Scarsdale Building Department Cites 1 Palmer for Violations

The Scarsdale Village Building Department is citing the developer of the new building at One Palmer Avenue for non-compliance. The "Order to Remedy Violations" includes a long list of variances between the approved building plan and the building that has been built.

The order mandates the builder to either remedy the discrepancies or return to the Board of Architectural Review to approve the changes.

All of the violations involve changes to the exterior of the building including differences in the doors, railings, roofline, windows and building materials. Residents who have been questioning the building design may be happy to know that the building that has been constructed deviates in substantial ways from the building that was approved by the BAR.

Originally kosher food purveyor Supersol (aka Seasons) had intended to move into the space. But the deal was cancelled when Gristedes announced they were closing and now rumor has it that Seasons will stay in the Golden Horseshoe and move into the Gristedes space where there is ample above ground parking. Since the new building at One Palmer has no tenant, perhaps the developers have cut back on building expenses by using inexpensive substitutes for the exterior elements in the original plan.

Here is a list of the discrepancies:

Palmer Avenue Elevation:

• The top roof railing was to be a post and rail type roof guard. Instead the builder has installed a metal picket fence above the front door.
• The windows in the rounded section of the building at the corner of Heathcote Road and Palmer Avenue were to have decorative lintels over the windows. None have been provided.
• The exterior wall lights do not match the style of the lights indicated on the drawings.

Heathcote Road Elevation:

• The pitched metal roof should have extended past the second floor window and the two ground floor exit doors. The current pitched roof extends only to the end of the smaller ground floor fixed glass window.
• The top roof railing was to be a post and rail type roof guard. Instead the builder has installed a metal picket fence above the front door.
• The exterior wall lights do not match the style of the lights indicated on the drawings.

North Elevation as seen from Balducci's Parking Lot:

The approved drawing calls for the pitched metal roof to extend to the end of the building. The existing roof does not extend to the end of the building. An exhaust hood has been installed on the section of the flat roof that was designed to be a pitched metal roof.

East Parking Lot:

• The approved drawing calls for double glass entrance doors. The opening for the doors that was built is substantially smaller and includes a steel door rather than glass doors.
• The drawing calls for a decorative railing along the top of the first story above the glass doors. No railing has been installed.
• In addition, though the violation does not list it, the original renderings showed trees, landscaping and potted plants. The building that now stands is surrounded by a concrete sidewalk with no area for plantings.

The Law Committee of the Scarsdale Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 5:30 PM to hear a status report on the construction at One Palmer Avenue. They are expected to go into executive session to discuss litigation of alleged violations with the Village Attorney and Building Inspector.