Letter to the Editor: Fate of United Hospital Site Key to Port Chester's Election 2013

For nearly 100 years, United Hospital played a significant role in shaping the Village of Port Chester.  Our community is now engaged in a great debate over what will become of the 14 acres where the former hospital is located.  Shortly after we cast our votes for the entire Village Board of Trustees on March 19, the newly constituted board will decide how to proceed with the redevelopment of that site.  Their decisions will likely shape our village for the next 100 years.

The current proposal by Starwood Capital Group to build 820 rental units on the site will have a significant impact on our public schools.  Starwood says they can fill all of those apartments and add only 17 new students to our schools.  Planners working for the Village have estimated the project could generate around 111 students.  Others think more than 400 school-age children could live there.  Additional studies of the Starwood proposal will not provide more certainty or eliminate the risks to Port Chester taxpayers.

 The bottom line is that the Port Chester Public Schools are already at maximum capacity.  Nearly 800 students are enrolled at the John F. Kennedy Magnet School alone.  We are struggling to keep class sizes at reasonable levels without building new classrooms or hiring new teachers.  Even without the Starwood project, our school enrollment is expected to increase because there are currently around 800 vacant housing units in the Village.  As the economy rebounds, it is very likely these currently vacant housing units will be rented or sold and will add additional children to our schools.  In this environment, the Starwood proposal is like pouring gasoline onto a fire. 

 Do not elect trustees who will “negotiate” with Starwood and declare victory after reducing the number of units to 600 or 500 apartments.   We need leaders who will honor the new Master Plan and protect taxpayers.  We need a new majority that will represent the people, not developers.  Please vote for Dennis Pilla, Dan Brakewood, Luis Marino, Greg Adams (Democrat and Citizens for a Better Government ballot lines) and Gene Ceccarelli (Pride in Port Chester) on Election Day. 

Bob Johnson

Note: The writer is a member of the Port Chester school board.