City and Rio at Odds Over Patio for Riverfront Whiskey Bar

 

The owners of the Whiskey Rio Bar, located on the Yonkers riverfront, and the City of Yonkers are at odds over the future use of a patio located outside of the bar; the city and the landlord, Collins Enterprises, are taking away Rio’s rights to the patio with Rio’s owners claiming that these actions are improper and illegal.

The Rio has been in business on the waterfront for four years. Adjacent to the Rio is the former Pier View Restaurant, which closed in January, with a new restaurant/bar set to open there in September Rising hears. This new tenant would like to expand their operations to include the Rio’s riverside location, with Rio’s owners claiming that the city and Collins are trying to force them out of business.

Both locations are part of Hudson Park, built and owned by Collins. While the lease for the Pier View was prohibitive, ($16,000 per month), the lease for the Rio is reasonable (a few thousand per month, plus a yearly charge of $10,000 for the patio. The owners of the Rio want to stay, but recently Collins claimed that Rio violated their lease by not staying open during the winter months and for not serving lunch and dinner every day. Based on that violation, Collins has begun eviction proceedings, and the city took the patio lease away from the Rio, padlocking the tables and chairs outside. Rio got an injunction to remove the padlocks, and that’s where both sides currently stand.

Mayor Phil Amicone, through spokesman David Simpson, said that there have been numerous complaints about the Rio’s noise and late hours of operation. But an inquiry we made shows that the Rio has not had any violations issued to them in the past two years.

While a few tenants in Hudson Park have complained about the noise, some in the business community downtown are wondering what this latest feud between Rio and the city is all about. “Anybody who rented an apartment above a bar should realize that there will be noise,” said one downtown business owner. “We are hurting in the downtown/waterfront and struggling to survive. The city shouldn’t be forcing one business out; they should be supporting local businesses. “

Another downtown property owner questioned the motivations of City Hall with Rio. “Collins will do whatever the mayor wants them to do. If a caterer comes in and opens the old Pier View, that’s fine, but why should they get the Rio also? It sure looks like they are playing favorites; we need to stop fighting with existing businesses.”

SFC’s LDA Made Available to Public, But Negotiations Continue

To view the latest draft of SFC’s LDA, follow the link below: http://www.cityofyonkers.com/index.aspx?page=2025

This LDA is the one that the City Council reviewed over the weekend, but it is unlikely that it will be the final version, as the five votes needed for its passage have yet to be secured, even with recent SFC concessions to build a residential tower at Chicken Island and to build a more substantially complete stadium.

The votes of three on the council – Dee Barbato, John Murtagh and Liam McLaughlin — will be the deciding factors on whetheror not the SFC/LDA will pass.

The developers, and the mayor, need all three votes in order to secure five votes for its passage, which will be combined with Council President Chuck Lesnick’s and Councilwoman Pat McDow’s votes.

Barbato and McLaughlin have asked for detailed revenue figures from the minimum development proposed in the LDA of around $400 million. They have also asked for a detailed list of incentives and infrastructure improvements to be paid for by the city, in the hopes of making a informed decision on whether or not the project is good for the city.

Several on the council have also asked for more time to review the LDA, so the finanical deadline of May 20th from SFC is no longer an issue.

Several new developments were uncovered at the council’s Real Estate Committee meeting last night:

The council is not even close to voting the LDA out of the Real Estate Committee for a  vote up or down — time is needed to read and review the LDA, and to try tonegotiate terms that could win over McLaughlin, Barbarto and Murtagh — remember all three are needed, if, as expected, Sandy Annabi and Joan Gronowski vote no.

This will require serious negotiations and more concessions on SFC’s part. The sale price of city land and properties, and the two-year hold that SFC will have on the city before they are required to build are two issues of concern.

Eminent domain (ED) also came up at the Real Estate Committee meeting, with concerns raised by Gronowski and Murtagh (Murtagh has submitted a resolution against any ED use for devleopment projects with incentives). While Lesnick explained that this deal always had an ED component, if it’s inclusion means that Murtagh votes no on the LDA, the deal’s dead.

Several members of the City Council met with Mayor Phil Amicone earlier in the day, with no resolution. While the mayor wants the council to vote on the LDA, Lesnick realizes that there aren’t five votes, not even close to passing it at this time.

So we wait …

Council Doesn’t Get Final SFC LDA; Will Receive Tomorrow

The Yonkers City Council Real Estate Committee meeting held last night was supposed to be an opportunity for the council, and the public, to get a look at the revised, or final, Land Disposition Agreement  (LDA) for the SFC downtown development project. It was also supposed to be a public hearing, where audience members could comment for or against the LDA, which gives SFC wide latitude and control over most of the downtown, while binding them to a minimum development agreement which would require them to build a scaled back $400 million project.

Several sources have said that the new agreement calls for SFC to complete the construction of a minor league stadium at Chicken Island, and for SFC to construct one residential tower, also at Chicken Island, in addition to their prior proposal to build a 300,000-square-foot retail center, new fire headquarters and a parking garage, as well as daylighting the Saw Mill River at Getty Square.

