Fait Accompli

The Tuesday Town Board work session finally got underway at 10AM, on time by The Paul’s time-keeping methods and an hour late by everyone elses. The usual players were in attendance as The Paul began with the unnecessary Request For Proposals (RFP) for the WestHelp property. Todays meeting was mostly about hearing these various proposals. ABG says it was unnecessary as we and many others have insisted the Town continue with the contractually prescribed intent and usageof the apartments on the property. The original contract with the County had the Town being paid $100,000 per month ($1.2 million/year). On his own, without Town Board or citizen input, The Paul decided to not renew the contract, costing us roughly 15 months worth of income.

The first presentation was from the HarborView Properties. Their proposal originally included fair market value apartments which their representative immediately stated they withdrew based on feedback they had received but not admitting from whom they received the feedback. Their plan is now keeping the site for low and moderate income as well as seniors. Their intent was to offer them to Greenburgh municipal, firefighter, police employees and teachers. Interestingly, whenever The Paul bemoans the need for affordable housing, these are the same groups he throws into the conversation. If the police and firefighters start at around $50k, do they qualify for these same apartments? No matter, they were gone before you could say, “Certiorari.” The Paul asked about the impact on the Valhalla School District based on their offer and since they planned to consolidate numerous studio units into single bedroom units. It was explained that the impact to the schools would lessen.

Income from HarborView Properties was offered at $125,000 to $165,000 per year to the Town until the year 2032 to operate property. They originally had proposed the project as an eighty percent (80%) Market Rate Apartment Rental Community with twenty percent (20%) of Units set aside and designated as ¨Affordable Housing Units.¨

Next up was Westhab, a company which already has a presence in the Town. Their plan originally included $200,000 per year for 7 years and then it will increase by $5k/year to the Town ($600,000 up front) until the year 2064 to operate affordable housing pursuant to a tri-party lease between Westhab, the Town and the County using Low Income Housing Tax Credit Equity for 50 years. They included geothermal power, solar panels, expanding the community room for greenhouse and daycare use along with other green initiatives. They will retain and reuse storm water and plan to increase parking spaces from 59 to 71 with permeable paving. The units will be considered affordable housing assuming the County gives approval to extend the lease’s length. It’s funny, they are planning to take an affordable housing complex and renovate it into an affordable housing complex. Does anyone else see the waste with this?

The Paul was dancing a bit with Westhab as he tried to find out how much money the Town could get up front from Westhab by February. He was told the amount would be $600k but was contingent upon a construction closing; meaning the Town doesn’t get a cent until construction begins. Obviously, with The Paul’s major screw-up of not renewing the WestHelp contract ($1.2 million/year), Fortress Bible’s $8 million settlement, $4 million deficit for the Water Department, he’s a bit sensitive about trying to get some income for the Town. Funny, he no longer offers a portion of his salary back to the Town for non-perfomance.

Third up was Marathon Development Group, who is offering $200,000 initial lease signing payment and lump sum at contract closing of $2 million after the lease signing. This would be a thirty year commitment until the year 2032. Their goal is to convert the existing shelter apartments into 80 units of affordable senior housing (55 and older), with a preference for veterans. They only do affordable housing for seniors so there would be no impact on the Valhalla school system. With a significant “up-front” amount to the Town of $2.2 million, the Town gets all it’s money up front. The Paul wanted to know if that was negotiable and threw out a number of $4 million if it is. Their representative emphatically said no! They too would like to increase parking a small amount and will be spending about $55k per unit for renovation. This is ABG’s favorite proposal, which appears to be a no brainer for the Town Board. But since The Paul wants Ferncliff in that property, we’re not hopeful this seemingly good deal will be accepted.

Community Housing Innovations wrapped up the presentations. Their deal was also for low income seniors would provide the Town with $350,000 per year to the Town until the year 2032. Originally their proposal was to develop the site for use as affordable housing and use the existing administration/school building for community use such as relocation of the Lois Bronz Children’s Center or Ferncliff Manor, Inc.’s. temporary use for a disabled school facility. Their representative also mentioned that if they couldn’t fill the facility with seniors they would use it for Town of Greenburgh education and municipal employees. The affordable housing residents will include people with 60% of the AMI. They certainly mentioned all the right buzzwords.

Buzzwords aside, this is a done deal, a Fait Accompli - Ferncliff will be awarded the bid because that’s the decision The Paul has made. The Paul and his Stepford Board want to get Ferncliff into the site with a school that may or may not get funding to relocate there. Numerous companies have made good faith proposals per the Town’s not in good faith request. Normally, ABG would say this project is going to go to Westhab. But, because all of the players haven’t weighed in yet, specifically the County Board of Legislators, this has been nothing more than an exercise in futility for these companies. These were all good proposals but in the end, it’s nothing more than The Paul’s deflection from the real issues. The County Board needs to put an end to this game – and soon. We can only hope.