From the Mayor: Preserving the Original Character and Beauty of Our Village
By Mary C. Marvin, Mayor, Village of Bronxville
Jun. 14, 2017: The Bronxville Historical Conservancy, in collaboration with Peter Gisolfi Associates, recently published an impressive and informative book titled Defining the Landscapes of Bronxville. It resulted from a two-year-plus research effort spearheaded by former Mayor Nancy Hand.
What began as an idea and then a document with a few maps turned into a beautiful 83-page book that examines the landscape and visual character of the village, yielding valuable information for preserving and enhancing our environment.
The Conservancy expanded its initial concentration on projects centering on art and architecture to include "whole place preservation" as a way of safeguarding our village. The close relationship between the natural landscape and the man-made environment has given Bronxville its unique identity and the resulting need to exercise stewardship in preserving the whole for future generations.
The overarching question became: Can we learn how to protect the best of Bronxville by understanding how the natural features influenced the shaping of the man-made landscape?
The book is divided into four sections, starting with an investigation of the natural features of Bronxville, including geology, soil, slopes, vegetation, topography, and physiography. Section two provides an analysis of the village's cultural landscape and the man-made elements introduced over the years, including patterns of development, neighborhood and building chronology, land use, and zoning. This is followed by a focus on the four specific landscapes in the village: The Valley, the Hillside, the Hilltop, and the Plateau. Finally, the concluding section suggests some concrete steps that can preserve the village for future generations.
The appendix has an extensive description with photos of the specific trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses that are native to Bronxville, along with an equally important list of invasive vegetation, most of which is now banned in New York State.
The book has already proved beneficial in the village's planning process and would be equally beneficial to landscape architects, gardeners, and residents.
As an illustration, did you know that taking down one large canopy tree removes the daily oxygen supply of four people? Are you aware that the Norway Maple is now banned in New York State?
Would you like to learn about the four different natural landscapes in Bronxville and the unique characteristics of each one? Would you be interested in knowing what native species of trees, plants, and shrubs would be best to plant on your property and also which ones are invasive or now prohibited in New York State? Would you like to see maps showing the type of soil in various neighborhoods of the village or one that shows the chronology of the development of those neighborhoods? If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then this natural resources study is a book you will want to own.
As an example, the village's original forest had a canopy layer composed mostly of hardwoods, an understory layer of familiar smaller trees, such as birches, dogwoods, and cherries, a shrub layer, and beneath that a ground cover or herbaceous layer that maintained a pervious surface that absorbed rainwater into the soil and reduced runoff. It is possible to approximate again that original configuration in the residential portions of the village.
The two biggest challenges to that occurring are the overuse of ornamental plantings such as Colorado Blue Spruce and the desire for green lawns surrounding our houses. Inspired by early British colonists, the lawn is not native to our environment and requires extraordinary maintenance to survive. If we were to reduce the areas of open lawn and replace portions of such with native groundcover and trees, the soil would be significantly more pervious.
If we were to plant a native canopy tree when one is lost or taken down, we would help preserve the original character and beauty of the village as well as aid the environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide and release oxygen into the air.
In essence, this book offers a well-researched guide to planting and preservation in our village. It is available for sale at village hall and Womrath Bookshop at the publishing cost of $30. This is less than the cost of one misplanted bush!
Financial & Legal Assistance Directory
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
Our firm provides outstanding service to our clients because of our dedication to the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness, and quality.
Listed as one of the 10 largest firms by The Westchester Business Journal, we serve clients throughout the tri-state area. By combining our expertise, experience, and
the energy of our staff, each client receives close, personal and professional attention.
Our high standards, service, and specialized staff spell the difference between our outstanding performance and other firms. We make sure that every client
is served by the expertise of our whole firm.
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
55 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-961-1200
914-961-1715 (Fax)
Website: www.hymescpa.com
Baillie & Hershman
44 Pondfield Road, Suite - 12
Bronxville, N.Y. 10708
Office: 914-337-6300
Matthew W. Kerner, ESQ.
Direct Dial: 914-337-6569
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 914-337-6913
Suzanne M. Bloomer, Esq.
Direct Dial: 914-337-0142
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Baillie & Hershman provides comprehensive Real Estate legal services for buyers, sellers, current owners, real estate agents and lenders. We also handle estate planning, including the drafting of wills.
Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Griffin, Googan, Sulzer & Horgan, R.C.
Located in Bronxville, New York, Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C. takes great pride in providing our clients with comprehensive, high quality legal services in a responsive manner. The firm concentrates its practice in real estate law with a primary focus on issues relating to real estate tax litigation (also known as tax certiorari), real estate transactions, valuation law, real property taxation and tax planning and real property tax exemption matters throughout New York State.
The firm serves as general counsel for several local cooperatives and represents clients in various issues relating to wills, trusts and estate planning.
51 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 961-1300
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nobile, Magarian & DiSalvo LLP
We are hardworking and dedicated attorneys who, combined, have more than 150 years of experience delivering quality legal advice. Our cutting edge is our ability to enter both the conference room and the courtroom with strength. Our law firm provides legal representation and counsel for both individual and business clients on issues related to estate planning and administration, real estate law, litigation, and business law. Our practice areas include: Commercial Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts, Estate Administration, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, Not For Profits, and Employment Law.
111 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-6300
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto, LLP
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto is dedicated to providing businesses and individuals with exceptional legal services customized to each client's needs and objectives. Practice areas include litigation, real estate, not for profit, wills and estate planning, land use and zoning, business and corporate, cooperative and condominium and real estate tax assessment litigation.
The Hudson Valley Bank Building
35 East Grassy Sprain Road, Suite 400
Yonkers, New York 10710
914-779-1100
Aegis Capital
Steve brings 40 years of investing experience to his role as Senior Managing Director at Aegis Capital Corp., a prominent national securities firm.
Allstate
Auto, Home, Business and Life Insurance
Exclusive Agents:
Debbie M. Stockton
George L. Petronella Jr.
108 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-961-7200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://agent.allstate.com/DSTOCKTON2/Welcome/
John L. Vorbach Company, Inc. Insurance Brokers
Manhattan Media & Technology Center
65 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10006
212-294-4900 x 112
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.vorbach.com
MDIC Investment Company
Mutual Funds, Stocks & Bonds, Financial & Estate Planning, Investment & Advisory Services, Life & Health Insurance
Daniel S. Macdonald, Jr.
116 Kraft Avenue, Ste. 8
Bronxville, New York 10708
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.mdicinc.com
Palmer-Tanno Agency, Inc.
Independent Insurance Agents since 1948
Greg Tanno
141 Parkway Road, Suite #11
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-6603
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Personal Risk Management Solutions
Focuses solely on personal insurance and
provides unique, customized solutions that save
money and time and create peace of mind.
Linda Graef Jones, Private Client Sales Executive
6 East 43rd Street
New York, New York 10017
914-645-3951
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ranieri Insurance Agency
Auto, Home, Business & Life
Over 50 Years' Experience
Paul D. Ranieri, CPCU
457 Palmer Road
Yonkers, NY
914-376-2560
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Rollins Agency, Inc.
Insurance and Risk Management Solutions
Since 1910
800 Westchester Ave. Suite N-311
Rye Brook, NY 10573
914-337-1833
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Financial Legal Assistance Recent Articles
Quick Links
Newsletter
MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.
The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.