Bronx River Parkway and Streets in Scarsdale Village to be Closed to Accomodate Bridge Work
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Beginning Monday night March 11, night work will be done on the Bronx River Parkway's Crane Road Bridge Replacement Project and will continue weeknights for a two-week period. The exit ramps at Crane Road, exit 12, will also be closed on weeknights for the two-week period to facilitate this work. There will be street closures in Scarsdale Village during these same five weeknights as well.
The following parkway ramp closures and detours will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
• Southbound Exit 12 ramp to Crane Road closed. Motorists will be directed to Exit 10 Harney Road.
• Northbound Exit 12 ramp to Crane Road closed. Motorists will be directed to Exit 10 Harney Road.
The following local street closures for East Parkway and Crane Road will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
• Crane Road westbound between Chase Road and East Parkway will be closed. A detour will be posted using Chase Road and Christie Place.
• East Parkway southbound between Crane Road and Christie Place will be closed. A detour will be posted using Chase Road and Christie Place.
The night work is necessary due to Metro-North Railroad requirements and to remove concrete forms for the north abutment stem walls adjacent to the eastern side of the railroad tracks. The ramp closures and the closure on East Parkway are due to the need to place a crane on the roadway to facilitate a portion of the work.
For more information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Tranportation at 995-2555. Full details on the project are available at westchestergov.com/craneroadbridge.
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.
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.
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.
