The old adage in real estate is location, location, location. Well, for the purposes of future development in New Rochelle, it should be parking, parking, parking.
The parking situation in downtown New Rochelle is woeful. Since 1995 we have lost about half of our on street parking inventory and consolidated into the New Roc lot which is difficult to access and not centrally located. Recently my wife and I went out to eat at Alvin & Friends. It was fantastic but we had to park at the HSBC lot next door and risk having our car towed. A few weeks later we went to Bar Taco in Port Chester and had no trouble at all parking in their enormous and free parking lot that parallels the main strip downtown.
And speaking of Port Chester, Whole Foods recently announced they would open a new store at a former A&P site there rather than in our downtown. What differentiates the new Port Chester location from anything offered up by New Rochelle is the presence of ample and easy access parking. The Whole Foods website outlines a number of items they require for new store locations including: abundant parking available for their exclusive use, easy access from roadways with a lighted intersection, and excellent visibility from the street.
Our efforts to pursue “transit oriented smart growth” runs 100% counter to the needs of a company like Whole Foods. We have congested the downtown with additional residents but insufficient parking. Worse, we have offered multi-decade tax abatements to these same residential facilities which have starved the city of needed tax revenue and kept us from affording the upgrade of several downtown parking lots as outlined in our 1995 Comprehensive Plan.
Whole Foods’ decision to open in Port Chester may represent permanent economic damage to New Rochelle. Why? Because there are already locations in White Plains, Greenwich and Yonkers. With this large a presence in our vicinity already, the odds are against us getting our own store. The same might be said for Fairway (Pelham), Target (Mt. Vernon, White Plains), and Kohls (Yonkers, Port Chester).
But you never know what is possible. If we are going to attract retail and other commercial business to New Rochelle, we need to start planning for it now, with a comprehensive offering designed to meet the needs of prospective employers who, so far, are choosing our neighbors over us.
Too late for New Rochelle
All the comments on this subject are all too true.
The solutions are not easy to fix.
Ninty nine cent stores just dont cut it for me.
Beggers asking for money on Main Street, dont make me happy.
Parking for dinner, is no fun at all.
Reading about the robberies and muggings make me wonder what the hell goes on here.
The solution is a New Mayor, City Manager, Police Comissioner. We lost that opportunity at the last election, Not that we had a great choice!
You have to look no further than the last council meeting to see the future for New Ro, It consists of chicken coops, And as one masterful resident said, a council full of jackasses
We have been Trumped Enough!
Trump Tower was going to bring big names and tenants. Now it has what? They have Monroe, Iona College students, New York Sports Club and are working on a deal with Sound Shore Medical Center to lease 23,000 square feet in the largely vacant space on the first two floors of the building.Still no retail. Jeremy Lin went to Trump White Plains rather than Trump New Rochelle. What does White Plains have that we don’t? They have Department stores, restaurants, a night life and more. All built by the same people that promised to bring that same things to New Rochelle but haven’t. Go Figure!
Nothing New in New Rochelle
This shortsightedness has been going on at least since the IKEA debacle.
What about Pelham Manor
It’s funny but i remember the Mayor and some members of council saying that no BIG stores are opening because of the times we are in well i say look at Pelham Manor and just for every ones info MACY’S is opening a new store in BAY PLAZA thats right the BRONX.
it is not who it is what and where
bringing in wholle foods is less of the issue than committing to an environment and business climate that urges top of the line commercial establishments to take root here. given what we have on hand, whole foods would not be a good bet; it is surely symbloic of where and what we should be, but first is to build the necessary plans, management process, and ability of the city council (7 members not 6) and the community at larfe to act.
I have covered this toic ad nauseam and there is nothing left to say. John Imburgia capsules it correctly, you do not put up a new residential infrastructure that brings nothing by way of revenue in, strains scarce resources and provides a close to Main Street location to encourage more street crime and quality of life issues.
Take a loook at what is going on in existing mega downtown structures. they are floundering at best, and perhaps marc jerome is managing the business proposition by creating ad hoc dormitory space for his students. Albanese would increase that prospect with its 60/40 ratio on affordable housing.
