Trustees Discuss Proposed Changes to Scarsdale's Historic Preservation Law
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Draft amendments to Scarsdale Village's Historic Preservation Law could result in the demolition of even more homes, as under the new law many Scarsdale properties would be able to evade demolition review. Though the revised code could offer some protection to homes and properties listed in Scarsdale's Cultural Resources Survey, others, that some might deem "historic", would not require review before being razed.
The Law and Land Use Committees of the Board of Trustees met on Wednesday 2-27 to discuss draft amendments to Village Code Chapter 182 - Historic Preservation. The Committees undertook a review of the code in light of the Reconnaissance Level Cultural Resource Survey Report (Survey Report) conducted by Li/Saltzman Architects and Professor Andrew M. Dolkart, which listed 13 Vllage landmarks and 68 homes that the surveyors believe warrant protection.
The revised code does not impose designated historic status on these structures (thus barring their demolition); rather, it allows owners to consent to granting historic status. Although property owners would still be allowed to renovate and rehabilitate their homes, several Trustees made the point that it is easier and cheaper to demolish a house than to rehabilitate it. Thus, the Committees must balance property owner cost concerns with the desire to ensure protection of Scarsdale's historic properties. The Committee appears to favor an owner consent rule.
Several Trustees praised the Survey Report, but also expressed reservations about imposing historic status on the structures based on just this survey. Referring to the Survey Report's focus on architectural style, Trustee Stacey Brodsky stated, "a lovely example of architectural style. . .. in and of itself . . . is not a basis on which I would be comfortable imposing over an owner's consent, a designation of the historic value of the house." She thus views the Survey Report as a "starting point," but not sufficient to impose status on a structure over an owner's consent. Village Manager Alfred Gatta agreed, saying that the Trustees would not be able to defend imposing this status based on its current information and if they were going to impose status, costly "in-depth surveys" would have to be conducted. Trustee Robert Steves also praised the Survey Report but agreed that it should not be viewed as "the Bible" of whether a house in Scarsdale has historic value. He also mentioned some due process concerns that could arise if Scarsdale imposes historic status on a property.
Trustee Brodsky emphasized the need to eliminate "demolition permits to no end" and to get the Committee for Historic Preservation out of the "demolition business" and into a role that allows them to participate in the community education process, as suggested in the proposed new code. Ms. Brodsky expressed concern about a strict consent version and spoke in favor of the revised code's tiered structure, which allows for voluntary designation of historic status of properties listed in the Survey Report and, in cases where owners have not consented to such status, uses the Survey Report as a trigger for the CHP's closer examination of a demolition permit application. Several trustees agreed. Trustee Kay Eisenman and a Village resident also suggested offering incentives like loan programs and generous tax rebates to property owners who consent to historic status designation. Once granted, historic status and benefits would stay with the property and bind or benefit future owners.
Associate Village Historian Bill Natbony expressed concerns about a loophole in the proposed law whereby property owners seeking to demolish property not listed in the Survey Report will no longer go before the CHP. Thus, properties outside the Survey Report, that may still be historic, will evade CHP review. Paul Diamond echoed that thought, saying that this loophole deserves repeated attention.
Trustee Brodsky said that revisions to the law are still in the "brainstorming phase," and the group has not yet considered forming historic districts, also suggested in the Survey Report.
Ultimately, the Trustees referred the issue to another Land Use meeting, where they will set a specific agenda. A future public hearing is also likely in order to hear substantive community feedback – particularly from those whose homes have been listed in the Survey Report as warranting protection.
Contributor Lindsay Dembner lives in Scarsdale. She is an English major turned lawyer currently pursuing employment in higher education and education nonprofits.
Mark Bezos to Receive Open Door Award at Gourmet Galaxy
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Scarsdale resident Mark Bezos has been selected to receive the "Open Door Award for Community Service" at this year's Gourmet Galaxy fundraiser, which is sponsored by the Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service. The annual event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, at the Westchester Country Club.
Mark Bezos is a Senior Vice President in charge of Communications and Events at The Robin Hood Foundation, New York's largest private poverty-fighting charity. Mark has been responsible for creating some of the most successful fund-raising events and concerts in history – from a charity gala that raised $88 million in a single night, to the recent "12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief," which was seen around the world and raised more than $50 million. A hundred percent of the money that has been raised is earmarked for programs that help the poor.
When he's not fighting poverty, Mark is fighting fires as the Captain of Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 2. He has lived in Scarsdale since 2004 with his wife, Lisa, and their four children, three of whom currently attend the Scarsdale schools. Mark, whose childhood was spent outside of New York, observed that it is common for people who grew-up in Scarsdale to make it their home as adults. "It speaks volumes about what an engaged, safe and supportive town Scarsdale is. Having relocated a lot in my youth, I've been moved by seeing families put down roots in such a great community."
