By Carol P. Bartold
Apr. 8, 2015: Work on the Kensington Road condominium development project has begun in earnest and, according to Gateway Development, Inc. spokesman Neil DeLuca, the project can now be called a true construction site.
"We started slow, but we're rolling out," DeLuca said. He anticipates that in approximately six weeks concrete will be poured to begin construction on the parking garage. "Once we got all the work plans approved, things moved," he said.
DeLuca stated that with increased construction activity on the site, the construction fence on Kensington Road's west side separating the sidewalk from the site will have to be pushed out into the roadway to accommodate equipment and work. The construction schedule also calls for electrical conduits for the project to be installed under the roadway.
Village Administrator James Palmer reported that as of Monday, April 6, all parking on the east side of Kensington Road was eliminated not only to facilitate moving the construction fence into the roadway, but also to accommodate two-way traffic on the street and ensure safety as construction progresses. He noted that the village was able to maintain parking on Kensington Road for seven to eight months longer than called for in the construction management plan. Meters on Kensington Road provided twelve-hour parking.
Delays in obtaining a blasting permit from Metro-North Railroad, the discovery of a buried water main that necessitated working with United Water New Rochelle to cut and cap, and the need to reroute utilities to the One Pondfield Building delayed scheduled excavation work and pushed it back into the coldest winter months.
According to DeLuca, more than half of the contaminated soil on the construction site has been removed. Rather than wait for a permit from Metro-North Railroad to blast rock from the site in order to excavate for the parking garage, Gateway is using two machines to chip the rock and lift it from the site. "We found a better way to get the job done, although it might take longer," DeLuca noted, adding that Metro-North expressed concerns about the safety of a blasting operation so close to its tracks.
"We're happy where construction is," DeLuca said.
In January, Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. (WRO) filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Village of Bronxville and Gateway Kensington LLC for illegal housing discrimination against families with children. Representatives from Gateway Kensington LLC and the Village of Bronxville declined to comment on the suit.
Pictured here: Construction under way at the Kensington Road development site.
Photo by A. Warner
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
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Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
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Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400