Condos, Hotel and Spa Plan Revised for New Castle Legionaries Site
Representatives of the real estate firm looking to develop the 97-acre Legionaries of Christ property in New Castle are optimistic that town officials are interested in their newest plan and hope to soon submit a formal application.
Soder Real Estate Equities of Montclair, N.J. unveiled the latest iteration of the company’s preliminary proposal last week for 54 luxury condominium units, a 30-room hotel with a restaurant and a health spa at the property at 773 Armonk Rd.
The revised plans are highlighted by a 12-unit reduction from the original plan with no new buildings being constructed, said attorney David Steinmetz, representing Soder Real Estate. Construction would be limited to the remodeling of the two wings where the residential units would be placed. The wings were added onto the main building in the 1950s. The main structure was built in the 1920s.
In addition to the restaurant, hotel and spa, there would be an outdoor swimming pool on a terrace.
“I think we’re very pleased with the reaction from the town board,” Steinmetz said after the Jan. 15 presentation at the board’s work session. “It seems that they’re open to the concept.”
He said an application and an environmental assessment form could be submitted as soon as next month.
In September, the original conceptual design called for 66 units consisting of duplexes and penthouses in four new structures that would have used some of the open space on the north side of the property.
The first set of revamped plans the following month switched to 80 residential units, a combination of 37 three-story fee simple villas and 43 townhouses while eliminating the hotel, restaurant and spa.
Under the latest plans, each unit would be between 2,200 and 2,500 square feet, contain two bedrooms and be geared toward empty-nesters, said Stephen Oder, president of Soder Real Estate. There would be no age restrictions for residents, although the type of units would be geared toward empty nesters and lend itself to few schoolchildren, he said. The property is in the Bedford School District.
Steinmetz said the spa, which would be open to the general public, along with the hotel and walking trails throughout the property would make it an attractive project for New Castle.
“This will be something that will make it unique,” he said. “There’s nothing like this in Westchester County.”
Although there will be environmental hurdles to clear, comments from the board last week appeared more encouraging than when Steinmetz and Oder pitched the original proposal four months ago.
Councilman Jason Chapin called the revised plans “a much better concept” while Councilwoman Elise Kessler Mottel said she was looking forward to learning more about the project.
“This is a good use and is much more logical than the previous version,” Chapin said.
Another board member, Councilman Robin Stout, said he liked how the proposed uses seem compatible for the parcel, which is zoned two-acre residential. However, the town would need to approve a request from Soder Real Estate a zone to accommodate the hotel use.
“It wouldn’t be in the middle of an office park and I think that’s to its credit,” said Stout, referring to the controversial Chappaqua Crossing project which proposes residential, office and retail uses on the former Reader’s Digest campus.
The project’s key obstacles could center on whether there is an adequate water supply and enough room on the site for proper septic and stormwater management. Preliminary tests conducted have revealed that there would be enough water on the land for up to 140 bedrooms plus the restaurant and spa. Current plans have 138 bedrooms.
Steinmetz said an engineering study has also determined that the site could handle the septic system and stormwater management.
Soder Real Estate has been in discussion with the Legionaries of Christ to buy the property pending a site plan approval.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/