For over ninety years, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service has provided emotional support, outreach to youth and the elderly, and community education. The staff of licensed mental health practitioners, youth outreach workers, and geriatric social workers are available not only in times of crisis, but also during the challenges that accompany every stage of life.
Together with cocktails and a silent auction, the Gourmet Galaxy benefit is unique in featuring a generous selection of culinary specialties from many of Westchester's greatest chefs. For tickets, call 914-723-3281, or e-mail info@sfcsinc.org.
Greenacres Parents and Principal Meet to Discuss School Security
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Greenacres parents joined Principal Gerry Young on Wednesday night February 6 for a discussion of security improvements they'd like to see at Greenacres Elementary School. Certain decisions regarding security are already being figured into the budget plans of the school administration, including a move of the main office to the Sage Terrace entrance of the building and the hiring of a professional greeter to stand at the front entrance of the school. The office, which is currently in an interior location, is being moved to allow administrators to monitor traffic at the school and check-in guests at the office. Principal Young asked the parents in attendance to think about how they would like to see a day at school go from the moment students are dropped off until the last student is picked up after school.
Parents raised issues of doors being unlocked too early in the morning and being left open for too long after the second bell has rung. One parent spoke of wanting teachers, parents, and caregivers to have school-issued ID cards that identified them as part of the school community, while requiring all visitors to receive a badge to show that they've been given permission to enter the building. Another parent suggested the creation of a central monitoring station where camera feeds from all schools could be under constant watch, and any suspicious activity reacted to immediately.
All in attendance seemed to agree that they didn't want to alter Greenacres' unique position as a community school where there is no busing and where many parents enter the building to drop off students in the morning. A number of those in attendance said that they believed the presence of so many familiar faces added to the security of Greenacres, as unfamiliar individuals stand out and are asked to identify themselves. One thing that most parents agreed on was that any security measure taken would act as a deterrent for someone looking for an "easy target," but would not stop an event such as the one that happened in Newtown, CT.
Tracy Jaffe is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. A past president of Heathcote's PTA and Scarsdale PT Council, Tracy has 3 children in the Scarsdale school system, and currently sits on the boards of Scarsdale/Edgemont Family Counseling Services and the League of Women Voters.
Wise Old Owl
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Hoo's there? You never know what you'll see outside your kitchen window. Linda Schapiro of Tompkins Road was surprised to find this majestic gray owl sitting on the branch of a large old horse chestnut tree, next to her neighbor's chimney at dusk on Wednesday. Afraid she would scare the visitor off if she ran outside with her camera, she snapped this picture through her kitchen window with her phone. Great tableau! Thank you to Linda for sharing. If you spot any unusual wildlife outside your window, please forward a photo to scarsdalecomments@gmail.com.
Revaluation in Process: Here's What to Expect
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Data collectors have now visited about half of all homes in Scarsdale and are moving toward the May, 2013 deadline for the completion of home visits and data collection. Work in Edgewood is complete and Edgewood homeowner will receive their property description forms in the mail this week. The form documents the most basic information about a home and rates its "overall condition" on a scale of one through five.
Village Assessor Nanette Albanese and Eric Hardy from Tyler Technologies met with representatives from the media to offer an update on the process and explain what residents can expect.
We had the opportunity to preview a sample data collection form and were surprised to see that it offered little in the way of qualitative data on the homes. Instead it provides information such as the address, property size, the home style, heat type, year built, square footage, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and fireplaces. Homeowners will have the opportunity to review this information, correct any inaccuracies and mail it back by the deadline shown on the mailer. For Edgewood residents that date will be February 15.
However, the information on the form is not all that will be considered when property appraisals are done later in the process. According to Hardy, the data collector makes notes that are included with the record but cannot be seen on the form. Other factors that will go into formulating the assessment include location, the presence of other features such as a pool, garage, or basketball court, the neighborhood, and recent sales data. However, residents will not see all of this information on their data sheet. These are additional criteria that will be factored into the model later on.
Hardy says that property size and the size of the home are the most important factors that will determine the assessed value – and though the condition of the house, and vintage of the bathrooms or kitchen will be considered, these will not move the appraisal up or down in a significant way. Instead, these are considered when assigning the home an overall condition rating that ranges from poor to excellent that is just one factor in the appraisal.
So, if you haven't yet had a visit from a data collector, when should you expect to see one? Data collectors are now working in Fox Meadow and have also begun work in Heathcote. If data collectors make two attempts to get into your home without success they will mail you a first class letter and ask you to schedule an appointment. If they don't hear from you a second letter will go out to you by certified mail. And if you fail to make an appointment after receipt of the second letter, the data collector will do what they can to complete the form without a visit inside your home and will rate it in excellent condition and will assume that there is a new kitchen, new bathrooms and a full finished basement.
The schedule now calls for all properties to be reassessed in 2014.
To learn more, visit www.reassessment.scarsdale.com/ or call the reassessment offices of Tyler Technologies at 914 722-1324 or 1326 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
