Development Projects for Market Square in Ossining Presented
Two possible redevelopment projects for the Market Square section of Ossining were presented to the public and Village Board of Trustees last week.
The enhanced urban design study looked at four parcels totaling about 1.5 acres at Main and Spring streets in what has been considered an underutilized historic section of the village. Ten different development schemes have been proposed since last year before the Downtown Revitalization Group settled on two scenarios that were outlined in a 110-page report.
Mayor William Hanauer told residents in attendance at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center the visuals presented in the report were simply conceptual.
“What you see is not what you get,” Hanauer said. “The intent is to have a landscaped and decorative public space that will be multi-purposeful.”
Both scenarios include mixed-use, multi-story commercial and residential units and the displacement of about 50 current parking spaces.
Hanauer mentioned the village was currently trying to buy back a parking lot owned by the U.S. Post Office on St. Paul’s Place to provide for more parking. “It’s a great place for a parking structure because it’s very close to this development,” he said.
Not everyone was enthusiastic about the proposals, including former mayor and trustee Miguel Hernandez, who criticized the consultant for comparing Market Square to Bryant Park in New York City and another location near Albany.
“I’m concerned about the scale of the buildings and how they will look in comparison with what we currently have,” Hernandez said.
One of the recommendations of the consultant was for Ossining to establish a Business Improvement District to ensure revenue generated from public parking is utilized to enhance the downtown area.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
