Former College Buildings Proposed as Condo Ownership Project in WP 

The developer converting the former Berkeley College buildings in White Plains into housing is now looking to pivot to a project consisting of all larger condos for purchase.

The previously approved application for 97-109 Church St. — backed by significant government subsidies of millions of dollars — had consisted of about 50% rental units before the presented change.

“This is one of the first for-sale condominium affordable developments that’s being done under new state guidance,” Janet Giris, attorney representing the developer WBP Development LLC, told the Common Council during a special Aug. 26 meeting.

Two other site plan amendments were presented during that session. Plus, an update was given on a strategic plan meant to prevent serious crashes.

It’s customary for developers to present substantial amendments before the council and public to keep them apprised of what may be up for approval. Questions were asked and brief comments were made, but no objections were voiced by the councilmembers.

Council President Victoria Presser and Councilman Justin Brasch were absent.

The 97-109 Church St. project fronts Church Street but also Cottage Place, with the proposed change pertaining to the six-story Cottage Building, a former dormitory at 6 Cottage Place where 55 “affordable” rental units had been approved back in June. They were to be available to those making 50 to 60% of the area median income.

What’s now proposed is 40 “affordable” for-sale condominiums at 80% of the area median income. It’s necessary that the condo units be larger, in part to qualify for the subsidies, said James Wendling, chief operating officer at WBP.

The four-story Church Building, at 99 Church St., would still contain 68 condo units for sale at 80% of the area median income, as had been previously approved. In turn, the total unit count drops from 123 to 108 for what’s less than an acre in the Core Business 3 District and Central Parking Area.

The mix of type is also proposed to change, from 45 studios, five 2-bedroom and five 3-bedroom to 10 studios, 25 one-bedroom and four 3-bedroom.

“For a for sale project, you want to have more ones, twos and threes,” said Wendling. “ … that’s just a better mix and gives more people the opportunity to buy.”

Other minor changes were presented to aspects like parking, increasing from 82 to 89 spaces. According to a memo to the council, the amendments would make the project “financially feasible.”

Subsidies had been awarded through the New York State Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program by the Homes and Community Renewal Authority, and others are expected from the city and county’s affordable housing funds.  

Details about how one qualifies for the future condo ownership opportunities are still being ironed out, according to Mayor Thomas Roach.

In addition to the Church Street plans, plans for 70 and 80 Westchester Ave. were presented last week.

The addresses represent two different projects, one of Saber-North White Plains and the other of Toll Brothers, respectively, but both are related to moving a district boundary to allow for larger undertakings.

The former is allowing for rental units to increase from 175 to 203 units and retail space to drop from 15,000 to 6,618 square feet. The latter has its rental unit count going from 276 to 334 and retail space going from 20,549 to 14,821 square feet.

“We have followed a very similar course with regard to the rezoning,” said David Steinmetz, the attorney representing 80 Westchester Ave.

Tasca Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ramp dealership was last operating out of the existing building at 70 Westchester Ave. while 80 Westchester Ave. is now a vacant lot to be home to the future mixed-use project called Adora Row.

The Westchester Avenue and Church Street projects could see hearings, referrals to city agencies and the amendments up for approval as soon as this fall, according to Planning Commissioner Chris Gomez.

There had been modifications expected to be shared for 220 Hamilton Ave., the Hamilton Green project that celebrated a major milestone earlier in the day.

The earlier version of the agenda revealed how the Capelli Organization was looking to accommodate the new headquarters for the New York Power Authority at the site of the former White Plains Mall, replacing what had been approved for more housing.

But that was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting.

“As far I know, that’s still accurate,” said John Callahan, chief of staff, by telephone about the application. The developer asked that it be removed, but he noted that “it’s not unusual” for applicants to need more time. He expected the proposal to be on a future agenda this month.

Maura Balaban, a spokesperson for the NYPA, said over email that a request for proposal has been made for new office space, but that “no award has been made.”

One other update unrelated to development was given at the meeting, however.

Alanna Moran, a traffic consultant with VHB, shared more about the preliminary work in the early stages of developing the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan, meant to try and guide the municipality in preventing fatal and serious crashes.

The plan is backed by $400,000 in federal funding.

Once complete, an even larger pool of funding would become available for implementation, said Roach. The roadways of focus are expected to be revealed before the end of the year.