Yonkers Developments?

[Guest]

hello to everyone out there!

not to beat a dead horse, but this topic seemed to die out a little bit, and i'm kinda hoping that maybe someone out there would know something or could maybe update me on this issue...

whats the deal with the development talks in yonkers with the master downtown plan, and ridge hill. while on that subject, whats going on with the raceway's additions as well (any timeframe for completion)? i know it still a major topic within yonkers, which will effect alot in a hopfully positive way, but i havnt been hearing much news on it, or any updates concerning it.

can anyone out there update me, or inform on any news?

thanks!!!!

[Guest]

wish i could help, haha

kinda interested myself.....

sorry

[Dr. Zuki 1]

Ridge Hill is in court and Judge Zambelli is trying to work out a settlement over traffic issues between Yonkers and Greenburgh.

The raceway casino is partially opened and doing way, way better then expected without the owner's even advertising in the media.

The downtown plans are being presented to the City Council this week.

This is the developer's site: www.sfcyonkers.com for photos and you can email any questions to them.

The renovation and expansion of Cross County Center is currently in the review process for a possible start in the spring of 2007.

www.cityofyonkers.com has many extensive downloadable documents on the above projects, or you can flip through the hard copies at the public library reference desk.

My key point is although the city will touting the dollar value of all this new development, nobody is noticing that the steady tax abatements are eroding the total city assessment roll.

The new police commissioner begins his first day next Friday.

[61MACKBR1 222]

I understand from reading on the Yonkers Tribune web site, that the planned New Yonkers Fire Headquarters on Neprahan Avenue and New Main Street will be a 6 Bay Building (vs. the 4 Bay Building that they have now). One can only guess that Yonkers will be housing more rigs (Reserves/Spares?) out of this new headquarters, now having 6 bays.

[Guest]

hey dr. zuki

thanks alot for the updates...i was beginning to think that no one was ever going to reply!!! hope you dont mind, but i have some questions for ya...you seem to be the guy to ask...

with ridge hill, i understand that it is in the courts to determine traffic concerns, but is the project still approved to move forward with conststruction anytime soon, and is just being stalled right now, or is the whole thing still on table? last i remember ever hearing about that was that it was somewhat of a done deal...just needed some fine-tuning. any timeframes on what to expect?

i def. know the casino is picking up great! i heard it already picked up over 6 million in its first week??!! that should bring in some great income to Yonkers!

i had no idea about the Cross County Center expanding? i was there the other day, and didnt notice any signs of future projects...i was hoping you could elaborate on that development for me...what sort of work are they going to do?

i also saw on News 12 the other day the story about the downtown developments. as far as it looks now, it seems to be a "good to go" project...just awaiting some final decisions and votes on certain issues, but overall, is getting alot of support (as it should). is there anything else on that topic though? arent they expecting some other final plan in mid-november, and hoping to start building in or around spring?

i know its alot of questions in one shot, haha, so i apologize for the overload...but you seem to have some good, up-to-date news....so i appreciate anything you got!!!

as far as the 6 bay firehouse, 61mack, i didnt hear about that, so thanks for that information! i read a little while ago on the yonkers website an article concerning the budget, which mentioned how yonkers has 4 new replacement rigs ready for development, and have also heard from some friends and sources that the YFD is really pushing to reactivate one of the spare engines and ladders due to all these projects coming up. maybe thats the cause for the 6-bay headquarters (as you mentioned)...house the new companies? i know we would all appreciate anyone from the YFD to comment on this, so we dont presume anything....

thats it for now, haha..my fingers hurt!

[Guest]

Well, those are all good questions LP, and I'd rather leave most of them to someone who can better answer them with more accuracy and detail, as I would love to know more as well. But just to brush on some of them in the mean time, I can just tell ya that as far the CCC (Cross Counter Center) goes, I believe they are just adding a whole new section to it, including a large parking structure. I know that was pretty obvious information, lol, but its all I really got from what I read in City of Yonkers homepage. If I come across anything else, I'll try to post it.

Wish I knew more, but again, i'll have to leave the rest for someone else to better answer....

