Friday, December 12, 2008

WESTHAB WORKFORCE HOUSING TO BE VOTED ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 pm


THE Greenburgh Town Board will be voting on the WESTHAB zoning this Thursday at 8 PM at Town Hall. The proposal: workforce (not homeless) housing.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Their logo does not belong on this cite. OH wait, it does, Paul is their representative.

Anonymous said...

free advertisement thats great. Mark maybe this is something you can help paul look into. You can get little ads on the page and the town can get paid for the amount of times someone clicks on it.

Anonymous said...

The notion that this is "workforce housing" is baloney. This is a high density, low income housing project that doesn't belong on such a tiny parcel of land in a heavily trafficked moderate income neighborhood. Feiner should be ashamed of himself for marketing this proposal to the media as "workforce" housing when it is not "workforce" housing at all that awaits the Fulton Park neighborhood. Every resident of unincorporated Greenburgh should take heed: What Feiner is doing to Fulton Park he and his cronies on the Town Board can and will do to your neighborhoods too.

Anonymous said...

Paul if you are 4 this you just lost 1 vote ..... Mine

Anonymous said...

This is another one of Paul's slaps in the face to what he views as a powerless public. He no longer feels it necessary to even pretend that he cares about the public or respect the laws he swore to uphold. The WESTHAB logo he is of course free to display on this, his own blog. However, that he has decided to display it here while knowing what the response will be, is symptomatic of an ego that has overtaken common sense. In the past he was recognized to possess very sensitive politicial antennae but now he is so full of himself that he goes out of his way to flaunt his power. That is what the WESTHAB logo is about. There was no need to do this other than to display his contempt for the Fulton Park residents. To the public who labored so hard to preserve the diminishing protections of existing Town codes, Mr. Feiner says to you: drop dead. In fact, since the "public hearings" are closed, Mr. Feiner wants you to be aware that you can attend the Town Board meeting to watch the Town Board vote in favor of WESTHAB and against residents. And he'll even have another pre-game show so you can stick around later than necessary while waiting to be screwed.

Interestingly enough, most dictators are short of stature which gave rise the phrase "getting too big for your britches". Mr. Feiner apparently is proud to be a member of this club.

Anonymous said...

Below are the directors of Westhab. I suggest no one do business with them.

Chairman
Thomas W. Brock

President
Robert L. Miller

Vice Chairman
The Rev. John P. Duffell

Secretary
Eugene F. Conroy

Treasurer
Kimberlie A. Jacobs

Directors
Nancy Argento
Jason Blake
William R. Frey
Michael L. Margulies
Paul S. Norton
Susan Wayne
Charles L. Weinberg (Chairman Emeritus)
Nicholas R. Wolff
_________
Founding members:
August Gold (d.)
Edward Oliver, Jr. (ret.)

Anonymous said...

Sorry Paul this should not be voted on at this time.
If you all vote yes on this project that has a stink to it you all will be looking for other positions comes election.

How can you pass on something that the whole town of Greenburgh is against.
Maybe if we would have said that we were all for it you all would have voted it down.

It seems that if the public speaks in favor you all go against but where we are against you vote in favor.

This was the method used by the previous board if Feiner said yes the board said no. Well I must say the malady rubbed off on all of you.

Please rethink the harm that you are doing not only to the Fulton park residents but this will harm the entire town.

Wake up guys time is running out.
Three will go first then two.
Here we thought that we had a good marriage but it has turned out to be a bigger disaster than we had before .
Now we have five people voting against the public .

Anonymous said...

Didn't someone criticize Paul Wednesday for not advertising a discussion with Robert Sanborn in advance of the discussion. Agree or disagree with Paul, at least he is trying to keep us informed.

Anonymous said...

Some people in Fulton Park are not as upse with the housing. We understand that this will not be for homeless.

Anonymous said...

How do we apply for the apartments? This is very needed.

Anonymous said...

