Will the New Rochelle City Council consider the proposed thirteenth extension of the LeCount Square proposal bad luck? At the Council meeting on December 1 several owners of an apartment building at 5 Anderson Street in the area of this development spoke out. They claimed their agreement with the Cappelli Organization has not been kept. Michael Longo, one owner, stated, “I have the patience of a saint,” but at present it is costing him $2,000 a day. He felt Cappelli could not carry out this project and has left him in limbo with these 36 apartments. Cappelli’s representative, Joe Apicella, he said, “lied in front of City Council last month,” referring to the $795,000 in mortgage payments and expenses that is owed to the owners of this building. He felt Council should “not give this extension.”
Mark Fonti, another owner, claimed they were told over and over again they would get paid. He urged the Council to “put conditions” on this approval process. Fonti claimed he gets calls all the time and could rent this building ‘in a heartbeat.” Insisting the building is not blighted, he urged Council to “intervene” or they may have to start a law suit.
Refuting comments by Apicella at the last Council meeting that the Cappelli organization had “nothing to do with 5 Anderson Street,” James O’Toole stated Apicella “lied.” When there are problems with the Anderson Street building, the repairs are made by New Roc personnel and police reports can verify this.
Stating Apicella had been given every opportunity to rectify the injustice he had caused, a third owner, Robert Fonti, emphasized Longo had acted in good faith. He said we “need to bring life to the area” by renting these apartments and the stores so sales taxes can be generated.
John D’Alois spoke of the two projects that need renewals. He felt Cappelli should get the New Roc retail development moving first, especially noting the loss of the ice rink there. Echo Bay, the second proposal by Forest City is also asking for a one year extension to file their environmental impact statement. D’Alois felt this project as described in the Memorandum of Understanding will “destroy the quality of life” for many residents. The lack of the developer’s respect for deed restrictions on a building in that development was also noted. Forest City’s Echo Bay proposal includes a 300 room hotel, 600 luxury apartments, 62 townhouses, 142 condominiums, retail and parkland.
Although the City Manager, Chuck Strome, would like the approvals to be granted instead of starting over, residents disagree. Lorraine Pierce commented it would be most beneficial to start over. We have several historic buildings in the LeCount Square area which should be preserved, as well as the Armory in Echo Bay. Quality of life has been ignored for too long in this city and “this is a good time to start over.”
In the December 7, 2009 issue of the Westchester Herald