Sowwy

[EXDC203 38]

Yonkers.......where do I start? Lets tear down dozens of local buisnesses that are the only source of shopping for most of the people in that area. Next we will tear down a landmark in this city( Yonkers Fire Headquarters). Than they want to build a ballpark...................in a GHETTO.....................................

The City of Yonkers built on a hill.........where nothing is on the level!!

[61MACKBR1 222]

Trucke and LP Fire - Thanks for the additional information. Yes, hopefully one of the members of emtbravo connected directly with the Yonkers Fire Department might be able to provide us with some insight as to the reason for having a 6 Bay New Fire Headquarters (the suggestion about adding an additional engine and/or ladder company to cover the new downtown development makes sense).

[Guest]

Yonkers.......where do I start?  Lets tear down dozens of local buisnesses that are the only source of shopping for most of the people in that area. Next we will tear down a landmark in this city( Yonkers Fire Headquarters). Than they want to build a ballpark...................in a GHETTO.....................................

The City of Yonkers built on a hill.........where nothing is on the level!!

←

everything you said is the reason WHY they want to do these developments....

i agree that the headquarters is absolutely a landmark, and i wish it didnt have to be sacrificed for these projects, but i know that this city needs the work. i live here, and the only around here that i can shop at becomes a drug dealer haven past 6pm. its a ghetto, and these developments are trying to put abetter image on the face of yonkers, so ppl like you dont think of it as a ghetto anymore. will it work, prob. not...but is it worth a try, absolutely!

thats just my two cents

oh, and yes, its a city of hills...and its the job of the engineers and developers to make it level. look at san francisco....

[Dr. Zuki 1]

The ballpark will likley not be built, but the rest of the retail project will and it will succeed like the similiar ones in both Port Chester and Mount Vernon. Check out the new apartments on the waterfront that rent for over $1K per month and it was only a few short years ago that the only people down there were the crack whores.

Walk onto North Broadway where it begins at Getty Sqaure and you'll see two loft buildings occupied by Yuppies, dogs and tofu in hand. So, the area is slowly coming back. Check out Pierview Restaurant on the waterfront some night, it's beautiful and the young people are there in droves during the nicer weather.

And believe it or not, Trump has made it clear that he wants to be involved in one of the waterfront skyscapers going up at the bottom of Prospect Street next to the "Sugar House" ( Refinded Syrups).

FYI on the raceway safety issues: When I visited last week, I noticed an on duty Yonkers fire fighter on site. Too bad the newspaper writer didn't mention this key point yesterday. The state troopers aren't there yet.

Next time you visit Cross County, look in the window of any vacant store and see the diagram of the renovation and expansion.

[Guest]

hey dr.zuki

not sure if you didnt answer on purpose or not, but any chance you know anything about LP's questions? i'm just asking cause i'm curious myself. i am very interested in these developments and would love to know any updates or info. concerning them...thanks

[Guest]

ps....why dont you think the ballpark will be built?

just cause all the opposition, or is there more to it?

[Guest]

hey there 61mack! ya, i suppose alot of us here are pretty curious and interested in whats going on. its a big positive factor that will def. benefit alot, just a matter of keeping up on it to understand. you can only read so much from newspapers, right?

out of curiousity, has anyone else been having troubles logging into YOnkers Tribune? its not working for me too well latly

[61MACKBR1 222]

Here is the Article in the Yonkers Tribune that outlines the New Yonkers Fire Department 6 Bay Headquaters:

Plans call for building a new 150,000-square-foot office building and a new 75,000 square-foot 150-room hotel on the corner of Nepperhan Avenue and South Broadway adjacent to the Cacace Justice Center. More than half of the space in the new office building will be occupied by the city agencies currently located in a 91,000-square-foot building at 87 Nepperhan Avenue. The latter building will be razed as part of the redevelopment plan.

The existing Government Center Garage will be razed to make way for a new parking facility. Before that takes place, a new 1,470-space parking structure will be built on the southside of Nepperhan Avenue on a now vacant site adjacent to the Cacace Justice Center. The current Firehouse will be demolished and a new 50,000-square-foot, six-bay Fire Headquarters will be built adjacent to the new parking garage at the Cacace Justice Center at the corner of Nepperhan Avenue and New Main Street.

