A state Supreme Court judge has rejected a petition by three Mount Vernon residents to overturn city officials”™ approval of a mixed-use redevelopment project in the city”™s downtown Gramatan Avenue corridor.
The residents, represented by White Plains attorney Albert J. Pirro, claimed the Mount Vernon planning board and city council did not take a hard look at the three-phase, estimated $120 million housing and retail development proposed by Atlantic Development Group LLC and asked the court to annul project approvals. But Supreme Court Justice Susan Cacace recently ruled the boards acted in a “deliberate and responsible manner,” noting they approved the project after more than a year of review and revision.
Lack of financing has stalled the start of construction on Atlantic”™s first apartment building, 159 units of affordable housing with 20,000 square feet of retail space at 203 Gramatan Ave. That $60 million development will be followed by construction of an $18 million, 60-unit senior housing building at 144 Crary Ave. The company later expects to build a 131-unit market-rate condominium tower at 30 Oakley Ave.
Julie Halpin, spokeswoman for Atlantic Development, said the developer still was hopeful the Westchester County Board of Legislators will approve approximately $4.08 million in county funding expected for the project. County Executive Robert P. Astorino last summer told city and Atlantic officials the project was not cost-efficient and housing funds are not available despite assurances from the previous county administration of Andrew J. Spano.
The Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency this month approved payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, with Atlantic Development for its two affordable-housing projects. The company also will receive construction sales tax and mortgage recording tax exemptions.
