Scarsdale Trustees Approve Appeals to Demolish Two Homes

At their 10-27 meeting, the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees overturned rulings by the Committee for Historic Preservation (CHP) to deny the demolition of two homes that the CHP had deemed to be worthy of preservation.

The Board of Trustees approved an appeal from the owner of 11 Carstensan Road to demolish the home. The Committee for Historic Preservation denied the certificate of appropriateness for demolition as it was a Collet-built house who some consider to be a master. The Village Board of trustees found that Collett was not a master, and, since he built 300 homes in Scarsdale, many of which are Tudors, this one was not "unique or uncommon." It is expected that the homeowner will demolish the home, apply to subdivide the lot and build two homes on the lot.

Likewise, the Board of Trustees reversed another ruling by the CHP to clear the way for the demolition of 1023 Post Road which is a mix of Arts and Crafts, Prairie and Craftsman styles, with homey details such as benches built into an alcove on the façade. Even though the home was listed in the Scarsdale Reconnaissance Level Culture Resources Survey Report of 2012, trustees found that Andrew Dolkart, the architectural preservationist who authored the report, did not note that the home was the work of a master or reflected high artistic values to warrant historic designation. The new home on the site will need to replicate the Arts and Crafts style of the existing home. The BAR will have complete jurisdiction over the style and appearance of the new home and the owner cannot demolish the existing home until design plans for the new home are approved by the BAR.

The Board of Trustees did not find that either of the homes met any of the six criteria for preservation, despite the findings of the Village-appointed Committee for Historic Preservation. Trustee Finger also noted that just because homes are listed in the Dolkart study they are not necessarily historic or worthy of preservation.

Forums on the Village Website

Assistant to the Village Manager Josh Ringel said that the Village would now post the written communications they receive on the Village website. These communications will be posted and searchable by name, address and subject as of November 10, 2015. The Village is also looking for a way to host web-based chats or forums on the Village website. They are determining what new policies would be needed to regulate the chats and how the comments and discussions could be moderated. The Village website is now undergoing a redesign and this new functionality may be included in the redesigned website which is expected be launched in three to six months.

Transfer of Memorial Garden

Scarsdale's American Legion Post 52 will transfer the monuments at the Memorial Garden to Scarsdale Village and grant the Village a stipend of $5,000 per year for the next twenty years to care for the memorials and the grounds. Andrew Hartzel of the
American Legion Post 52 explained that the Memorial Garden was opened in December 1953 at the end of the Korean War. In 1967 the Village purchased the two acre property from the American Legion Post and committed to maintain it as a garden. In 2001 the Legion leased the right to add more memorials and make improvements to the site. It now contains memorials to commemorate all Scarsdale soldiers who died in any war. As membership in the legion committee is dwindling with age, the legion wishes to turn over the memorial to the Village.

Gift to the Library

The Village accepted a gift of $1,500 from Susan and Seth Ross toward the Scarsdale Public Library Master Plan Improvement Project.

Gift to Audrey Hochberg Pond

The Village accepted a gift of three benches and a tree in honor of Lindsay Deak-Friedman who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on May 25, 2015 at the age of 37. The benches and the tree will be installed at Audrey Hochberg Pond Preserve at the Scarsdale Library.

Noise Ordinance

Trustees announced a hearing on a proposed new noise law that would limit the times in which noise-making construction activity including hammering, ditch digging, scraping, unloading and vehicle backup signaling are permitted. These activities would be prohibited before 8 am and after 9 pm on weekdays and before 10 am and after 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The hearing will be held on Tuesday November 10 at 8 pm.