Politics & Government

No Go for New Rochelle's Echo Bay Proposal

The City Council chose to terminate the redevelopment project as proposed by Forest City.

A project to bring 285 housing unit, 25,000 square feet of retail and a a waterfront park to Echo Bay is officially over.

The New Rochelle City Council voted 6-1 to deny the authorization of a land disposition agreement with Forest City Residential Group Inc. that would have allowed them to redevelop the current City Yard and a portion of the Armory parcel.

The outcome was not unexpected.

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Mayor Noam Bramson said Friday he fully expected the council to put a halt to the development process.

That didn't lessen his disappointment, as he cast the sole vote for allowing the agreement with Forest City to continue.

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"If we wait for an ideal project, the chances are we will wait forever," Bramson said. "And insisting on just exactly the right form of change with no tradeoffs or compromises succeeds only in cementing the status quo."

Other council members brought up the 2007 development proposal for Echo Bay—conceived before the drastic economic downturn in 2008—that would have brought 750 residential units, 100 condos, a 300-room hotel and more retail space to a 26-acre parcel.

Councilman Albert Tarantino, R-District 2, said he was excited about the larger proposal.

He said he was "quite offended" by the latest, "watered down version" and "needed to do something to see that the city's residents were not victims of a bait and switch."

Councilman Jared Rice, D-District 3, was disappointed in the outcome for several reasons.

"We were never able to discuss the cost benefit analysis, as to the $16 million-plus the city would be receiving," he said.

Rice was also concerned about the way the council came to the vote without discussing the project fully, particularly the City Yard, which is proposed to be moved to a location on Beechwood Avenue.

"To get to this point today," he said, "we are voting on it, but not talking about it."

Bramson said he hoped the council in the future will conduct public debate on issues "as though our children were watching."

He said honest debate and discussion should be welcomed, including disagreements.

"But how we express those disagreements sends a larger message to the larger world," Bramson said, "including potential investors, about who we are and how we work. Especially when it comes to big choices."

He also said he had his chance to advance a proposal and that what happens next with the Echo Bay property is now up to his colleagues.

"I am looking forward to hearing your suggestions," Bramson said.


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