The NIMBYism here is disgusting. Certain people who keep giving misinformation claim this is housing for the homeless. The people who have looked at the proposal and not had a knee-jerk reaction know that housing that are kids can afford is good for Greenburgh and the Fulton Park neighborhood. Already certain agitators are using this good proposal to try to scare the people of Edgemont into forming a village. It is sad how narrow-minded and selfish people are. Don't let the rabblerousers intimidate you. Unless you prefer McMansions in your neighborhood, this is what Greenburgh needs.

Anonymous said...

Check out the location of Westhab. Staples, Verizon is a commercial area. What's the fuss all about?

Anonymous said...

This is not NYMBYism at all. This is creating a zone change for a single developer for a single undersize lot so that it can create a high density low income housing project. And yes, besides Staples and Verizon is a residential neighborhood with moderate income garden apartments and homes. This neighborhood would have welcomed "workforce housing" if it were within the zoning code because such housing would not be crammed into so small a space. If the town had a responsible affordable housing policy with a locally generated developer fund to subsidize these projects, there would be no need for a zoning change. White Plains has such a policy, and Yonkers has one that's just been proposed. But the town has no responsible affordable housing policy and no one on the town board willing to propose one. Instead, they are hell bent on destroying Fulton Park. And yes, if the Town Board can do this to Fulton Park, they can do it to other areas of unincorporated Greenburgh, including Edgemont. This is not a scare tactic. This is the truth.

Anonymous said...

This is NIMBY plain and simple. You people are just are hanging your reason of the moment on this zoning crap. You wouldn't want this place no matter what. Your motives are easy to see through.

Anonymous said...

Readers: Before you make up your mind take a drive to the workforce proposed site.
Staples is across the street. Deli Delicious is a few seconds away. Verizon is almost across from the location.
The location is NOT in a residential neighborhood. I don't understand the opposition at all.

Anonymous said...

10:40 is a Dumb Jackass!!

Anonymous said...

Who will live there is not the point but the distraction.

The issue remains that it is an undersized lot and the number of units sought is too many.

That WESTHAB asked for the moon seeking 40+ units and will settle for the stars by reducing their demands to the high 20s is not a compromise when the plot only supports under 20.

Whether the final occupants are wealthy or working class does not get around the fact that the developer wants to cram too many wealthy or too many working class or too many poor onto a too small parcel of land. Nor does whether there are nearby commercial structures have anything to do with building too many units on too small a plot.

Whatever is trotted out as a palliative sideshow still can't elude the underlying defect in the developer's argument: the plot is too small for the quantity of units desired.

That WESTHAB was likely advised that the "fix" was in and therefore it was willing to overpay for the land is a problem that doesn't and shouldn't concern the neighbors.

Too little land, too many units.
That is all that matters. Even were the NIMBY issue valid, which I don't believe it is, that itself provides no basis to change zoning code.

Whatever irrelevant issue WESTHAB and the Town Board bring to the pitcher's mound, they aren't entitled to the win when their "pitches" fall outside the strike zone.

Fastballs. change-ups, even knuckle balls must still be over the plate and nothing WESTHAB has thrown has come near.
And WESTHAB has done nothing to qualify to play in the big leagues. Send them back to the minors without any further waste of taxpayer's time.

Anonymous said...

Who will live there is not the point but the distraction.

The issue remains that it is an undersized lot and the number of units sought is too many.

That WESTHAB asked for the moon seeking 40+ units and will settle for the stars by reducing their demands to the high 20s is not a compromise when the plot only supports under 20.

Whether the final occupants are wealthy or working class does not get around the fact that the developer wants to cram too many wealthy or too many working class or too many poor onto a too small parcel of land. Nor does whether there are nearby commercial structures have anything to do with building too many units on too small a plot.

Whatever is trotted out as a palliative sideshow still can't elude the underlying defect in the developer's argument: the plot is too small for the quantity of units desired.

That WESTHAB was likely advised that the "fix" was in and therefore it was willing to overpay for the land is a problem that doesn't and shouldn't concern the neighbors.

Too little land, too many units.
That is all that matters. Even were the NIMBY issue valid, which I don't believe it is, that itself provides no basis to change zoning code.

Whatever irrelevant issue WESTHAB and the Town Board bring to the pitcher's mound, they aren't entitled to the win when their "pitches" fall outside the strike zone.

