UPDATE -- Residents Speak Out About Development in Yonkers

( YONKERS, New York) - Last evening, June 28, developer Struever Fidelco Cappelli hosted a community meeting on proposed projects in downtown Yonkers. We're grateful that they offered this forum for public input, and we're encouraged by the strong turnout of more than 150 people, including several local officials. Those attending not only represented a broad cross-section of the city but were very knowledgeable and articulate. They forcefully shared their visions for Yonkers.

WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT ON KEY ISSUES

Among the opinions expressed these were repeated often:

• High-density development has no place on the Yonkers waterfront.
• New waterfront development must be similar in character and scale to the existing downtown.
• 30 percent of area should be preserved as open space, including green space to protect the Hudson from storm water run-off.
• Yonkers is a small city that does not need a soaring riverfront skyline.
• Unobstructed views of the Palisades are important to residents, as are places where people can enjoy the river.
• There is support for the "daylighting" (uncovering a section of river paved over decades ago) of the Saw Mill River and a desire to see a public esplanade along the river extended throughout the community.
• There was a call for increased public participation in the entire planning process.

PROGRESS IS BEING MADE -- MORE TO DO

Joseph Apicella, a high-ranking representative of Struever Fidelco Cappelli, made an important statement during the evening. He indicated that constructing a 30-story-tall tower -- part of the developer's waterfront plan -- would not be pursued if the public did not want it. At this meeting residents spoke out loud and clear against tall buildings.

The developer will be holding another community meeting in August.