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24-Unit Apt. Building Proposed for Peekskill Waterfront District

A developer wants to build a four-story, 24-unit apartment building at 653 Central Avenue in Peekskill.

Developers are proposing 24-unit apartment building on Central Avenue in the City of Peekskill.

The proposal, which was presented during Monday night’s Common Council Workshop,  would have an underground parking with enough spaces to accommodate 25 vehicles. The building would be located across from Zeph’s Restaurant.


Herman Poritzky, the developer of the project, is requesting a special permit for the project since it exists in the city’s waterfront district.

“They’re targeting the train station, obviously people that are commuting and, literally, it’s two blocks from our downtown,” Anthony Ruggiero, the city’s director of planning said. “I think it would be a nice little development.”

Ed Gemmola, the architect for the project, said the building would be a little under 18,000 square feet and be four stories in the front, including the parking lot. The rear of the building would be two stories above grade.

There would be six studio apartments, three one-bedroom apartments with a den, 11 one bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments. The building could have space for house exercise & laundry rooms along with a play area.

Rents would be anywhere in the range of $1,300 to $1,800.

Even though there are only 25 spots for 24 apartments, Gemmola said there is on-street parking on Central Avenue to accommodate guests and the building is within 500 feet of the municipal lot next to the police station.

The developer is required to provide 37 parking spaces under normal circumstances, but Gemmola said he is seeking  a waiver for the 12 additional spaces required.

This is the third iteration of the project to come before the Common Council, with the developer submitting proposal in 2004, 2008 and 2009.

“The project definitely changed over the years,” Gemmollo said. “It’s financeable. Apartments area a hot item wherever you go in terms of living.”

Ruggiero said Monday's presentation is the start of the Council's special permitting process for the project and the planning commission still needed to do its review.