Fastballs. change-ups, even knuckle balls must still be over the plate and nothing WESTHAB has thrown has come near.
And WESTHAB has done nothing to qualify to play in the big leagues. Send them back to the minors without any further waste of taxpayer's time.

Anonymous said...

I wish I had the technologoy to tape Sheehan's statement at the meeting last week. He said the plot would not support the building that Westhab needed so the zoning had to be changed. Which means anyone the supervisor and his cronies like who buy a plot anywhere in unincorporated greenburgh will get a zoning change as they "need". Not that they should property zoned for their needs? But we have seen this before, with GHC -- they buy, the town rezones. It can happen anywhere.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that we the public if we want to build a house we have to have so much land as per the zoning laws But here comes Feiners friends who get a zoning change so they can build to serve their pockets.
Paul you and this famous board are playing with fire.
If you can change laws in the way that you are doing many of us that have a small lot along side of our homes had better get consideration with the new zoning change that you are going to pass AGAINST THE PUBLICS WISHES.

Marc Herman said...

"free advertisement thats great. Mark maybe this is something you can help paul look into. You can get little ads on the page and the town can get paid for the amount of times someone clicks on it."

I have previously looked into PPC (pay-per-click) and PPV (pay-per-view) advertising and have reviewed them, and have decided that the revenue generated is not worth the clutter and undesirable ads on the page, as well as the inconvenience to the user. The issue also arises that this is the Supervisor's blog, not a town property. Thus, I have decided to leave the page advertising-free on a free hosting service. However, thank you for your suggestion! I appreciate any feedback regarding the blog.

Anonymous said...

The owner of Deli Delicious stands to make a very big profit from the increase in his business if WestHab's zoning change goes through as expected. He is also one of Feiner's bigger campaign contributors. You can look him up under 22 1/2 Tarrytown Road Corporation. Pay to play is still at work here in Greenburgh, even with supposedly tough ethics laws.

ed krauss said...

A camel is a horse designed by a committee.

Westhab, is "workforce housing" defined by a self-serving, dysfunctional Greenburgh Town Board.

12/12 9:13 PM is a Feiner clone in DRAG.

The rest of those "FOR" the Westhab "10 pounds in a 1/4 pound bag" project are:

(1) written by a single hand, Feiner's,

(2) Don't live within miles of the site,

(3) Are, as the definition of "workforce housing" written (and not very well or convincingly) by staff member(s) of Westhab.

And, sadly, it makes no difference, THE FIX IS IN.

It's really a shame how power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts "FEINERLY."

And, make no mistake about it, whether he "fills his pockets from the Town coffers,"receives "campaign" contributions, or votes the way he has and will, i.e. Westhab, Feiner is corrupt!!!

Anonymous said...

Some people who complain are disgruntled guys/gals who had contracts with the town but lost them.

Anonymous said...

Hey 5:39, why do you deal with facts by name-calling and spurious and nonsensical accusations.

Anonymous said...

Wrong, Mr. Krauss.
I (9:13pm) am not Feiner nor his clone. I live within miles of the site -- actually a very short distance. Nor am I a staff member of Westhab.

Oh, and while I certainly don't agree with the inclusion of workforce housing, it is actually to the benefit of the people who live nearby. That definition pushes the minimum income level to a higher amount than the affordable housing definition.

Anonymous said...

6:43 --

Dont remember seeing you at the hearnings.

Anonymous said...

How would you know if I was at the hearings? Maybe I've been to some and watched others on cable.

Anonymous said...

Ok, dont remember hearing you speak. Ok, maybe you were the one woman who lived in a luxury develpment talking about the need for affordable housing. Easy to recommend when you live miles from it. And when she said talked about Greenburgh's young people not being able to afford to live here, as correctly noted this development would not be able to give preference to Greenburgh residents. Not with NYS financing. Wake up.

Anonymous said...

When the Waterwheel property is put up for sale, will it be sold for affordable housing (which gets a higher price) -- or will it be reserved for Ardsely Fireman? Dont kid yourself Ardsely, there will be a lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

i live in ardsley and wish the waterwheel had been sold to private developer asap - now the market has been shot to hell and the property will languish for many more years.

its important that the property be restored to the tax rolls of the village and the school district and perhaps the town.

