Luxury rentals planned for Ossining

Construction is set to begin on 168 luxury rental apartments in Ossining.

The apartments, owned and operated by AvalonBay Communities Inc., a residential real estate company with a regional office in Shelton, Conn., will be built at 217 N. Highland Ave., on the site of an old office building that housed chemical company BASF.

The site will also make use of the Kane House, a historic 1843 mansion on the property. AvalonBay will renovate the mansion, using it as a leasing center and community center, while also building a pool, a children”™s playground and a fitness center.

AvalonBay hopes to have the first apartments completed by February 2014.

“We have a lot of experience building in Westchester,” said Todd Nicotra, a senior development manager with AvalonBay. “It”™s a great market. The site itself is just terrific. It”™s got great visibility with views of the Hudson River. The village of Ossining has been very supportive throughout the application process.”

One of Ossining”™s requirements was that AvalonBay maintain the Kane House, keeping and utilizing the historic three-story building. The Old Croton Aqueduct state park runs through the site and AvalonBay will be creating eight acres of trails.

The development will be a mix of one- to three-bedroom units, and Nicotra anticipates rent starting at $1,700 a month. Ten percent of the housing will be set aside as affordable housing. There are no age restrictions on the housing. In addition, 14,000 square feet of office space will be set aside in an additional building.

Despite the economic recession, Nicotra said he thinks that there remains a strong pool of renters in the Northeast, particularly in Westchester.

“We think it”™s a great market.”

AvalonBay recently completed a 440-unit apartment project in Elmsford and has also done apartments in White Plains, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle.