Written by Carol P. Bartold

Oct. 8, 2014: Delays in beginning work on the long-awaited Kensington Road condominium development project, originally planned to begin in June, then July, then September, may finally be overcome in October, according to Neil DeLuca, spokesman for the Gateway Development Group, Inc., developers of the project.

The latest obstacle, the discovery of a six-inch water main that runs underneath the property and is owned by United Water New Rochelle, posed one more delay in the beginning of excavation of the site to accommodate a 300-space parking garage. "For the longest time we couldn’t get United Water to agree to allow us to cut and cap the pipe," DeLuca said.

DeLuca noted that the site's former developer had obtained permission to cut and cap the pipe but that "we just couldn't get United Water to focus."

With the expiration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Brownfield Cleanup Program set for December 31, 2015, DeLuca said that the developers were worried about the delays that might jeopardize the tax benefits the Brownfield program affords for private-sector cleanup of contaminated sites such as the Kensington Road parcel. Plans call for the removal of approximately 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, another 10,000 cubic yards of uncontaminated soil, and 10,000 cubic yards of rock.

"We obviously can't clean up the site with a six-inch water main right in the middle of it," DeLuca said. He added that Gateway had not anticipated delays pushing the start of construction close to the expiration of the Brownfield Cleanup Program. "When we presented our numbers to the village, it was assuming we could get tax credits," he said.

DeLuca reported that, with the help of Mayor Mary Marvin and Village Administrator Jim Palmer, United Water New Rochelle has agreed to allow Gateway to cut and cap the pipe. DeLuca stated that Gateway must still work out details with United Water New Rochelle about improvements and services for the developed site but that the agreement obtained with the help of village officials will allow Gateway to proceed with excavation.

Gateway also expects to obtain a license agreement from Metro-North Railroad that will allow the developer to proceed with drainage work close to the railroad tracks, as well as install a road on the parcel's north end allowing the railroad access to its switching equipment. "We think we've worked out all the issues," DeLuca said. "Everything looks in order."

Because blasting to remove rock from the site will be done close to the Metro-North tracks, Gateway must obtain a special permit from the railroad to allow blasting. The developer will perform a test blast that follows New York State protocols to ensure that actual excavation blasting will not compromise the integrity of the tracks or track beds.

DeLuca anticipates the test blast to take place on a Saturday during an off-peak traffic time for Metro-North since seismographic equipment must be installed on the tracks to collect and measure data. He added that the railroad will also have inspectors physically examine the tracks after the test blast.

"The blast is minimal," DeLuca said. "It sounds like a clap of thunder." He explained that the electronically controlled blast will not generate seismic activity more than a few feet from the spot of the blast itself. He stated that if the test blast goes exactly as planned, Metro-North Railroad should issue the permit.

DeLuca explained that Gateway plans to blast rock to remove it from the Kensington Road site rather than hammer it out since blasting will last for a month to six weeks, whereas hammering would last for four to five months and create more noise and more dust.

"We're all excited," DeLuca said. "We think all the hurdles have been overcome. It's a big job and everything has to be right."

Construction of the Kensington Road condominium development is expected to take two years, with an anticipated ten weeks for soil removal, eight weeks for rock removal, six months to construct the parking garage, and a year for condominium construction.

Pictured here: The Kensington Road development site as of September of 2014.

Photo by N. Bower