Say Yes to the Scarsdale Community Center
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I am in favor of the current Scarsdale Community Center proposal to build the indoor pool at the Scarsdale outdoor pool site, because the underground design will have the following unique advantages: the preservation of open space in our fully developed community, lower maintenance costs as compared to conventional buildings, wind, fire and earthquake proof public space that could shelter residents during an emergency; and energy efficiency.
Yes, I am concerned about the financial impact on our community, but I trust the SCC Board of Directors and this Village Board to find a way to continue to invest in Scarsdale. We need to keep our village as the place to live, not only for our excellent schools, but also for our Village amenities.
Here is my research on this topic:
Advantages of Building Underground
Underground houses have many advantages over conventional housing. Unlike conventional homes, they can be built on steep surfaces and can maximize space in small areas by going below the ground. In addition the materials excavated in construction can be used in the building process.
Underground houses have less surface area so fewer building materials are used, and maintenance costs are lower. They are also wind, fire and earthquake resistant, providing a secure and safe environment in extreme weather.
One of the greatest benefits of underground living is energy efficiency. The earth's subsurface temperature remains stable, so underground dwellings benefit from geothermal mass and heat exchange, staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This saves around 80% in energy costs. By incorporating solar design this energy bill can be reduced to zero, providing hot water and heat to the home all year round. An additional benefit of the surrounding earth is noise insulation. Underground homes are exceptionally quiet places to live.
Finally, underground houses blend with the natural landscape, and have minimum impact on the local ecology. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but ensures that the maximum habitat is left alone for wildlife.
Designing Down for a Sustainable Future
Underground construction is not a new industry, but it is often overlooked as a design strategy for sustainable building. A well-designed underground home can be a stylish, comfortable, secure, bright and inspiring place to live. More than that it is an excellent example of the eco-home ideal, demonstrating energy efficiency, low-impact design and harmony with its natural surroundings. With the increasing demand for more development sites and ever-diminishing green spaces, along with the enforcement of stricter regulations for greener homes, building underground seems the obvious way down. http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ConstructionUnderground.html
Very truly yours,
Lena Crandall
227 Fox Meadow Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
Slow Traffic
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Dear Scarsdale10583: I am writing about the traffic light at the intersection of Fenimore and Fox Meadow Roads. It appears that the traffic light now has a pedestrian walk signal every cycle. I have been walking to the train for 12 years and have noticed that traffic is worse now since the light changed. Do you have any information about this?
Regards,
Fred Horwood
Letter From A Soccer Fan
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In Grand Central Station this morning, I was sharing, with a proud father of one of the Scarsdale High School Varsity Soccer team players, how fabulous it was for me to watch the team play at SUNY Purchase last Saturday night. That night was cold and raw and the conditions were only made worse by the consistent wind that seems to inhabit that particular field. While all of the spectators shivered, the kids on the field shined. It was my first time seeing this team play. I grew up playing soccer and my three children are all graduates of the Scarsdale Youth Soccer programs but what I saw on that field was not your “fathers” brand of soccer. Terrific ball skills, poise under physical and emotional pressure and a great sixth sense about their fellow players collectively blew me away.
After my conversation with the dad ended, I was struck by a thought that I was not too happy to be struck by. The thought goes like this…if Scarsdale had not developed the youth soccer program that it has today, it is likely that these high school kids would not have achieved the high level of play and accompanying competitive success that I had witnessed.
To this point, I have been mostly critical of youth soccer in Scarsdale. After all, what parent wants to see their young child told that he or she is “cut” from the first tryout of their young lives. Was it really necessary that youth soccer players play outdoors in fall and spring and indoors in the winter as well? I was and continue to be a believer that kids should be playing lots of different sports and that sports specialization at the youth level should be left for the truly gifted few. I witnessed a Scarsdale Youth Soccer League (“SYSL”) organization that proceeded with a Prussian sense of its own hegemony. It was my experience that coaches and parents who dissented were brushed aside or edged out. I coached teams and participated in many of these meetings while my kids wanted to play on those teams and was happy to wash my hands of it the moment their interest faded.
Despite my own take on the Scarsdale youth soccer experience, I cannot help but acknowledge that the players on the 2010 Varsity team are getting the experience of their lives because the “soccer generals” did what they did. To be clear, I am not suggesting that this particular “end justifies the means” and it is also not my judgment to make. I am not suggesting that the clearly terrific experience of the few overwhelms the more mixed experience of the many. But at the same time, Scarsdale Youth Soccer had a vision of what it wanted to accomplish when it was formed twenty-ish years ago and it is only fair to acknowledge that I saw some it “played out” at SUNY last Saturday.
