New Sleepy Hollow Firehouse

[SteveOFD 176]

From an editorial in The Journal News:

(note-paragraph three)

Waterfront developments

(Original publication: January 25, 2007)

In these days of luxury development and upscale waterfront condos, it is sometimes hard to remember that just a dozen years ago General Motors actually built minivans at its plant in Sleepy Hollow. So much has changed on the Hudson riverfront since then, it seems that the Lower Hudson Valley's distance from its industrial past should be measured in eons not years.

It might seem that way to developers Roseland Property and GM, too. Since 2002, they have have been working on a plan to clean up the 96-acre assembly plant site and build Lighthouse Landing, a mix of housing and shops, with amenities like a theater, a hotel and a public park. On Tuesday, the village and the developers presented the final plan for Lighthouse Landing before a standing-room-only crowd at the Morse Elementary School in Sleepy Hollow.

This proposal for Lighthouse Landing has a lot of good elements. It is far smaller now than when it was initially proposed - 1,250 apartments, condos and townhouses (down from about 1,562 in the last go-round). The developers will contribute land and money for a new municipal garage and a new firehouse. They will build two soccer fields and two tennis courts. They plan to contribute money to study and create an inter-municipal transportation system and a shuttle to the Metro North railroad station to help decrease the amount of traffic the project will create. And they set aside nearly 45 acres of open space, including an 11-acre riverfront park.

All this from a site that is now an unusable toxic flat land.

But for all that is good about Lighthouse Landing, the plan would benefit from more tweaking. The current number of homes - 1,250 - still threatens to overwhelm the small village with a heavy stream of traffic. The plan calls for a buffer to be set aside for a future estuary extension. But that would leave the restoration of the Pocantico River estuary on the village's to-do list. Why wait?

Now is the time to restore the original path of the Pocantico River, which was rerouted when the GM site was filled in. Reopening the original mouth of the Pocantico would alleviate flooding upstream and create a watery haven where fish could linger and kayakers paddle. Roseland, GM, the village board and a vigilant public have worked hard to put together a plan that will have benefits for the residents of the village. With a little more tinkering, the plan could be good for the river ecology, too.

Copyright 2006 The Journal News, a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper serving Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties in New York. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, updated June 7, 2005.

I know this is probably quite a few years away, but any info on which Company(ies) will be located in the proposed house?

[calhobs 110]

Columbia Hose and the Ambulance Corp

[firecapt32 282]

just wondering why not a new fire company altogeather?

seems like a long way for members to resppond to get the apparatus and the ambulance.

[calhobs 110]

Keeping in mind this is not etched in stone, It seems the Village does not think they need a new fire company. Columbia Hose may be going over to a Quint when they are due for a new rig which is in the next ten years. That will give us two ladders one in the upper end and one in the lower end. As far as the ambulance goes me personally I would relocate them to Central HQ, but I do not make that decsion. Like I said none of this is etched in stone, and by time it is built the leaders to be would have changed hands numorus of times.

[JetPhoto 626]

Developers will promise governments the world for a donation of land or equipment so things get passed easier. In these days, no one wants to volunteer and the developments add more stress to the road system than they say it does.

So the developers get rich toss the government a few bucks, writes that off gets it back and forgets all about you when the job is done. Meanwhile your left with more traffic, more accidents, more fires and less volunteers and your department is forced to hire people driving up taxes that most people can't afford.

So anyway if this projects goes forward, accept what they want to give you because it won't be that easy to say to taxpayers "We need to raise your taxes to build / buy... because of all the new buildings." and they turn around, laugh and say NO WAY!

[firecapt32 282]

Good idea Calhobs relocating the Ambulance to Fire Headquarters. maybe a second amb can be located in the new development. Another good Idea 87 getting a quint of some sorts. Take a look around and find a deartment that has a useful one and copy it.

will there be a rear exit to the Manor's from the development?? maybe through Kingsland point?? just another thought.

[shac 7313 0]

firecapt32 + calhobs in my mind the gm site is at least 10 yrs away guys ! ! !

[calhobs 110]

will there be a rear exit to the Manor's from the development?? maybe through Kingsland point?? just another thought.

←

not sure

[firecapt32 282]

10years I will be old enough to get one of the senior citizen housing by then.