At first glance, downtown White Plains would seem to be a tale of two cities ”“ a place of bars, tattoo parlors and convenience stores and a community of upscale eateries, malls and residential hotels.

But that”™s not how Rick Ammirato sees it:
“I like to think of it as something for everyone in the city, a retail mix for every demographic and all within walking distance.”

He should know. As executive director of the White Plains Business Improvement District (BID), he presides over 145 properties with approximately 400 corporate and retail tenants in an area anchored by the “T” of Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street and bordered by Barker Avenue to the north; Carhart Avenue and Rutherford Street to the south; North and South Broadway to the east; and Court Street and parts of MLK Boulevard to the west.

As in virtually every municipality in the country, the White Plains BID has been challenged of late. The retail vacancy rate has risen from 7 to 11.5 percent, with seven storefronts alone sitting empty on the stretch of Mamaroneck Avenue between Mitchell Place and Main Street. The corporate vacancy rate has gone from 10 to 16 percent.

“We lost some large retail chains, which are more receptive to changes in the economic climate,” Ammirato says of Borders Books & Music, Circuit City and Fortunoff. (Filene”™s Basement left in a lease dispute.)

Still, these are relatively good vacancy numbers, says Ammirato, who is buoyed by what he perceives to be the pendulum swinging again.

“What we are seeing are consumers coming back,” he says. “People are more comfortable with the Dow 11,000 than the Dow 8,500.”

Having more customers means more businesses are willing to take a calculated risk. Among those that have opened recently on Mamaroneck Avenue are an Apogee Pilates & Wellness Center; Haiku Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, Meme”™s Bakery CafÃ© and the restaurants Porter House and Ron Blacks. Another eatery, Impulse Hibachi, will be coming soon to Mamaroneck Avenue, while a Shop Rite will open in Filene”™s old locale in City Center in the next four or five months, Ammirato says.

“Are we out of the woods yet? No,” he says. “Can we see through the trees? Yes. We”™re on the right trajectory.”

The restaurants and kinds of stores that have come into the BID reflect the public”™s greater appetite for what Ammirato calls “lifestyle businesses” ”“ gyms and food places. High-end boutiques figure much less in the equation, partly because of their strong presence in The Westchester, a tony neighboring mall.

Whatever the types of businesses, they are sure to benefit from a program ”“ the first of its kind in New York state ”“ that enables patrons to feed parking meters at five municipal garages with a touch of their cell phones. Patrons can register online at paybyphone.com or by calling 888-450-PARK to access meters at the Waller Maple Parking Lot, the Lyon Place Parking Lot, the Chester Maple Garage, the Hamilton Main Garage and the Trans Center Garage.

“This will enhance the experience of people who come here,” Mayor Adam T. Bradley said in an April 29 press conference at the Waller Maple lot.

Though no one brought up the subject, the 800-pound gorilla in the room ”“ or rather, the parking lot ”“ was the scandal whirling around the mayor, who”™s been charged with domestic abuse, witness tampering, criminal contempt and harassment.

Despite this, Ammirato says White Plains business should not be adversely affected:
“What people come here for is the center of business, government and commerce.”
And yet, he and others say White Plains has the potential to be even more ”“ a cultural destination.

Janet T. Langsam ”“ executive director of ArtsWestchester, formerly the Westchester Arts Council ”“ is working with city officials and two architects in the Arts Exchange, ArtsWestchester”™s Mamaroneck Avenue home, to turn the area of the avenue and Main Street between Martine Avenue and North Broadway into an artists”™ district. It would encompass ArtsWestchester; Downtown Music at Grace, the weekly lunchtime concert series at Grace Church; The Play Group Theatre; and the White Plains Performing Arts Center.

“The question is how can we work together so we can build audiences and restaurant traffic,” Langsam says. “The arts and food are such a natural alliance.”

To that end, ArtsWestchester will hold its 11th annual ArtsBash and Open Studios on May 14, a preview party for the arts council”™s “AstrACTION” exhibit that features food from such White Plains spots as 42, BLT Steak and the Crowne Plaza. (See sidebar.)

The arts council has also published a booklet, “The Story of the Arts Exchange” ($5, artswestchester.org) to draw attention to the architecture of that building, formerly the People”™s National Bank, and other notable White Plains structures like the Bar Building and the Michaelian Office Building.

“We”™re drawing attention to downtown and its unique features,” she says. “Many of the buildings are not protected. Preservation and reuse are important elements of what makes a city an interesting place to visit.”

ArtsBash marks 11 years

ArtsWestchester holds its 11th annual ArtsBash and Open Studios event from 6 to 9 p.m. May 14. At that time, attendees can tour artists”™ studios in the Arts Exchange building and see “AbstrACTION,” which explores the process of contemporary art. Tickets are $500 for a patron (permits four to attend the exhibit and reception); $250 for a supporter (allows two to do the same) and $65 for a single admission.

The artists”™ studios will also be open noon-5 p.m. May 15. The exhibit runs through Aug. 14. For ArtsBash tickets, contact Ann Fabrizio at 428-4220, ext. 224.