- Joined
- Mar 18, 2001
- RO Number
- 3813
- Messages
- 9,936
From today's Journal News:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospect of condos at Stony Point marinas makes waves
By AKIKO MATSUDA
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: March 23, 2007)
Potentially affected waterfront properties
Willow Cove Marina: 22.3 acres
Stony Point Bay Marina: 14.52 acres
Patsy's Bay Marina: 6.7 acres
Bell Harbor Landing: 8.3 acres
Source: Stony Point Assessor's Office
STONY POINT - Mega-developer Martin Ginsburg's interest in developing waterfront has stirred concerns, as well as expectations, among property owners along the Hudson River.
Among the owners of the four marinas that sit in the path of the proposal, at least one would resist the plan because he said he would rather develop the area on his own.
Ginsburg is interested in acquiring riverfront properties, including three marinas on Hudson Drive and one on Beach Road, to turn them into a condominium complex, as his company, Ginsburg Development Cos. LLC of Valhalla, has been doing in other towns and villages along the river, including an 850-unit condominium complex in Haverstraw village.
Representatives of the company made a presentation at a recent Town Board workshop this month.
The company proposed that the town form a commission to start studying the project, hiring a planner at the company's cost.
The Town Board tabled its decision on the matter to take more time to listen to property owners.
Supervisor Phil Marino said he was going to invite property owners along the river to the next workshop meeting, at 7:30 p.m. April 4, at the Rho building in Letchworth Village.
"I want to listen to the local people who live there and marina owners," Marino said. "I want to have an opportunity to question them and have all the board members ask questions to find out what their feelings are on the proposed project."
Marina owners, such as Mike Inserra of Patsy's Bay Marina on Hudson Drive, said they would be willing to sell the marina for the right offer.
"The problem is our taxes are so high that we cannot make a living here anymore," said Inserra, who has owned the marina for about six years. "It takes a lot of money to run a marina. It's not as profitable as everybody thinks it is."
Donna Lacoparra, whose husband, Frank, owns Bell Harbor Landing on Beach Road, said the couple would be happy to sell the marina to create a housing development.
"We think it would be great for the town, and we'd love to be a part of it," Lacoparra said, adding that rising gasoline prices have hurt the marina's clientele and that the 150-slip marina had been operating with a 50 percent occupancy. "It'll be great to sell."
But boaters such as Benny Leto, 53, of Congers said he would not want to lose marinas in Stony Point.
"I don't like it," Leto said of Ginsburg's plan. "I don't like it because it would cost more for the boaters to keep their boats here. A lot of them would get squeezed out."
Ed Schultz, 61, a longtime boater and a mechanic for the Stony Point Bay Marina and Yacht Club on Hudson Drive, said he didn't think the area was suitable for condominiums.
"Roads and utilities would be overburdened," Schultz said. "When Beach Road is flooded, there is only one way in and out of this area."
Tony Santos, manager of the Stony Point Bay Marina, also said he didn't think condominiums would work in the area.
"Who the hell wants to live between the railroads?" Santos said of the CSX railroad along the river. "Do you want to live right next to the railroads because you have a view of the water?"
Santos added that he didn't want to lose his job as a marina manager.
His employer, Bill Price, owner of the Stony Point Bay Marina, declined a request for comment, Santos said.
Wayne Corts, owner of one of the four marinas, Willow Cove Marina on Hudson Drive, said this week that he would rather develop the area on his own.
"My vision here is to do a beautiful community," Corts said this week. "I could do a beautiful job here with 100 percent confidence."
Corts, a former Rockland resident, is also a developer, who built the Greens of Woodbury, 63 luxury homes in Orange County.
He has made no formal proposal for the Stony Point property, but he said he would be interested in building 250 to 350 units, including affordable housing for volunteers, rental units and luxury condominiums.
Corts said residents would have access to the waterfront because the community would include a municipal marina and a small commercial district with a cafe and restaurants.
Inserra said he and other owners were concerned that Ginsburg's plan would prompt the town to condemn their property using an eminent domain procedure.
Marino said he would not use those means for a developer to build a project.
"I am steadfastly opposed to use eminent domain to profit another enterprise," Marino said.
