On July 20, 2010, representatives of the Save Our Armory Committee presented their vision of how community involvement would put the Armory back in the hands of the public where it belongs. This building sole purpose is to serve its community and it’s shameful that administrations past and present can’t come together to allow this icon to fulfill its potential. Take a look throughout this site and read up on how we got into this mess. then take the time to listen to Committee members put forth their concept on how to save the Armory without burden on the taxpayer. how to return this building to the citizens of New Rochelle.
Below is a partial transcript of that presentation. We hope this motivates you to get involved.
We Thank YOU!
“Vision Statement
So, we begin with a vision, a vision of success, a vision for the next chapter in New Rochelle’s history
And it all happens AT THE ARMORY
The opportunity to revive a structure unique to New Rochelle and its culture. Realizing how local history and indeed world events have been shaped by those who have walked through its doors
A facility, already in our possession, one that few others can even claim to own. We are compelled to take advantage of this resource to honor those who have come before us and provide a platform for those yet to come.
A showcase for the best of what New Rochelle has to offer, be it athletic, arts, our rich history or our untapped future. All in a natural setting that reconnects our city with the majesty of the New Rochelle shoreline.
We will need to ask ourselves – how do we stand out from the crowd rather than behaving like the crowd?
Imagine, if you will, this new facility, living, breathing and dynamic in nature, always something new.
Sparking interest with the public as they ask “What’s going on at the Armory this month?”. Dinner, a show and a moonlit walk along the shore, a championship basketball game, or the reflective experience of the New Rochelle Hometown History museum exhibit. So outstanding other towns will beg the question
Where can we get our OWN Armory?
Imagine the potential going forward as we advance the need to save the environment. The ideal platform to demonstrate the latest in environmental technology. Imagine this all behind a glass wall as we invite young students from all around to witness the practical application of the principles learned in the classroom.
Sparking their young minds and bringing out the best of the best to lead the way towards a better tomorrow
This potential exists, right here, right now, right in our own back yard.
If we can just shift the paradigm to accept this vision , we will find that the goals of reconnecting the waterfront , stimulating growth , preserving history , serving the community , honoring our veterans AND protecting the environment can all be realized by allowing this iconic facility to make ITS contribution.
We need not change the concept of WHAT to do in Echo Bay , we merely need to decide HOW to achieve these goals
This historic icon will provide the catalyst for the continued success in Echo Bay and we invite ALL of our neighbors to join in shaping, what is, the next chapter in New Rochelle’s history.
Thank you so much for your time”
IT’S YOUR ARMORY – USE IT DON’T LOSE IT
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D-Day for the Armory is This Tuesday – Will YOU Make a Difference?
July 22, 2013Will this be the last time we get a chance to see the Armory in full glory? If the Mayor has his way, the Echo Bay development will swallow up most of the property as parking for the new apartment housing complex thereby making it all but impossible to readapt this one of a kind piece of New Rochelle history. They will essentially strangle the building preventing us, or anyone else by that matter, from creating a truly unique venue for this city and region.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be the topic of one of the hearings at the Council meeting this Tuesday, July 23 at 7:00 in the city Council Chambers. If you haven’t yet seen this document you can review it HERE
There are a host of issues relating to this development both in it’s design and in it’s economic value. Plagued by criticism from a large cross section of interests, the case for postponement of the adoption of the FEIS becomes abundantly clear.
A packed house of over 220 people gathered at the East End Civic Association to voice their anger and challenge the unsubstantiated claims of a city wide benefit from the project. Being the most affected section of the city, the FEIS fails to address the concerns raised regarding the traffic along the Pratt St bypass of Stephenson Blvd and the accident rates at Pratt / Main St’s and Pratt/ Adams St’s. Foiled records for reported accidents showed accident rates exceeding one per year on average and yet there is no plan to mitigate the increased traffic of hundreds of cars descending on Echo Bay. The issue of school district burden has been negotiated in a fashion to favor the developer. Quality of life issues of the huge shadow cast over the neighborhood by the increased height of the buildings was summarily dismissed as not relative to the current plan. We were told that every issue raised would have to be addressed with evaluation and corrective measures or an appropriate explanation – neither of which was adopted.
The Armory will suffer death by a thousand cuts as it has it’s property chiseled away to provide Echo Bay parking. The lie that it is for “public use” is shattered with the premise that if you remove this “public use” parking, the project loses its access to its front door. A front door that appears to be within the approved distance to allow Monroe College to utilize the development as student housing. There is no protection in place to prevent this from happening.
The Westchester County Planning board was highly critical in it’s report of the project’s goals and reported benefits
New Rochelle’s very own Planning Board has filed serious concerns in a report dated March 28 that highlights what they believe is wrong with the project. (Does it bother anyone that this March report didn’t see the light of day until July? What’s up with that? )
Local polling on this site and others news outlets show overwhelming pushback to the project as currently proposed
As the Mayor hits the campaign trail and lauds the efforts of the talent pool that volunteered to help with the budget, he has no explanation for the failure to embrace the quantitive analysis by another local pool of professionals working over at Echo Bay Facts. This volunteer, bi partisan, diverse group of residents has essentially preformed a forensic audit of the numbers being touted by the developer and the Mayor. It just doesn’t add up!
Where does that leave us. D-Day. NOW, more than ever before, is your opportunity to make a difference by making your voice heard. Call the mayor, your council member and tell your neighbors about the death of a truly unique piece of New Rochelle history and the cost to taxpayers as we subsidize a multi billion real estate investment firm.
BE THERE
BE HEARD
BE THE VOICE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
IT’S YOUR ARMORY – USE IT DON’T LOSE IT !
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Posted in New Rochelle Armory in the News, Opinion/Commentary | Tagged council vote, current-events, politics | 1 Comment »