By Stephen E. Lipken

 

Village of Pelham Mayor Michael Volpe called the January 17th Board of Trustees Work Session to order to discuss, “Request for Proposals (RFP) and responses thereto” from three developers.

 

First, Art Collins, President, Collins Enterprises, Old Greenwich, CT said that they were addressing 7 goals that Mayor Volpe outlined by demolishing the parking lot on 4th and 5th Avenues, sell current Sparks Avenue Village Hall property and build commercial and rental housing there; upgrade and centralize Police, Fire and administrative services, retaining the Fire House; reconfigure Department of Public Works structure and reach out to the Pelham Art Center, creating an Arts District and expanding gallery space.

 

North Lot, between 5th, 4th, 3rd and Lincoln Avenue would incorporate 10,000 square feet of retail space, housing along 4th Avenue with underground parking and 120 rental apartments.

 

Collins stated that the tax revenue for this project is estimated to be over $1.5 million, more that offsetting the cost for the projected total additional school children to be 5 to 8.

Average rent for 5th Avenue units would be $3778; Sparks Avenue, $3300 with 5% affordable housing on 5th Avenue site and close to 14,000 square feet of commercial space between the two properties.

 

Second, Patrick Normoyle, Pelham House LLC stated that they would acquire the Capital One Bank site, developing a Consolidated Municipal Services Center to house a new Fire House, Police Station and Village Hall.

 

Normoyle introduced architect Keith Pitocchi, who outlined a proposal for a mixed-use building located on the site of the current Fire Station and Village parking lots near the Pelham Art Center, featuring 115 luxury residential units consisting of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedrooms; 3-bedroom “Maisonettes” along Third Street and six affordable units. There would be 9000 sq ft of commercial space, along with 213 parking space, of which 98 would be municipal parking.

 

Finally, Joseph Forgione, owner, JMF Properties described a municipal center on Sparks Avenue, set back from the road, putting a municipal building behind current Village Hall after moving DPW garage, consolidating Police and Fire Departments.

 

A 2,500 square-feet ground level retail unit at corner of Fifth Avenue and Third Street with wrap around 4-story residential building containing 140 dwellings and 216 parking spaces is also planned.