters and owners pay the tax but the real estate taxes are substantially lower.
Good city planning is needed…I do not hear that happening…what if a low structure was built with BLD and other businesses on the ground floor encouraging economic activity, two or three stories at the most a top for residential/professional/office suites? Anyone remember Jane Jacobs? Walkability, varied use structures keep a place alive. The Post Road is sprawling with underused land, We need cohesive planning, places for people to live, not just aimed at luxury markets.
Hmmm, lots of negativity out there based on one presentation which included a few drawings, etc.. There is much more to be learned. So, my advice is to keep an open mind, listen, keep asking questions and participate!
Another building too big! BLD been there for so long, feel bad for the waiters and waitresses that work there. Then the terrain, marshlands! I don’t think it will hold such a big building.
The Village does not seem to have a master development or zoning plan. Many of the buildings that have been built recently are not in keeping with the character of the rest of the real estate landscape in Larchmont. The Village should consult brokers and other real estate professionals regarding the overall plan for the Village prior to re-zoning or approving further developments like this one. A study on the effect of existing resources, overcrowding, traffic etc. needs to be done weighing the benefits and burdens of allowing such a development. The vacancy rate of the commercial properties in the Village also needs to be addressed.
Bad idea. We don’t need another apartment building in the area with the schools already crowded. We need office building for business to move in to have more jobs in the area. Have restaurant on the ground floor.
relative to the amount of money that larchmont/mamroneck residents pay in taxes, we have the lowest performing school district in the county. and it’s going to get worse. projects like this absolutely ruin communities and my advice? if this is going to be the kind of project that we can expect in the future, then just sell your house and move.
A formula for failure. Developers sell the schools. They don’t sell (or mention) nor care about the limited capacity of the schools. They sell, they leave, we are left with the problem they created. The schools decline – too crowded -temporary classrooms in the school yards. Property values decline. Taxes remain high.