While the New Rochelle City Council granted Cappelli Enterprises their twelfth extension on the plan to build on the Le Count Square site, it was not granted without Council members expressing reservations. This proposed high rise project which will be the largest in downtown New Rochelle will contain stores, offices, residences and a hotel. After Councilman Lou Trangucci voted “no,” Councilman Albert Tarantino was the first to offer reservations about the proposed six month extension. He felt the project area presently looked blighted and thought the business owners in the area are negatively effected. He voted “yes” for the six months extension but was not sure about future approvals.
Councilman Jim Stowe endorsed Tarantino’s statement and voted “yes” but added, number thirteen was the “bewitching” hour. Councilman Barry Fertel agreed with Tarantino that North Avenue was in a “really unacceptable condition.” He has been a strong supporter of Cappelli. Fertel mentioned the area around 40th Street in New York City where development never took place. Council member Marian Sussman and Mayor Noam Bramson voted “yes.” City Manager Chuck Strome said he was meeting with the Cappelli organization about the concerns of the staff regarding this site. He noted that Cappelli is not the owner of the empty apartment building on the site.
After the meeting Councilman Lou Trangucci said he had numerous concerns about the proposal including the taxes it will generate. The developer has the right to go to the Industrial Development Agency for tax abatements and the City Council has nothing to say about this. The size of the project and the traffic it will generate are also a problem. Sales tax revenue according to financial reports have decreased.
The extension was granted until December 30, 2009.
New Rochelle and Cappelli by Peggy Godfrey published in the Westchester Herald, May 28, 2009
Cappelli Gets 12th Extension
I think Bramson in driving this extension yet again is now trading on whatever is left of his reputation.
There is probably not much left when you examine the extent that Bramson alone has gone to stoke up the Cappelli coffers… The only one truly with him is Sussman even Fertel is begining to chill on Cappelli and he has voted overwhelmingly in favor of everything Bramson. I see some cracks in the 4-3 majority… Hey Stowe I guess those affimative actions jobs you been promised have yet to come on line. Cappelli needs to be forced to deliver on something in order to get anything else. If you think delivering a 39 story tower empty is delivery your crazy. I believe we may have seen the last of Appicella even Bramson will only buy his used cars multiple times. Yes LeCount is just Plywood and BS so to speak.