After the apparent defeat of Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis in a Democratic primary, the future of three proposed plans to remake the city”™s downtown is in flux.
Davis had solicited proposals from developers to remake the neighborhood with residential, retail and commercial space, along with a possible hotel and convention center, which had been talked about for many years.
In July, three developers, Leyland Alliance L.L.C., Mountco Development Corp. and Mount Vernon Renaissance L.L.C. submitted proposals to redevelop the site.
The three have presented the various proposals at public meetings over the last several months. All of the developers”™ plans call for a mixed-use project around the area of the train station, with retail, commercial and office components.
But with Davis not being in office next year a strong possibility ”“ he trailed Young 4,090 to 3,704 votes in the latest Democratic primary vote tally and had not announced by press time last week if he would run in the general election on another party line ”“ the future of the three proposals is in question.
“I do feel that the proposals have merit,” said John Madeo, vice president of development for Mountco.
He said regardless of who is the mayor of Mount Vernon on the first of next year, “all the proposals are worthy of being considered.”
Unless Davis decides to enter the race on another party line, Young will face Republican Janet Whitney Snyder in the general election. Democrats outnumber their GOP counterparts by about a 6-1 ratio in the city.
Madeo said Mouncto had not yet spoken to either Young or Davis since the primary, and is awaiting further instruction. Currently, no additional public forums on the proposals are scheduled.
Young did not return phone calls for comment on the subject.
Snyder said as mayor, she would still consider the three current proposals, but also would open up the process to include more proposals.
“What I would do as mayor is encourage all developers to submit a letter of interest, plus continue a dialogue with those who have already submitted,” she said.
Snyder said she was concerned the proposals don”™t seem to address how they would be funded.
“I would like to nail down budgets, and find out where the money is coming from,” she said. “I worry about schedule and budget, those aspects are lacking in depth from the current proposals. I know you can”™t expect all the details to be ironed out at this point, but there should be some basis of how it”™s going to be financed.”
Davis had previously proposed some kind of public-private partnership to fund whichever project is chosen.
Snyder said she agrees that redevelopment in that area would be good for the city.
Â
“This is a city that should not be in the shape it is; it needs someone to give it a kick, and who has the enthusiasm and momentum to get it going,” she said.
Leyland”™s proposal would be based on the planning model called “new urbanism” which stresses vibrant, mixed-use city centers.
Leyland”™s proposal would stress the importance of retail stores, particularly “mom-and-pop” stores, on the street level.
Leyland also plans to build a public park that would be created in an area above the train tracks and stresses the importance of creating an arts community.
Leyland is working with Newburgh on a similar redevelopment plan for that city”™s waterfront.
Both Mountco and Mount Vernon Renaissance have experience building in the Mount Vernon area.
Under Mountco”™s proposal, the developer would work with Grace Community Development Corp. formed by community church Grace Baptist Church  and Centerline Capital Group, an investment firm.
Madeo said Mountco”™s goal would be “to integrate the site with the rest of the downtown area.”
One example of this would be to create walkways to the train station, Gramatan Avenue and nearby parking garages, he said.
“It would be creating new space for the city of Mount Vernon,” Madeo said.
Madeo said building a new public library and YMCA could also be a part of a civic component of the project.
Â
Â
Â