This deal was said to win over the support of Councilman Liam McLaughlin and Councilwoman Pat McDow. McLaughlin wanted a completed stadium built, and McDow wants affordable housing to be built, onsite, as part of the plan.

But no final committments of support from the Council have been made until they see the final LDA.

… Once we get it we will get it to you.

The council is under another deadline for SFC, May 24, so that SFC can continue to work on getting financing for the project.

A council vote of 5-2 last week to permit SFC to get a $4+ million HUD loan is said to be an indication of how the council will vote on the LDA.

But with this City Council, one never knows until the votes are cast.

Council Approves State Grants Applications for Old Library/Mill Street and Greystone Condos Plans

The City Council, at their meeting on Tuesday night, approved two grant applicaitons for Restore New York grants totalling $10 million for two projects.

The first, to rehabilitiate the old library on Main Street and to redesign Mill Street, a semi-hidden dead end road behind the old library, and the creation of a pedestrian friendly ‘Italian Style Piazza’ on Mill Street, will cost $13.5 million. The Restore New York Grant application requests $5.4 million.

Sharon Ebert from the city’s planning department explained the grant proposal and said that the state has $150 million in restore grants that they are wanting to award and release over the next few months to help stimulate the New York economy. The grant applications are broken down by size of municipality and size of the grant request, those in excess of $10 million are separately reviewed. The total of both these applicaitons is just over $10 Million.

Ebert explained that the library would be cut into two parts, with SFC’s temporary HQ’s occuping the top of the old library, and displaced merchants and businesses from New Main Street occupying the ground floor. The appraised value of the old library and the Mill Street properties (not including a large property owned by Rising Development on Mill St) total $1.6 Million. SFC would be required to get financing for $4.4 million for thier share of this project.

City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski questioned whether SFC had show an ability to pay their portion of the old library-mill street rehab. The council voted 6-1 with Gronowski voting no to approve this grant application.

The Council next approved the Greyston NY Restore grant for their plan to build 100+ units of affordable condos along Warburton Avenue. A deal to preserve several buildings owned by Greyston at the proposed site and keep them as part of the Philpse Manor Historic District are very close to completion. This project total cost is $41.4 Million, with a $4.6 Million grant application. Of the two grants, the Greyston application is deemed to be a bit more attractive to the state because it provides housing to the workforce community.

Councilman Murtagh commented that on a visit to the historic buildings, he found one filled with garbage and excrement on the first floor. Stephen Brown of Greyston assured Murtagh that the property was being cleaned up. The council voted 7-0 voted for the Greyston grant application.

Fallout From Castro-Blanco CCP Run; Barbato, McLaughlin & Term Limits

Pat McDow

Liam McLaughlin

Sandy Annabi

Dee Barbato

Jim Castro-Blanco

Chuck Lesnick

Castro-Blanco is a Republican, and while he is the first announced Republican CCP candidate, Republican Councilwoman Dee Barbato is seriously considering a run. Sources tell us that over the past week, efforts were made to get Castro-Blanco out of the race for CCP to make room for Barbato, to no avail.

Now, based on the positive buzz in Yonkers for Castro-Blanco, and taking a look at his campaign team and fundraising goal of $800,000, pressure might fall on Barbato not to run. Democrat incumbent Council President Chuck Lesnick will likely face off against either Castro-Blanco or Barbato in November, and Republicans are trying to make sure that Castro-Blanco and Barbato don’t bloody each other up in a GOP Primary.

What scares some about this turn of events is if Barbato decides not to run for CCP, but wants to return to the City Council, where she is term limited. Barbato could be one of four or five councilmembers who would vote to overturn term limits, allowing Barbato, Liam McLaughlin and Sandy Annabi to run again for their seats in November.

Another wild rumor today was that McLaughlin is considering a run for CCP. McLaughin, a Republican and minority leader on the council is term limited, and has also been mentioned as a candidate for county legislator this year.

Other possible candidates could be councilwomen Patricia McDow and Sandy Annabi.

Democrat Dennis Robertson is also considering a run.

Yonkers Developers, Listen Up!

Many Yonkers residents believe that the $1.6 billion redevelopment plan currently proposed for downtown Yonkers could be the answer to their prayers for a much-needed area renaissance. I believe that to be true, but along with great improvements come great waiting periods, so in the meantime, I also believe there are reasonable steps that could be taken to make Yonkers the commuter-friendly, much-happening hotspot that young professionals who moved here from Manhattan had hoped it would be:

1)    Going Postal – The oppressively long lines at the Yonkers Post Office offers those of us in the BlackBerry-wielding set the chance to have the life sucked out of our lunch hour while we fantasize about that magical “Brigadoon”-esque time of day when the lines disappear and we get service that is speedy and not Harlem-like (I’ve lived there, so I know). Young professionals are fast-moving and enjoy crossing tasks off our to-do lists, so why not install an Automated Postal Center for those of us self-reliants who have our envelopes and packages (and our debit cards) ready to go and just need the official USPS stamp of approval?

2)    Coffee (Money) Makers – As corporate as it is, Starbucks is uber-popular because people enjoy having more choices when it comes to their morning java. Opening a Starbucks or a Dunkin’ Donuts (if American runs on it, why not Yonkers?) would infuse the area with caffeinated commerce, and give workers an extra boost before they clock in, making for an all-around perkier neighborhood.

