White Plains boom: 7 building projects that are taking shape – The Journal News | LoHud.com

Update on a number of developments under construction in White Plains. Wochit

A view of a construction site at One Dekalb Ave in White Plains.(Photo: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News)Buy Photo

WHITE PLAINS - Bulldozers pushing mountains of earth, cranes whirring as they lift steel beams, jackhammers breaking pavement and all sorts of power tools screeching through various tasks.

Call it the symphony of a building boom.

Drive around the city these days and you're sure to spot hard-hatted construction workers in day-glow safety vests, uniformed cops directing motorists around buildingsites and occasional traffic delays as heavy equipment or trucks laden with building materials maneuver into or out of tight spaces.

White Plains hasn't seen this kind of construction activity since the late 1990s and early 2000s when The Westchester mall, the City Centerand Ritz-Carlton complexes and Renaissance Plaza were built. Those projects transformed the downtown business district, giving the city its first skyscrapers and enhancing its reputation as Westchester's shopping mecca.

The new developments are more mixed-use in nature, with a bigger emphasis on the creation of new housing. The former Westchester Pavilion mall, for example, is being replaced by two residential towers. The former AT&T office building at Hamilton Avenue and North Broadway is also slated for transformation intoluxury apartments.

"It's an exciting time in the city because all of the planning and work that's gone into these projects is coming to fruition," Mayor Tom Roach said. "It helps create jobs, promotes new business and is great for the property tax base and sales tax revenue."

For a variety of reasons, he said, "attracting residential development has been a priority. We're still gaining momentum, but it's absolutely essential."

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Residential projects bring jobs and employers and creates demand for restaurants, and service-oriented businesses. Local laws require 10 percent of new residential units to be affordable, and allows White Plains to assess a fee, based on the number of units, to be used for for citywide recreation and parks improvements and programs.

More than that, Roach said, "bringing people downtown is great forthe morale of the city. People want to live in a place that's bustling with nightlife, entertainment, dining and shopping."

Marcia Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, said creation of downtown housing attracts young professionals and people who are downsizing, and provides a talent pool for businesses looking to hire.

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"Recruitment of talented young professionals is very important to business, and having that talent pool living downtown helps attract and retain new businesses in the community," she said.

John Ravitz, the council's executive vice president, added that White Plains and other Westchester citiesworking to revitalize their business districts "are adding another piece to the puzzle. People who live downtown spend money. They use service businesses. They go out to eat. They go out for entertainment. People see that they don't necessarily have to go to New York City to live work and play."

Here's an update on a few of the projects approved over the last two years that are now in various stages of development:

One Dekalb: A six-story, 77-unit luxury rental apartment building is to be built on a 38,000-square-foot lot created in part by the recent demolition of five houses along Maple Avenue between Dekalb Avenue and South Broadway. Foundation work is expected to begin soon on the project, which is slated to be completed in a year. White PlainsBuilding Commissioner Damon Amadio said asbestos removal from the demolished homes was done in compliance with state and local regulations, under a Westchester County permit. The asbestos removal had been a concern of neighbors. The project is being developed byOne Dekalb LLC.

440 Hamilton Ave.:An $87 million project to convert the former AT&T office building at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and North Broadway is being done by American Equity Partners. They'll add a floor to the 12-story building, which will be refaced with a modern glass facade. The project will include41 studios, 120 one-bedroom and 84 two-bedroom apartments. Those include seven duplex maisonettes with private ground floor entrances and five penthouses. A market, cafe and host of other amenities will also be built. The city has not yet received requests for construction permits, but the Westchester Industrial Development Agency announced on May 19 that it has approved inducements to help get the project started.

An architects rendering for a new facade of the former AT&T building at 440 Hamilton Ave. in White Plains, which is being converted into luxury rental apartments.(Photo: Submitted by Papp Architects, P.C.)

136-158Westmoreland Ave.:A 58,000-square-foot mixed use projectthat will include a microbrewery, neighborhood market and 62 loft style rental apartments is to be built on a vacant lot by Westmoreland Lofts LLC. The site is in an industrial neighborhood that was rezoned to attract residential development in 2015. The city iswaiting for architectural drawings and construction permit applications, but expects work to begin later this year.

A rendering of apartment building, market and microbrewery on Westmoreland Avenue.(Photo: Submitted)

121 Westmoreland Ave.: Work is expected to be finished early next year on the conversion of a six-story industrial building into 65 rental apartments by Norden Lofts, LLC. The facade has been sandblasted to reveal the original red brick and work on the interior is underway.

A previously vacant six-story building is being turned into loft apartments at 121 Westmoreland Ave. in White Plains.(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

55 Bank St.:Developer LCOR has almost finished the exterior of its 16-story 288-unit market rate rental apartment building and has begun interior work on the apartments. The building is expected to begin renting units in January; rateshave not yet been announced. Work on a second 16-story apartment tower at the same sitehas not yet begun.

The first of two residential towers at 55 Bank St. is expected to begin renting apartments in January.(Photo: Submitted)

60 S.Broadway:Demolition of the former Westchester Pavilion mall is almost finished. The city expects construction to begin later this year on a new $275 million mixed-use development that includes two 24-story residential towers, an underground parking garage, retail, dining and commercial space. The project is being developed byMaple and Broadway LLC.

The former Westchester Pavilion shopping mall in White Plains has been knocked down and will be replaced with a mixed-use development consisting of residential and retail space.(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

One Lyon Place:Formerly known as the Esplanade, what used to be a senior citizen residence is being converted into luxury rental apartments. With construction set to begin later this year, the $50 million re-purposing project project will include replacement of the facade and a reconfiguration to create 146 apartments in the 15-story main building and 66 units in the annex building on the opposite side of Lyon Place. The development is being designed by Sullivan Architecture of White Plains.

The former Esplanade senior residence is being re-purposed into luxury rental apartments. The building is located at 95 S. Broadway and Lyon Place.(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

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White Plains boom: 7 building projects that are taking shape - The Journal News | LoHud.com