New plan for Echo Bay

City officials in New Rochelle will continue to work with a mixed-use developer seeking approval this year of scaled-down plans for waterfront apartments and retail shops on Echo Bay.

Forest City Residential Group Inc., a division of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, returned to New Rochelle City Hall this spring with a redevelopment plan adjusted to the changed market realities since Forest City began the Echo Bay project in 2007.

Focused on the city”™s public works yard, which the developer would demolish, the approximately 11-acre project would include 200 to 300 residential rental units and 25,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet of  retail space fronting on East Main Street. About five acres of redeveloped land would be dedicated to public use and activity. The developer hopes to break ground on the project in 2014.

The New Rochelle City Council this month approved a revised memorandum of understanding with Forest City Residential that allows the developer to begin a required state environmental quality review of the project with city agencies. The agreement expires in six months.

The city in the next month will issue a request for proposals for the adaptive reuse of the Armory building that adjoins the proposed development site.