Time is running out for us. You all should be actively informing your council members where you stand. It is more important than ever — priority number one is build tha property tax base via changing to a small business commercial business plan and priority number two is supporting it through rezoning, adhering to the actualities of the City Charter that clearly indicates the role of the City Council is the board of directors of the City so all 7 are responsible. It is incredible to think the City will not put in a mini-precinct on Main Street, bring other offices to Main Street and North Avenue, and control the urban creep of Monroe and the non-profits. This cannot be put at the doorstep of private enterprise interference because frankly, the power structure could care less about privatet enterprise. It is big government driven and we need to foolow close by examples. Brewster, for example, moved city services to the business district and postioned itself for a comeback.
Adam, are you the supportr of Ilyse Spertus who sadly failed to unset Fertel? Hopefully you see the logic of this sort of approach and will add your voice and that of Ilyse’s to the dialogue.
This is not a call for partisanship or ideology. This is plain misuse of the Charter coupled with a lack of business sense and common sense.
John Imburgia sees it and many of you do as well. Think how our optins have been weakened by a pre-emptive strike by Jerome on New Roc Center. It may be short termed, but these things have a life of their own and quickly turn permanent. Jerome is an intelligent man and knows about creating a fact. He has and probably has written a few checks as well.
Posting is great, but pressure your council member to see thw iaaues for what they are. I want a whole food, a starbucks, a book store, etc… but first I want a police facility.
In closing, have you noticed that everytime something is placed at risk or requires funding, the chorus seems to threaten laying off fire and police personnel. Do not let this go unnoticed. Well before that is even considered, we have many staff at 515 North… not clerical, but managerial or administrative, consulting or in that genre who must go first. And, if my reading of the Charter is correct, we are burdened by a full time council man aat large (ceremonial mayor) and a city manager. That is clearly redundant. Speak of these issues and you will have helped to create an eventual city climate that would encourage quality commercial interests. Right now, they will be few and far between and it is NOT the economy (oh well, U NO)
Apologies for many typos
Have a vision issue, but could at least get a decent spell check system to help out on the number of typos in my post. I will correct this as best I can in the future.
Neglected to add that parking is a tier two not a tier one issue. You need to have places to go as well as safe havens in order to support parking. There are alternatives and I certainly would support parking once higher priorities are met.
If you press too hard on parking there is yet another issue. It provides grist for the fee revenue mill. We need bona fide small businesses that are fully on the tax rolls first and foremost.
Read Old Timers blog if you haven’t gotten to it yet. A typical fine job by this fine citizen.
New Rochelle is the only city
New Rochelle is the only city that needs to build high rise residential buildings in order to attract businesses. Something must be wrong.
Whole Foods Locations
I travel for business and whenever I am in a new city I always visit their local Whole Foods store. I have been to Philadelphia, San Francisco and Baltimore and all of those cities have a Whole Foods store and they are not in the best sections of those cities. Philadelphia has a mini police station near the store, San Francisco has a security guard in the store and the Baltimore location actually revitalized that area. In Baltimore, a Ritz Carlton hotel/residence was to be built but the project was cancelled. Instead a developer built an apartment building with small boutique stores on the street level. If you visit Baltimore you will see young professionals in that area and new development with a police presence. What New Rochelle is lacking is vision and knowledge of the present shopping trends. It is time to question BID, the Department of Development and council members who promise to bring retail to the city during their campaigns. Since the city is forming citizens groups, it is time to call all citizens together and brainstorm. I have complete trust they we know better and can bring great ideas to the table.
A vision with blindeers on!
New Rochelle has vision and knowledge of the present shopping trends. It just isn’t being looked at from the right perspective. The leadership controls that vision. Like a horse with blinder on, the council can only see the direction the rider wants to go. Over the years there have been members of council who promise/want to bring retail to the city during their campaigns only to get residential ideas pushed because that was the direction the rider was determined to go. It is very difficult to break loose from this trend if you aren’t determined or strong enough to pull against the reigns and go in the direction that would benefit everyone. Buck the trend. Regardless of political affiliation, I would like to see all of the members of council especially the freshman members break free from the reigns and go on a trail that is right for The City of New Rochelle. Let the rider know you want to go down a different path that has potentially greener pastures. We have traveled the rider’s path for way too long. So let’s down another path and give the other side of the fence at least a look. There have been many ideas put forth by some very smart people on this site and from citizens groups already. We do know better and can bring great ideas to the table. Our future depends on it.
“Common Sense for the Common Good”
Citizens Groups
Is there a URL that offers details about upcoming citizens group meetings? I *** quickly *** looked at New Rochelle’s website, but did not see anything.
Not open to public
You are not allowed to attend these meetings.
Now, go away and stop asking stupid questions! 🙂