Mount Vernon is Westchester at a Discount, Says WSJ
20 Feb, 2012
By editor
This home at 164 Central Pkwy, Mt Vernon, is listed for $749,999 in theLoop Real Estate Marketplace.
Did everyone catch the Wall Street Journal piece about Mount Vernon? Bronxville for a bargain? Some of Westchester’s most beautiful homes are there, making it increasingly more attractive to downsizers and first time home buyers.
One commenter writes,
“Read the story carefully. If you have school-age children, you definitely do NOT want to send them to any of the Mt Vernon public schools. Other than that, Mt Vernon is a nice place to live. If you have a secured house, a good alarm system, and a really, I mean really, big dog.”
A response:
“North Side Mt. Vernon has pretty good public schools at the elementary level. The elementaries are relatively high achieving and economically and demographically diverse. South Side Mt. Vernon is a different story.
observer says:
Excellent commentary. The sad fact is most people can't imagine the impact of a large development like this - especially as there is no comparable structure in Mamaroneck or Larchmont. It is convenient to accept the developers glossy brochure and think these condos fit into our community. I have heard it said that the only people impacted will be nearby residents. This monstrosity will impact every resident of Larchmont and Mamaroneck - especially those with school-age children. Perhaps the closing of the Weaver Street bridge will heighten awareness of the terrible traffic conditions already existing in this town and get more people to question the wisdom of shoving 120+ condo units on top of our schools and into the middle of a densely populated residential area. Or maybe the opening of the Wahlgreens at the front door to the Hommocks will create a enough of a nightmare at dropoff and pickup that this community will remember that if you want to raise children in a safe and nice place, you need to protect the community before it is too late!observer says:
This large reduction in assessment reflects the most recent reassessment data. Their assessment was reduced by over 30% (not factoring in the "millions of dollars spent on improvements.) Quite frankly, if this project is going to take years and years to come to fruition, the residents of this community deserve better than this. This property's assessment should reflect current market value - and be taxed at that rate.Kim Larsen says:
As chair of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Safe Routes to School committee, I am concerned about the prospect of a large condominium complex being built on the site of Hampshire Country Club. Were condos to be built, the already significant traffic volumes in and around Central School, Hommocks Middle School, and Mamaroneck High School would increase substantially, jeopardizing the safety of our students. The Boston Post Road from Weaver Street to Rockland Avenue is already a treacherous stretch of road for pedestrians. Yet with three district schools and many apartment buildings nearby, hundreds of students and residents walk this area daily. Not surprisingly, several accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles have occurred in this corridor over the past few years. The potential increase in traffic should a 120+ unit condominium complex be built on Cove Road would make the Post Road even more dangerous for pedestrians. Traffic volumes exiting onto the Post Road at Hommocks Road and at Old Post Road/Richbell Road would increase significantly, precisely where the number of students walking to and from school is heaviest. Additional traffic exiting Orienta Avenue at the Post Road is also worrisome as students walk to Harbor Island for after school sports activities.jjinla says:
If they are anything like the rest of us, their assessments just skyrocketed during the reassessment!observer says:
12.9 million in 2010 and put in 'millions of dollars of improvements" according to owner Dan Pfeffer in a public meeting. The market has rebounded nicely, however, the owners grieved their taxes and are currently assessed at a value of around $9 million. Can anyone explain that?loopeditrix says:
Some history: The Club was sold in 2010 for $12.9 million to New World. The Village of Mamaroneck and Town of Mamaroneck jointly bid on the property and had plans to open the club to the public, but were unsuccessful.Patty says:
As a resident of Pine Brook with older kids, and a husband who owns a business in the Palmer district, I can assure you the ire you are reading isn't over a missed season of T-ball. It is because 1.) the contractor was green lighted, without effectively notifying residents, to park huge machines near children before the majority of the red tape was cut and 2.) it is becoming clear that after having taken residence in the park for a year while no work was being done, the contractor might need to get replaced, with nothing to show for it. Back to square one. I am all for improving the business district, I think it is very, very important for Larchmont and a coup that the mayor and trustees secured such a large grant for the work. However, they need to do a better job communicating to both residents and business owners what this project will entail and what the end result will be so that we can support it. For now, everyone is focused on what is in front of them: big, ugly, dangerous machines in the neighborhood's only park, and no work being done.