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sayitsnotsojack December 18, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Please go for it, it is not subsidized housing for a change, and of course it is behind the lovely and always interesting Bowman Towers one of Peekskills land marks.
Frank a Catalina December 18, 2012 at 01:06 pm
First wholly privately funded project to be proposed in Peekskill in years; proposed in an area that begs for development; priceless! What's not to love? ..... lets pray this Council doesn't screw this opportunity up... i mean, it's not a subsidized project, not a methadone or abortion clinic, doesn't require a 'study', doesn't need outside "experts" or "consultants" at taxpayer expense; shouldn't result in a lawsuit against any City Boards or Commissions; doesn't require dictatorial mandates from Her, is not tax-exempt......you know, everything this Council just LOVES! Lets cross our fingers and hope they don't .....that's what we the people have been reduced to! If anything deserves "fast-track" approval (and I'm talking "shovel ready" groundbreaking by June 1st!!) this proposal certainly does.
Patty Villanova December 18, 2012 at 01:18 pm
Totally agree with the above. This is just what the area needs and it will bring in people who will be spending money in town. Whatever happened to all the proposals to open up the Downtown to regular people who are not artists or seniors? Every consultant hired and paid for with taxpayer money has recommended this, as recently as last April. If this was done, there would be an economic boom in Peekskill that would raise the value of all the real estate and would finally bring back retailers and other businesses.
Wendy Kelly December 18, 2012 at 01:30 pm
Developer better wait until we get rid of Meth Clinic I wouldn't invest a dime more in Peekskill until we are guaranteed this will "NEVER" happen in Peekskill. Told Franzoso 6 months ago I will not commit to new roof until this discussion of Meth Clinic is over.
ED HICKEY December 18, 2012 at 03:23 pm
I'll start with WOW! Outstanding and unexpected news for this exciting and well placed proposed unit that could actually attract some new residents that have working papers ... even American born professionals that commute via the Hudson line! It is truly such a beautiful area and always has been. Above noted about close proximity to Peekskill's Cabrini Green ... Bohlman Towers, but I am confident the new acting Peekskill Chief of Police, who likely will be fulltime by the proposed time will have a very solid plan to ensure the new complex is patrolled and therefore will not become a hotspot for loitering or spillover crime. The parking issue may pose some problems for visitors and the city, but definately not a "deal breaking" situation. Rock on and make this happen. Happy Holidays to all
Tina Bongar December 18, 2012 at 03:38 pm
Wow, this is a good sign and I really appreciate these developers having some respect for city codes with 2 stories at the top of the development bordering on South, and Smith. I believe Jeanette Phillips has proposed townhouses, "work-force housing" in the area by Park Plaza. I wish I could post the photos I'm emailing to Community Policing and City Code Enforcement today of some of the Slumlord multi-family habitats on the 100 and 200 block of Smith Street. Get this: some of these homes are past foreclosure, owned by the bank, and these homes are "rented" to the people living there, of course not by the bank -- or maybe? -- anyway, I'm completely sick of the bank, bankrupted slum lords, or whoever they are, depending on the kindness of strangers of no-oversight-for-taxpayers city administration.
leesther brown December 18, 2012 at 07:38 pm
@Tina you have gone and lost your mind for real....Go ahead post them...#thugsreadthepatchtoo.....I'm going to all those houses and show them this post...#getyourhat...
Hulu December 18, 2012 at 08:15 pm
Just where will people be "spending money in town"? Aside from a couple of nice restaurants, there doesn't seem to be any place in the downtown/immediate Peekskill area to buy a pair of shoes, a shirt, or anything of the sort.
peekskillman December 18, 2012 at 09:51 pm
ms bongar--if things are so bad for you, why did you move into the city to begin with? it seems that your entire agenda from day one has been to transform your neighborhood into what YOU would like to see. Your neighborhood and surrounding blocks have been multi-family since the homes were built (although I will concede some were transformed to 2 family years ago) Peekskill has and always will be a working class city, full of decent people who for the most part, got along. Stop trying to use your "vision" to destroy long-standing residences. When you bought our home here, did you not drive around and do some research?? Or did you buy it when looking in the dark only? Pls stop demeaning the very area that you live in , esp when your own home has a few visible "code" issues
ED HICKEY December 18, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@Leesther ... give props when props deserved. Amen Tina! It takes perserverance and a genuine love for your community to take the steps you have mentioned to address real issues. The biggest scam going (for quite some time now) is due to the inability for the banks to keeo up with the foreclsed housing, the opportunistic criminals have actually rented out many places they simply broke into and used a standard printed lease from the internet. One guy opened the nation's eyes to this as the illegal landlord when he inadvertantly became confused with all of his properties and rented one to two families! The biggest problem is that many true slumlords can get away with considerably more when their tenants are undocumented and illegally staying in this country. Leester wasn't lying that the area you speak about's issues are multifactorial with various levels of thugs that all have greedy hands in the mess. But this in no way should stop a community from standing together to have these thugs choose another complacent town! Call it like you see it ... you may be surprised at who has their hands in that cookie jar.
Tina Bongar December 19, 2012 at 12:43 am
Peekskillman, I think my vision of my neighborhood seems pretty on par with yours, which is why the residences that have 15-20 people living in them, the apts and homes that have drug dealing, and some pretty funky daydare, really offend me. I'm sorry that my efforts have offended you but it's quid pro quo -- your hiding behind a pseudonym and making really nasty-toned remarks, offends me too, and it certainly won't stop me from putting pressure on the City to improve the 100- and 200- block of Smith and 100 block of Grove Street. There was a stabbing and murder not 500 feet from the corner of Smith and South Street, and if we had more proper city oversight, someone actually looking at the business license, this may not have happened. This area is the epitome of the broken window theory -- because it looks like there's no oversight, people can go somewhere with what they're doing to avoid any oversight. Shame on the city.
leesther brown December 19, 2012 at 06:07 am
@Ed..I ain't giving her nothing but my Prayers,she has...Mixed, Tampered and Diluted from the day she touched land(moved to Peekskill) of course you say how did she alone do this?!!!..in collusion with the "miscreants" up @840..She has championed changing a neighborhood that has been multi-family for generations into a single family zoning,and those"culprits" up @840 changed the zoning to single family despite one of many "consultants" did not agree with,and get this player all the while she and them up there@840,and a sitting zoning board member conspired to shut down the "Cove" over on Simpson...you guessed it....with the evidenced "Culpable Mindset" of the Mayor and a couple Councilmembers...
