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MOUNT VERNON – Developers want to build an $85 million, 249-unit residential-retail tower next to a municipal parking complex near the Fleetwood Metro-North train station.
The Alexander Development Group and its partner The Bluestone Organization want to buy the city's Fleetwood garage, renovate it and build an 18-story, L-shaped building at 42 West Broad St. The market-rate apartments would range from studios to three-bedroom residences with amenities like an indoor swimming pool and valet parking.
The proposed complex's street level includes 12,330 square feet of retail space. The property next to the Fleetwood garage currently has supermarket and an empty drugstore formerly occupied by Duane Reade.
In plans filed with the city, the developers argue that Mount Vernon should sell the 434-car parking garage because it is a financial burden on taxpayers. At daily peak hours only about 130 cars use the garage; the city loses 95 cents per spot daily when maintenance, security, meter collection and parking enforcement costs are considered, the developers argue.
The parking lot needs about $2.2 million in rehabilitation.
The Alexander Development Group's first project in Fleetwood was the Horizon on Locust Street, which Alexander and a co-developer rescued from foreclosure when it was under construction. The Horizon is fully rented and the average yearly household income of about $125,000 to $150,000.
Mark Alexander, president of the Alexander Development Group, said the building will draw tenants with annual household incomes above $100,000 who will expand the tax base and reinvigorate Fleetwood's shopping district.
The particulars of this project change with every appearance of the developervbefore the city council. No one really knows what it will be or will become if the units can't be rented at market rate. It could become another section 8 disaster and the beginning of the end for Fleetwood. The information about the Horizon is very much open to dispute, as are the "facts" about the parking deck. From the standpoint of traffic, they could scarcely have picked a worse location. Don't believe the PR about it all being foot traffic to the train station.
There's a public hearing on the project Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm in the City Council Chamber, City Hall. Come out and voice your opinions and questions.
Why would it be Section 8? Didn't the other new rental building in Mount Vernon fill up with market rate tenants. The rents here would be much higher than what Section 8 pays.
This is an incredible location for people priced out of Manhattan. Or the working couple where one works in Manhattan and the other works in Westchester.
There is going to be another meeting about it on July 2nd - I agree that the location is not great but it will be great to revitalize Fleetwood - and they can definitely get tenants to pay the higher prices . People will welcome not having to move into a co op and go though the board approval process.
At the public hearing, several points were made by the numerous speakers against the project.
Although the developer won't ask for PILOTS, they will be given a financial break at the taxpayers' expense. The city is going to GIVE, not sell, them the municipal parking deck. It will become a private parking facility with an attendant.
Metro Fresh will not be among the new retail tenants. The neighborhood loses yet another grocery store.
At 18 stories, the building will be twice as tall as surrounding structures. Transit oriented development in other Westchester towns have been designed to fit into the character of the community. Not so in MV. The MV Fire Dep't. has filed an official objection to the project, claiming they don't have the proper equipment in the event of a fire in a building of this height.
The speakers and objections regarding traffic congestion at this intersection are too numerous to recount. Construction will take 3 years.
There is a petition circulating opposing the project. You may encounter someone in the neighborhood carrying the petition. You may also connect with them at the July 2 Planning Board meeting or at the continuation of the City Council's public hearing on July 9.
The tallest building is 12 stories , so its not going a monster in the neighborhood. Its in the Downtown section of Fleetwood which should have more buildings like this. If the residents scare this developer away , then MV loses another investor to Yonkers or White Plains. The Cities residents have chased away dozens of developers who have set up shop in neighboring towns and cities...
I don't know if simply adding residents is the best way to keep Fleetwood up.
Make the existing resources of Fleetwood, the commercial district, more attractive by developing what is working there. If people from elsewhere want to come to Fleetwood for its shops and restaurants, and its neighborhood-scale nightlife, then there will be a greater demand for good people (buyers/investors) to live there. Then start building new residences when the demand is up there.
Yuppies cloistered in a half-full, fortified keep tower at the unfashionable end of Fleetwood doesn't seem like the soundest plan.
How is getting a bunch of yuppies with 100k+ salaries a bad thing for the community? I imagine tenants of this building would not be using the schools or many of the other city services outside of the metro north station. In fact, the city should try to get the developers to expand the station to accommodate the new passengers.
How is getting a bunch of yuppies with 100k+ salaries a bad thing for the community? I imagine tenants of this building would not be using the schools or many of the other city services outside of the metro north station. In fact, the city should try to get the developers to expand the station to accommodate the new passengers.
Looks like the main issue is parking. If that parking lot disappears and is not replacef with an alternative, people will stop driving to Fleetwood for the nice selection of restaurants. The additional people in this building will not offset the loss of outside business.
Having said that, if there is a way of creating adequate municipal parking, then this building is a win-win-win all the way around. You want dense, high-income housing within walking distance of shops and a railroad station. Just like Yonkers continues to do. And yes, the burden on the schools will be zero.
The location is not great but I still think it will be great for Mt Vernon - maybe they can find another space closer to Mt Vernon West?
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Public Hearing 42 W. Broad
