Politics & Government

New Rochelle Mayor: Echo Bay Project Likely to Not Proceed

The project was supposed to enhance the waterfront of New Rochelle.

Mayor Noam Bramson said he fully expects the New Rochelle City Council to stop the Echo Bay development process at a special meeting Tuesday, November 26.

He said that it was clear to him that a majority on the council is opposed to the Forest City Residential project and he expects the council to set aside the terms of the development agreement.

"As a supporter of the project, I am, naturally, disappointed," he said. "But New Rochelle remains fully committed to improving our waterfront and downtown, and it’s our job now to focus on the future."

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"The debate surrounding Echo Bay was often passionate and intense," Bramson said. "Let’s now work together to harness that energy on behalf of the sustainable growth and vitality of the city we love and share."

At the City Council meeting Nov. 19, Councilman Albert Tarantino said he wanted to change from tabling any discussion of Echo Bay from January 2014 to the budget meeting November 26.

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Bramson said the council, at that meeting, can choose to discuss the development and it can take any action on it, including voting not to continue any relationship with Forest City in regard to Echo Bay.

Forest City had hoped to build 285 residential rental apartments, 25,000 square feet of retail space and two levels of structured parking with 430 spaces.

Part of the deal was to contribute some funding to the relocation and construction of a new Department of Public Works City Yard on Beechwood Avenue.


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