leesther brown December 19, 2012 at 06:12 am
Firing letters off to the AG...you guessed it..all while being stroked by them fools up@840....#rememberdaveygreener....She has targeted homes of the minority..running around here taking pictures and counting recyclables...she been here all of 9 yrs..Nah...on this I can't give her no props..I would like to gift her a map...
peekskillman December 19, 2012 at 12:05 pm
good for you miss brown, well said;it is one thing to want to keep one's neighborhood clean and livable for all; quite another to want to change the face entirely. Maybe she shouldnt have bought there in the first place if it was so "bad"...
jo December 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm
anything the uplifts the look and reputation of Peekskill and adds to the tax rolls is a win ..win...
Wendy Kelly December 19, 2012 at 04:39 pm
Jo- Including all the hard work and research that Tina does for the community.
jo December 19, 2012 at 04:43 pm
????????????????????????????????????????? don't know Tina.. my comments are about the new addition..now about anyone in particular
jo December 19, 2012 at 04:48 pm
oops make that NOT about anyone.....
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
shakemdown June 19, 2013 at 12:03 am
@ASHLEY TARR my comments that i posted did not contain profanity nor did they harrass or abuseRead More anyone, they were just what the forum is for, to discuss issues within our city. but i know, some people would consider it harrasment or would try to have it deleted because the truth hurts,and that's what some of our elected officials don't want you to hear, (the truth)
shakemdown June 19, 2013 at 12:06 am
@jo you are right, the old web site was 100% better then this and it was more user friendly unlikeRead More this new one . BRING BACK THE OLD ONE
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 07:04 am
By the way, in our new system we have an update that includes a community moderation tool—it'sRead More not only Patch editors who can flag comments. What is it? Readers can flag any content they find objectionable on any Patch site at any time. We’ve put the flagging link in more places to make it easier to find and backed it with more sophisticated tools. Our goal is to recognize and reward readers who make our community great. How does it work? You’ll see these words — Flag as Inappropriate — on the top and bottom of Board posts, articles, blogs and notes, and next to every single comment anywhere on the site. To flag something, you simply click those words. What happens when you flag? It alerts us that something might be up with the content. When should you flag? We ask that you use your common sense and a general spirit of openness. You should never flag things that you simply disagree with and certainly not to clarify minor points. We encourage you to comment, post (or even start your own blog) to be heard on those things. You can review the Patch Terms of Use Ashley referred to above.
sue June 17, 2013 at 07:00 pm
don't know why I'm having a problem getting this written............anyway...they are rude,Read More unhygenic and WILL NOT follow any of the condo rules....there's so much more but we are sick of it. There are only two of us that speak up...everyone else is cowering behind closed doors.
joshua tanner June 18, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Unleashed dogs is getting to be a big problem in Peekskill. I see them routinely now. People areRead More letting their pit bulls out, their poodles, their chihuahuas - all kinds of dogs. Two days a go I watched a lady jogging on the track with her loose dog. The dog wasn't even supposed to be on the track no less loose. Some kid or elderly lady is going to get bit. Loose dogs also end up in more fights with other dogs.
sayitsnotsojack June 19, 2013 at 09:15 am
Sue a sad fact that these days of “political correctness” individuals who exhibit rudeRead More and ignorant behavior are empowered by the rest of us. I know of a similar situation where the individuals will yell four letter words in the public areas with young children there, call others the foulest things, and in this case, they are black and gay so the race/gay card is used constantly. Until people make it known they are not going to tolerate their behavior it will not stop. Have you notified the property owner, complex board, and police, or maybe the board of health?
Nancy O'Connor June 17, 2013 at 09:33 am
It was our pleasure to help out....good food, good weather, all around good time!!
leesther brown June 18, 2013 at 11:48 am
@Nancy,,I Thanked both you and Pauline Ghilcrest for serving the community and they took my commentsRead More down twice!!! Once again Thank You..you're automatically signed up for next year..:)
joshua tanner June 15, 2013 at 10:28 pm
It seems Patch moves editors every year. Liz was here when I signed up. Then she was shortly movedRead More to Rye and Rasheed took over. He must have been here about a year and then he left when the new format was introduced. Both times patch started cooking and then it got cut down just as new staff got their mojo going. A new editor with a new format seems like starting from scratch again. I know AOL/Patch needs to get some cash flow going quick (from what I've read) but I can't see what they are trying to do exactly by tipping the cart over and over
Wendy Kelly June 17, 2013 at 08:37 am
Agree Joshua just when you have a good thing going with an Editor they move. I can't figure thisRead More site out I was not allowed to post for at least a week thought Mary et al put an hex on me. Hey anyone know where Peter Goodson is??? I miss his posts.
jo June 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
new format is a dud.. 100% dud.. not user friendly.. a horror to navigate, as mentioned... noRead More benefit here. not at all.. quickly becoming a ex Patch fan... fix the mess you made..
Wendy Kelly June 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
http://search.lohud.com/sp?aff=1100&skin=&keywords=revitalization of Peekskill
Working Families Party endorsed candidate Mary Foster
Robin Seggs June 14, 2013 at 10:44 am
Working Families Party almost always cross endorses with Democrats. Looks like the choice isRead More getting clearer: One team is Democrat, WFP and Independent and the Catalina Team is Republican, Right-to-life, Conservative. Anyway, I believe Catalina is campaigning as anti-gay rights, so I know how I will be voting.
jo June 14, 2013 at 02:28 pm
and so many in the cast of characters that attend the meetings. believe Mary is a republican atRead More heart.. and here the Left of all left dem groups endorses here..mmmmmmmm just thinking out loud..
stephanie June 14, 2013 at 03:57 pm
mary foster and the rest of her butt kissers not need to run after what they have done to this cityRead More already we don't need them to run another term they neeed to get out and stay out. i believe frank catalina will much better than foster will ever be he cares about the city and does not like what foster has done to this city i wish him very much luck and i truly believe he will win as our mayor for peekskill good luck and kick foster and her butt kissers out of city hall and keep them out
af24us June 12, 2013 at 01:48 pm
I agree - the dangerous stop signs On Hudson Ave should be removed in both directions and keep theRead More stop signs on South St. and the exit ramps from Route 9.