[Guest]

"with ridge hill, i understand that it is in the courts to determine traffic concerns, but is the project still approved to move forward with conststruction anytime soon, and is just being stalled right now, or is the whole thing still on table? last i remember ever hearing about that was that it was somewhat of a done deal...just needed some fine-tuning. any timeframes on what to expect?"

any word on that? i also havnt heard anything about ridge hill, nor has anyone i know of that lives in that section of yonkers...

[Dr. Zuki 1]

They were hoping to begin Ridge Hill construction sometime in 2007 and it was approved by the City Council. The Tuckahoe Road access road for this project ( near the sleaze hotel) is nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen if it's built.

The stadium will likley be dropped from the downtown retail project due to financial problems with the money they want from the city. As an alternative location, the racetrack did not want it on their property.

[Guest]

Hey Dr. Zuki, since you seem to be in the know. When is Yonkers getting its armored peacekeeper and heavy rescue truck for the YPD Emergency Service Unit?

[Dr. Zuki 1]

kingsixx,

Did you get my private message yesterday in response to this?

[Guest]

i can only imagine the congestion when ridge hill comes around. is that pretty much why you think its a "disaster" waiting to happen, or is there some other piece i'm missing?

thats also very interesting about the stadium. i was under the impression that that was going to be a favorable part of the project, despite some opposition. i know it would def. add to the citys image and brings some good crowds (and $$$), along with the other ideas.

seems like alot of these projects are also slated to start breaking ground around 2007 spring....what is your opinion, considering that you seem to know alot, that these project will IN FACT begin around that time frame. i know none of us will know until it happens, but what do you personally think the chances are???

i really look forward to these developments and can also imagine the sort of developments that could take place within the FD and PD as a result....but again, i'll leave that to one of their members to comment on....

[Dr. Zuki 1]

Besides the massive congestion, the other major beef about Ridge Hill is that it wasn't going to be paying full taxes and too many needless abatements were being granted. And the new fire company proposed is being paid for by the city, not the developer who will only build the structure. Nobody wants to tell how much the taxpayers will pay for the staffing and equipment either.

Every developer nowadays is looking for the taxpayers to be there unofficial partner. The end result in Yonkers is a tax roll worth less and less every year. They never tell you this, they only say "We brought in x millions of dollars in new development" This applies to all projects in every community. Also note, after the abatements are given, many property owners successfully challenge their assessments and win tax certoriari cases thereby lowering their property taxes paid. Guess who makes up the difference ???

Stop the corporate welfare !!!

Not sure of the start dates for the projects except for Cross County Center to begin Spring 2007. They built in the mid 1950's, no giveaways or abatements. Now they want the city to subsidize their project. Why ?

Paramus, NJ has every retailer in America, including the most successful mall in the entire state ( Garden State Plaza) and they give zero abatements and giveaways. Nobody can argue me on that one either. The town demographics are irrevelant.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[Guest]

wow! thats alot of stuff i just didnt understand, haha!

doesnt sounds too good though! thats very unfortunate to hear how developers in all end try to scam the taxpayers. i'm going to completely bad mouth them though, due to the fact that i am in high support for all the developments to take place. i just feel in the end that the city of yonkers needs these developments....putting aside important issues like taxes and other finances, the face of yonkers just needs a change. nvm bringing in tourists (imagine that!) or whatever, but just the citizens ourselves could really use it.

thanks very much dr. zuki for bringing out those really important details though...as you said, nobody likes to inform the taxpayers of all the information.

well, i suppose according to everything you've said, what we read in papers, and hear on tv....these projects will be moving forward, and relatively soon, i also heard that most of them are looking for break ground sometime in 2007, maybe spring time. depsite some opposition (from what i understand its in the the minority), the long term effect of these developments will be positive!

on the fire company level...isnt it normal for the city to be paying for the staffing and equipment, and usually the building, except in this case where the developer will be paying? i'm not too familiar with how budgets and grants work at all, so i'm hoping you could explain how they are planning on doing that?