On October l0 Ivar Hyden, Democratic Candideate for District 4, told the South End Civic League that he had lived in District 4 for 16 years and has a business on Lawton Street. Mitch Spalin, Secretary of the South End Civic League, wanted to know about the adaptive reuse of the Armory and mentioned the stolen paintings. Hyden said as a member of the Municipal Arts Commission he was involved in removing the two murals and looking for a new location for them. He added he felt the Armory should have a revenue producing use such as a film and television studio. When asked who appointed him to the Municipal Arts Commission, the answer was Mayor Idoni. Laraine Karl then said she wanted to hear he was not going to be a rubber stamp. She said we had enough low income housing that would not bring in any money for the City. Hyden did not agree there was too much residential in New Rochelle. He felt there was a need to build near the train station alluding to the Democratic slogan of “little house on the prairie.” We have, in his view, two parts to the city, one urban and one suburban. Karl then said, “That’s lowering my home value.” North end residents wont’s come here because they are afraid. We need more police.
The need for a master plan was brought up and Councilman Al Tarantino said that at present what is consided is housing development with 60% affordable units and 40% market rate. He felt the City needs to step back and be patient and it is not always the best idea to create a legacy, because it may not be the best idea. Hyden said he would look carefully at development and did not agree with the Avalon 30 year tax abatement and would not have voted for it. He added sometimes with abatements you have to give to get and he does not want 60-40 and that Avalon wouldn’t have supported that ratio. In Residence Park they have had flooding for the first time. Elaine Waltz, President of the South End Civic League, reminded the group that since l987 New Rochelle was not supposed to make any new sewer connections but have continued to attach, for example, a 39 story apartment to a sewer connection preciously used for one house. When the fact that Democratic council members “rubber stamp” Mayor Noam Bramson was brought up, Hyden said he was “not that way.”
The Art Shows in the last few years sponsored by the BID were brought up and by the third year, despite the crowds, the sales were not good. As the meeting drew to a close, Hyden said, “I agree” with Councilman Richard St. Paul that the Bath rooms in the train station should be open.