Eric Karp
November 11, 2010
Village Residents Ask Planning Board to Redirect Downtown Traffic
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Not everyone is happy about easing parking restrictions in the village to accommodate more restaurants. Residents of the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association who live in the village are concerned that increased traffic downtown will pose safety concerns for pedestrians who live in the area. Here is a letter from the association to the Scarsdale Planning Board proposing a solution to potential traffic issues:
Dear Madam Chairperson and Members of the Planning Board,
The Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (“OSNA”) has significant concerns about the current proposal to relax the off-street parking regulations for restaurants in the Village Center. Before inviting more restaurants to Scarsdale, the Planning Board must address protecting the safety of our families from the increasing number of cars using our neighborhood as a thoroughfare.
The proposal concerns Village Code Article X, Section 310-70 (4), and creates an exception for restaurants specifically in the Village Center area. The current requirement for the entire Village is “one space for each three seats, plus one space for each employee, but no less than one space for each 75 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” The proposal would change the requirement for restaurants in the Village Center to “one space for each 150 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” (11/5/2010 Memo to Planning Board from Village Planner)
Ours is the only residential neighborhood onto whose streets traffic directly flows as cars are exiting the Village Center. The appropriate route is for them to drive out of the Village on Woodland Place or Chase Road, where they can access major roads and highways. Unfortunately, many cars leaving the Post Office/ Chat intersection drive north on Woodland Place and veer up towards the right, heading up into the Oakwood Place and Woodland Place triangle. This traffic triangle creates a dangerous and confusing confluence of cars and pedestrians. This is a blind curve where the road changes from one-way to two-way. Some drivers speed up as they think they are leaving town, unwittingly finding themselves in a residential block with 15 young children. In addition, many drivers use this route as a short-cut to avoid the traffic light at Popham and Chase Roads.
The recent 2010 Update to the Village Center Component of the Comprehensive Plan indicates that many residents would like to enliven the Village Center with more restaurants. We have no objection to restaurants but ask you to also recognize the Update’s Goal 2: Attend to traffic congestion, and enhance walk-ability and pedestrian safety and amenities…”
The Executive Summary of the Update specifies: “In the future, improved green space and park connections will reinforce the village-in-a park character and bring residents and workers closer to the charm and natural beauty of the Village Center. These connections will also reinforce the possibility and the desirability of walking and bicycling, reducing the reliance on automobiles for daily needs and trips within the Village Center area, and will provide a pleasant buffer between surrounding neighborhoods and the Village Center.”
It is this buffer that we would like to see maintained as the Village becomes more active. As a solution to these challenges, we propose enlarging the current green space at the Oakwood/Woodland triangle to create a pedestrian-only green space. (Please see Study Area 1 on the attached photographic map exhibit.) This proposal maintains the Woodland Place exit from the Village, but would prevent cars exiting the village from using Oakwood Place and Autenreith Road as a thoroughfare. This would greatly facilitate stormwater control, encourage walking and biking into the Village, and keep our neighborhood from bearing the burden of increased non-local traffic leaving the Village Center that additional restaurants will create. We also propose examining the Autenreith/Oakwood traffic triangle in order to clarify traffic flow. (Please see Study Area 2 on the attached photographic map.)
Several neighbors have noticed an increase in traffic on our residential streets since the lovely Chat Bistro opened. Many patrons are unfamiliar with Scarsdale roads and find themselves in our neighborhood. It is even more important to direct this traffic away from the confusing traffic triangle and our residential streets because it has a bar and serves alcohol.
As a community we are striving towards more sustainable lifestyles. Parents and Grandparents walk strollers around the curve on Oakwood heading to the Montesorri school, St. James the Less’s nursery school and Hoff Barthelson Music School. The Middle School bus stops here. Train commuters walk and bike down to the train station through this triangle.
We applaud your efforts to improve the Village Center and the vital role it plays in the life of our community. We request further study of our recommendations and look forward to working with you to facilitate improvements while maintaining our village in a park.
We appreciate your concern and thank you for your attention.
Respectfully Submitted,
Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (OSNA)
By OSNA Secretary, Emily Kronenberg
Important Letter from our Fire Chief
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As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 7, the Scarsdale Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives: changing the batteries in their smoke detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Non-working smoke detectors rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is worn or missing batteries.
Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Scarsdale, the Scarsdale Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 22nd year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall, this year on November 7.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Chief Thomas Cain. “Smoke detector maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke detector can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
In addition, Chief Cain recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning two ways out of their home, and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Thomas M. Cain Chief of Department
50 Tompkins Road Scarsdale, NY 10583
Tel 914-722-1215 Fax 914-722-1214
