New Multi-Use Development Approved for Former Border’s Books Site
After many years of vacancy, the Westchester Pavilion at 60 South Broadway, home of the former Borders Books, will be torn down and a new multi-use development with several levels of rental apartments, retail stores and restaurants will be constructed on the corner of South Broadway and Maple Avenue.
The resolution voted on by the White Plains Council at their Feb. 1 meeting included Site Plan approval for the full development and Special Permit approval for six outdoor dining locations.
The proposed redevelopment will be approximately 856,499 square feet, consisting of 707 multi-family units, 43 units (three studios, 22 one-bedrooms, 15 two-bedrooms and three three-bedrooms) of which will be affordable at 60 percent of Westchester County’s median family income, within two 24-story buildings, with a maximum height of 280 feet and located on top of approximately 93,840 square feet of street level accessible commercial use, including approximately 77,340 square feet of retail and 16,500 square feet of restaurant, with 1800 square feet of outdoor dining, and a four level below grade parking garage with approximately 1,037 parking spaces.
Also part of this project and a first for White Plains is a recreation and parks impact fee that will be assessed for the 707 residential units on a per residential unit basis, amounting to a total of $2.23 million to be paid by the applicant to the city in three installments to be used exclusively to enhance existing city parks and playgrounds or create new ones.
Expressing excitement for the development, Councilwoman Nadine Hunt-Robinson said she wanted to see women and minority-owned businesses involved in the project as it was at its “zero point” stage of development. To do this the Councilwoman proposed developing a Community Benefit Plan.
As design progresses, Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona said she would like to see detailed plans for the windscreens proposed to protect pedestrians and customers at the outdoor restaurants. Milagros also commented that with landscaping being provided to make the dining experience at the corner of Maple and South Broadway more desirable, consideration needed to be given to drivers’ ability to see oncoming traffic at the busy corner.
Another consideration was the developing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan with a proposed route over the Tappan Zee Bridge to I-287 and into White Plains at this same corner that would provide one lane for busses – although that plan was in the very early stages and not part of the current bridge reconstruction.
