White Plains moves ahead with East Post Road property condemnations

The White Plains Urban Renewal Agency has moved forward with its plans to acquire up to 12 privately owned parcels of real estate on East Post Road and a 13th parcel on South Lexington Avenue owned by the White Plains Housing Authority.

white plains eminent domain — Burke & McCowen hardware store, now closed, occupied one the buildings on East Post Road in the area being focused on by the WPURA. The store had been in the city for more than 90 years. Photo by Bob Rozycki

The four members of the agency voted unanimously to approve a series of resolutions to acquire three of the parcels. The members also voted to issue $9.8 million in notes to cover the costs involved with the initial acquisitions.

On Dec. 5, WPURA voted to begin condemnation proceedings against the properties using eminent domain laws.

The East Post Road parcels were identified as numbers 1-3, 2-4, 60, 42, 34, 26-28, 22-24, 18-20, 14-16 and 12. The South Lexington Avenue property was identified as having street addresses of 184-188 and 190-192. The properties are diagonally across from White Plains Hospital.

The properties cover approximately 4.18 acres and are a mix of residential and commercial uses.

The agency has not announced a specific project or development plans for the properties, but has promoted the general concept that whatever happens there will be in the public interest.

The agency approved a document regarding the potential acquisition of the properties that said the sites were currently underutilized and WPURA”™s acquisition would “facilitate and promote the productive use of the property.” The resolution authorizing the initial $9.8 million in notes stated that “the project has a probable usefulness of fifty years.”

The WPURA members voted to approve paying $1.5 million to 26-28 E. Post LLC Inc. to acquire its property at 26-28 E. Post Road. According to documents, the owner agreed to the price.

WPURA also approved resolutions to acquire a parcel owned by Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC at 60 E. Post Road for a price of $2.9 million.

The third parcel, which is owned by 42-44 E. Post Rd. LLC and located at 42 E. Post Road, will be acquired for $5.2 million. The owners had challenged WPURA”™s condemnation in New York State Supreme Court in Westchester County but have now agreed to withdraw the court action and enter into a settlement agreement.