Proposed Purdy Street Apartment Complex Sparks Debate

A proposed three-building apartment complex on the corner of Colonial Place and Purdy Street was met with mixed reactions Thursday night, as the Harrison Town Board weighed the pros and cons of the latest attempt to rejuvenate Harrison's struggling downtown.

A conceptual sketch shows a three-building complex that covers .77 acres along the west side of the intersection. Underground parking would be constructed beneath two of the buildings on the south side of Colonial Place. A parking lot would be provided behind the third building, which would be on the north side of Colonial Place at the current site of Emelio Ristorante, which would be torn down.

Original sketches plan for 40 apartment units at 1,000 square feet each, but that is subject to change as the proposal is still in its infant stages.

Frank McCullough, who is representing Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., presented a developmental study of the area, saying the new complex could revitalize Harrison's downtown area. 

"We think that these changes will be supportive of enforcing the retail uses on Halstead Avenue," McCullough said. "I personally believe this is a step in the right direction for downtown Harrison."

On Thursday the town board granted a special exemption permit that would allow the buildings to be four stories high—one level higher than is currently allowed in that zone—and to bypass a requirement that the lowest level of the building be used or commercial purposes.

A more specific project site plan must now be approved by the planning board and ultimately the town board before final approval is granted.

But that is far from a guarantee as concerns about parking and overcrowding in the downtown area have already been raised. Although board members applauded plans to include 54 parking spaces on site, more than the required amount, some questioned if overflow parking will become an issue.

Speakers from the public also questioned if a four-story building is appropriate in an area where most surrounding buildings reach either one or two stories in height.

"What sells today are quaint towns, and that's what rich people look for," said Robert Porto, a Harrison resident. "I think this is going to ruin this whole neighborhood, it's not fair to the residents."

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh countered that the proposal could compliment the proposed MTA project only 1,500 feet away and bring new life to the downtown area. She also pointed out that revitalizing the downtown area has been an issue in Harrison for decades.

"We have a dying downtown—if not a dead downtown—and we need to do something about it," she said.

Others said there is a more simple solution. Lucille Held, another Harrison resident, questioned the need to build up Harrison's business districts, moving away from the small town atmosphere currently in place.

"We're saying 'oh we've got to build it up like Rye, we want it like Rye'. Do we want it like Rye?," she asked. "Did we move here to have it like Rye?"

The board's concerns about the complex were focused primarily on parking. Councilman Joseph Cannella warned that the complex might face requirements for more parking and other alterations down the line, but said without a specific site plan it is too early to break down details.

Although the board granted the special exemption use permit, a more specific site plan will now be discussed at the planning board level. If approved there, the final proposal will return to the town board for consideration.