Anonymous said...

If Feiner has his way he will give the property up for nothing.

He has no concern in making money for the town because he is not a manager and by the way I bet he can't even balance his own check book.

His motto is why make things easy for the public.

One can see how he is pushing for the project in FULTON PARK.
If you want something to get put on that property,just express your opinion for it and Feiner will vote it down.

We have reach a point that is with this board one must use reverse physicology [sorry if I spelled it wrong].

This was the method that the previous board used against Feiner so now we have to do the same with feiner and the board.
Say yes and they will say no.

Anonymous said...

Feiner is trying to curry favor with Jay Leon to give the property away at a bargain price for subsidized housing for firefightsers. All Leon can see is reduced village costs, not increased school costs and possible lawsuits to open up residence to all.

Anonymous said...

hate to break the news to you pal but the ardsley fire department services several sections of unincorporated greenburgh.

so arguably there is some merit to having the waterwheel property contain some workforce housing.

however, if the firefighter gets injured or quits - then what happens to the housing unit?

a better idea might be for the town and/or the village to offer workforce housing vouchers to subsidize firefighters.

Anonymous said...

6:39, it would be better for the fire district to issue vouchers. OK. Stop being moochers.

Anonymous said...

Paul,

Why don't you just tell the truth to the people. Andrea Stewart Cousins told you that if you won't do this, you won't receive any more grant money.

Anonymous said...

Oh well the truth starts to hit the blog.

Cousins has something to do with this westhab project from the start.
What is her take in this??
Why has she said that we would not receive any more funding if this was not done.
Well folks Feiner and the board are running scared.
We all felt that there was something as to why they the whole board was in favor of this project even though the public objected.
The truth has finally come to light.
I bet this project will be section eight if cousins has anything to hold over the Greenburgh residents.

Paul you and the rest of the board are nothing but whimps.
There is no money to be had by anyone according to our Governor, so why do you allow some johnny come lateley hold funding over your heads.

Where have the strong willed politicos gone???
We now have patsies who are dictated to.
Oh what a bad state of affairs.

Your answer to Cousins should have been go to hell my public says no and it will be no to westhab by me and hopefully by the rest of the board.
Shame on all of you.
You all should not be voted in for another term since you have no minds of your own to make decisions to listen to the needs of the public.

Anonymous said...

Who says that Andrea Cousins had anything to dowithWesthab? Maybe so, but I's like some evidence. There is a group of wise guys out there who start rumors by blog postings, and then people believe it and get angry. Show us the evidence.

Anonymous said...

You should ask the supervisor and his board.

Anonymous said...

Andrea Cousins has not received 1 dime for Greenburgh since she was elected. She has no power! She wanted change in Albany. Well we have change, we do not get grants anymore! Nick Spano use to bring back Millions of dollars to Our district, not Andrea!

WE NEED NICK SPANO BACK!

Anonymous said...

Right on we must bring Nick Spano back asap.

He did great things for Westchester where as Cousins has been occupying space.

Has she lived up to any of her promises concerning our town.
All the hulla baloo given by her at town hall was a big farce.
But if we know the way the supervisor thinks he will name something after Cousins stating that she was a great person and did great things for Greenburgh.
Pray tell just tell us one thing other than what is being mentioned now that she has something to do with Westhab..

Anonymous said...

Would having Nick Spano have lowered my taxes by $1? If so, please give specifics, not generalities.

Anonymous said...

Nick would not hold something over Feiner's head.
If anything our dear supervisor is a persona ingratta for some time by many of the people in office.

there is only one person mentioned in the blog that insists that Westhab go ahead or else.
Is it rue we should ask Feiner and the board.
If it is true this person does not read the newspapers which state that there is no money to be funded.

If you change the zoning for this project you will open a big can of worms.
My neighbor has a lot and he too expects to have the zoning changed and if this happens many of us on this road will ask for the same.
We all have property behind our homes to build another home.
If Westhab gets the change we will expect the same.