"If that affects the town, then I look at it very carefully," the supervisor said, "but to condemn property to make it easier for a developer to do a project, I have very serious reservations about that."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospect of condos at Stony Point marinas makes waves
By AKIKO MATSUDA
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: March 23, 2007)
Potentially affected waterfront properties
Willow Cove Marina: 22.3 acres
Stony Point Bay Marina: 14.52 acres
Patsy's Bay Marina: 6.7 acres
Bell Harbor Landing: 8.3 acres
Source: Stony Point Assessor's Office
STONY POINT - Mega-developer Martin Ginsburg's interest in developing waterfront has stirred concerns, as well as expectations, among property owners along the Hudson River.
Among the owners of the four marinas that sit in the path of the proposal, at least one would resist the plan because he said he would rather develop the area on his own.
Ginsburg is interested in acquiring riverfront properties, including three marinas on Hudson Drive and one on Beach Road, to turn them into a condominium complex, as his company, Ginsburg Development Cos. LLC of Valhalla, has been doing in other towns and villages along the river, including an 850-unit condominium complex in Haverstraw village.
Representatives of the company made a presentation at a recent Town Board workshop this month.
The company proposed that the town form a commission to start studying the project, hiring a planner at the company's cost.
The Town Board tabled its decision on the matter to take more time to listen to property owners.
Supervisor Phil Marino said he was going to invite property owners along the river to the next workshop meeting, at 7:30 p.m. April 4, at the Rho building in Letchworth Village.
"I want to listen to the local people who live there and marina owners," Marino said. "I want to have an opportunity to question them and have all the board members ask questions to find out what their feelings are on the proposed project."
Marina owners, such as Mike Inserra of Patsy's Bay Marina on Hudson Drive, said they would be willing to sell the marina for the right offer.
"The problem is our taxes are so high that we cannot make a living here anymore," said Inserra, who has owned the marina for about six years. "It takes a lot of money to run a marina. It's not as profitable as everybody thinks it is."
Donna Lacoparra, whose husband, Frank, owns Bell Harbor Landing on Beach Road, said the couple would be happy to sell the marina to create a housing development.
"We think it would be great for the town, and we'd love to be a part of it," Lacoparra said, adding that rising gasoline prices have hurt the marina's clientele and that the 150-slip marina had been operating with a 50 percent occupancy. "It'll be great to sell."
But boaters such as Benny Leto, 53, of Congers said he would not want to lose marinas in Stony Point.
"I don't like it," Leto said of Ginsburg's plan. "I don't like it because it would cost more for the boaters to keep their boats here. A lot of them would get squeezed out."
Ed Schultz, 61, a longtime boater and a mechanic for the Stony Point Bay Marina and Yacht Club on Hudson Drive, said he didn't think the area was suitable for condominiums.
"Roads and utilities would be overburdened," Schultz said. "When Beach Road is flooded, there is only one way in and out of this area."
Tony Santos, manager of the Stony Point Bay Marina, also said he didn't think condominiums would work in the area.
"Who the hell wants to live between the railroads?" Santos said of the CSX railroad along the river. "Do you want to live right next to the railroads because you have a view of the water?"
Santos added that he didn't want to lose his job as a marina manager.
His employer, Bill Price, owner of the Stony Point Bay Marina, declined a request for comment, Santos said.
Wayne Corts, owner of one of the four marinas, Willow Cove Marina on Hudson Drive, said this week that he would rather develop the area on his own.
"My vision here is to do a beautiful community," Corts said this week. "I could do a beautiful job here with 100 percent confidence."
Corts, a former Rockland resident, is also a developer, who built the Greens of Woodbury, 63 luxury homes in Orange County.
He has made no formal proposal for the Stony Point property, but he said he would be interested in building 250 to 350 units, including affordable housing for volunteers, rental units and luxury condominiums.
Corts said residents would have access to the waterfront because the community would include a municipal marina and a small commercial district with a cafe and restaurants.
Inserra said he and other owners were concerned that Ginsburg's plan would prompt the town to condemn their property using an eminent domain procedure.
Marino said he would not use those means for a developer to build a project.
"I am steadfastly opposed to use eminent domain to profit another enterprise," Marino said.
"If that affects the town, then I look at it very carefully," the supervisor said, "but to condemn property to make it easier for a developer to do a project, I have very serious reservations about that."