3)    More Food Choices – There’s a reason why Andiamo, at 61 Main St., is always crammed at lunchtime (other than its close quarters) – Yonkers professionals care about what they put in their bodies. We need more places like that and Pass Me Not International Green Market (15 Main St.); otherwise, it’s a choice between McDonald’s and pizza. Not to mention the fact that there is no supermarket in the downtown area. I’m all for supporting the mom-and-pop markets, but I can’t expect them to be open at 8 or 9 p.m., when I’m craving mint chocolate chip ice cream or reduced-price sushi. And can I be so bold as to suggest a Jamba Juice?

4)    A Little Help for the Car-less – Speaking of hours of operation, much like NYC’s Wall Street/Battery Park area, most merchants and services in downtown Yonkers shut down around 6 p.m., which leave those of us without a car virtually stranded. For example, the Bee-Line doesn’t offer a through-line bus after 5:30 p.m., so if I want to take a trip to Stew Leonard’s after work or hit the mall or a movie, my options are rather limited. Now if the MTA would offer evening buses out of Getty Square, I’d be a happy camper … er, commuter.

5)    Movies, Anyone? – A movie theatre downtown would be the perfect solution to finding ample after-work options in the downtown area. The Yonkers Downtown Waterfront BID had it right this summer when they offered outdoor movies, but we need our flicks fix year-round! Build a movie complex and model it after the Cinema de Lux at National Amusements City Center 15 in White Plains: Include comfortable couches in the lobby and a bar and restaurant, so cinephiles can grab a drink or a bite beforehand — a bite that doesn’t involve nachos and Goobers (don’t worry, junk mavens, they have those there as well).

Certainly, with $1.6 billion of development, the City of Yonkers will be given a real opportunity to flourish. But until the ribbons are cut, I urge our city services and merchants to consider making the above adjustments. We need a Yonkers that can keep up with the multitask-happy pace of a resident looking to maintain career, wellness and a social life on a day-to-day basis.  

Make YonkersRising.com your local resource.

 

SFC Update

     Tonight, the Yonkers City Council Real Estate Committee met and set a date for next Wednesday, November 5, to vote on the Findings Statement for the SFC redevelopment project. While the council has reviewed the massive $1.6 billion plan for downtown Yonkers for more than one year, the vote next week will be the first in which the people of Yonkers find out where the council stands on this project.    

     A previous vote last month to accept the Final Environmental Impact Statement as complete was not a vote for or against the project, just a vote to conclude the environmental review. The council vote on accepting the FEIS was 5-2, with Councilwomen Sandi Annabi and Joan Gronowski voting no.

     Whether or not Annabi or Gronwoski’s “no” vote is a prelude to their opposing the project is anyone’s guess, and it is still unclear what the final vote is on the Findings Statement, which outlines some of the details of what the council would like to see as part of a final agreement between the developers and the city.
     But it is expected that there will be at least four votes to approve a findings statement next Wednesday. This would move the project along to the next step, which would be for the council to approve a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) for the SFC plan.

     The LDA is where the details of the project are finalized, after negotiations between the mayor, the council and SFC. Mayor Amicone, in an effort to move along the process, has begun to draft an LDA and has had briefings on it with the City Council (these meetings are the subject of our other blog entry — mayor and Gronowski).
     Eventually, all parties must get together and negotiate the term of the LDA. These sessions have not yet begun, in part because parts of the Findings Statement will determine the details of the LDA.
     Look for LDA negotiations to take some time, because the council and the developer remain far apart on a few issues. They include:

I-Affordable housing — SFC has proposed that 6 percent of the residential units they build be set aside for affordable housing. The City Council has proposed 20 percent, led by Councilwoman McDow on this issue. The developers claim that 20 percent won’t work. An agreement north of 10 percent is the most likely outcome.

II-Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) — Yonkers Firefighters Local 628 President Hugh Fox has commented again and again at council meetings on his concern about the ability of his members to safeguard the community if the SFC project is built, without more manpower and equipment. We’re hearing mixed messages from within the Fire Department on SFC, and while Fox is opposed to the project, without increases to the YFD budget, others claim that SFC is already doing enough (building a new firehouse and fire headquarters) to more than adequately protect the public. More on this in next week’s Home News & Times.
    The issue remains unresolved, with several councilmembers questioning the SFC plan for the YFD, based on Fox’s comments.

III-Sale of land by the city to SFC — In order to build their project, SFC must acquire several parcels of land from the city. This includes parcels in and around Getty Square and Chicken Island, and riverfront property downtown.
    It’s the riverfront properties, known as parcels H&I, that are the most valuable asset. With a looming budget deficit facing the city, look for the City Council to try and negotiate a multimillion-dollar payment for the H&I parcels to ease next year’s budget pain.

    The issue of the landmarking of 87 Nepperhan Ave. appears to have fizzled, with a majority on the council not in favor of landmarking. No council vote has been planned to designate 87 Nepperhan a landmark, an indication that council may take a pass on this issue.