Combination school and apartment plan under review in Irvington

The entity DKR9 LLC/Varma RE Development of Morristown, New Jersey, has proposed redeveloping a parcel at 76 North Broadway in Irvington to include a school and 57 apartments. The parcel covers approximately four acres and has been occupied by the Maxon Corporation. A plan from a different developer to construct a complex with 65 affordable apartments on the site previously had been talked about but was dropped in 2022.

According to the Tarrytown-based law firm Silverberg Zalantis LLC, the developer proposes to have an outlet of Primrose Schools on the site. Primrose is a national system of accredited private preschools, specializing in early childhood education and care. Primrose was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Atlanta. The school would have 17 classrooms for 180 students in a building that also would have apartments.

There would be 54 apartments divided among one-bedroom and two-bedroom units in two buildings, the “north building” and the “south building.” An existing small building on the site would will have three residential units. Five of the apartments would be priced to be in the moderate category and six would be affordable housing. A total of 119 parking spaces are proposed to be provided.

An existing approximately 13,000-square-feet building at the site that had been a single-family residence and had been converted into an office building would be repurposed as part of the development.

After hearing feedback from Irvington officials and members of the public, the developer revised its plan to eliminate vehicular access to the site from Strawberry Lane. A sidewalk that had been proposed for North Broadway was removed allowing the existing stone wall at the property line to be maintained. It also eliminated a proposed pond that would have been built close to the North Broadway entrance and exit points.

Architect Peter Gaito of Peter F. Gaito & Associates in White Plains said that underground parking would provide convenient access to both the school and residential aspects of the development. He said a driveway passing in front of the building with the school would have a section for loading and unloading of children attending the school.

According to Peter Gregory of the land use firm DTS Provident approximately 56 trees would be removed to accommodate the new development. He said some retaining walls were eliminated from the original plans. He said that a study showed that Irvington’ fire trucks would have no trouble maneuvering at the site.

Attorney Katherine Zalantis said that the developer would be providing an amenity for neighbors of the property in the form of a walking area that would be open to the public. She said that the public area would be distinguished from the rest of the property by landscaping rather than fencing. She said that a landscaping plan was being prepared for submission to the village.