As 2024 draws to a close, the Herald is looking back on stories we covered during the past twelve months. We present a brief summary of reporting from January to June and tomorrow will share July to December reporting.
January
Developers seek to turn Peekskill land into new homes
With land still available in Peekskill, developers are tackling the extended, costly and sometimes laborious process of winning approvals and meeting the vocal objections of residents to try and make their investments pay off.
Zappico Real Estate Development in Hawthorne purchased two houses and undeveloped land on Mountain View Road off Franklin Street in 2022 and 2023. The firm bought the properties from Warren D. Dyckman and is currently building a two-family townhouse on an empty lot between the two existing homes. Giordano Builders of Yorktown plans to build five single-family homes and 41 condominiums on 16.4 wooded acres near the Highland Park neighborhood Approximately 700 trees would be removed. Significant opposition to that project exists from residents.
But Sunrise Development and Management is facing the biggest push back for their plans to build 22 condos on 13.774 acres of undeveloped land off of Frost Lane, purchased from the Steven Borbely family in 2021.
Besides losing the 13 acres of undisturbed woodlands they’ve enjoyed for years, the opponents express disbelief at the minimal traffic impact the developer’s expert forecasts. In their submission to the Planning Commission, opponents wrote that the developer’s traffic study does not account for the unique and challenging roadways in this area. “It also does not address the very dangerous blind curve right before the intersection at Pataki Farm. They are using a generic ‘one size fits most’ approach that is not realistic or accurate,” opponents wrote in their submission to the Planning Commission.
State and federal dollars flow to Peekskill for infrastructure repairs
At the Jan. 16 council meeting, Chris Gross, Director of the Department of Public Works noted that DPW applied for $700,000 in grants in the last quarter of 2023. The department planned to apply for $21.5 million in grants this year to support drainage projects. Water & Sewer Superintendent David Rambo presented six grant projects to address aging infrastructure issues. The Water & Sewer Department received a $5.2 million federal grant for sewer improvement projects, including rehabilitation of riverfront sewer pumping stations.
February
Public weighs in on North Division Street
The five-story residential and retail building proposed for the corner of North Division and Howard streets was on the Common Council’s agenda for the fourth time in a year and a half during the Feb. 26 public hearing where residents were overwhelmingly in favor of James Guerriero’s proposal. They noted the likely benefits of increased diversity, tax revenues, economic activity, and downtown foot traffic.
The Planning Commission reviewed the 201 N. Division Street proposal on February 14, and gave its positive recommendations to the Common Council. Monday’s hearing was a chance for the public to weigh in on the proposed development that has been revamped since it was first presented in September of 2022.
The 201 North Division Street proposal is for a five-story mixed-use building at the corner of Howard Street and North Division Street, which will include 125 apartments, 13 of which will be affordable and workforce housing units. Also part of this project is a 5,285 square foot ground floor commercial space.
Unrest in Ecuador hits close to home
In response to the political upheaval in Ecuador, local organizations Comunidades Unidas and Comité Civico Ecuatoriano de Westchester worked with Peekskill Councilman Ramon Fernandez and District 1 Legislator Colin Smith’s office to host “Somos Ecuador” (We are Ecuador) on February 3 at the Peekskill City School District’s Administration building. The purpose of the event was to allow the public to learn more about the situation in Ecuador and the relevant U.S. immigration laws.
In January, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa issued a 60-day nationwide state of emergency, following the prison escape of José Adolfo Macías Villamar or Fito, leader of the infamous Los Choneros drug cartel. In response to the escape and subsequent state of emergency, violence rose across Ecuador, with publicized attacks occurring in prisons, universities, markets, and public spaces.
Ecuador might seek Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Ecuadorian population in the United States, but nothing has been confirmed. TPS is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program that allows foreign nationals from designated countries to reside legally in the United States for a period of up to 18 months. DHS may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in some cases, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals. (Ongoing armed conflict, is grounds for TPS designation, as listed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has gone on record labeling the current crisis in Ecuador, an “internal armed conflict.”)
Sticky situation with pedestrian signals not working
In a textbook case of guerrilla marketing, a video posted on Instagram on Feb. 10 yielded action from City Hall and was discussed during the Feb. 13 Common Council meeting.
Resident Fred Dennstedt, who runs the Instagram account ‘Peekskill Exurbanist’, posted a video on Feb. 10 of the intersection of Main and Bank Streets showing how he tried to use the pedestrian signals to cross the street to no avail. The video generated some 8,217 plays and 314 likes in its first five days.
Dennstedt started his video with a close up of an official-looking bright yellow sticker on a light pole that reads “THIS INTERSECTION IS DESIGNATED A DEATH TRAP BY FRIENDLY TOWN COMMITTEE.” These stickers, which started appearing late last year, have been posted throughout the downtown in recent weeks at intersections where it is difficult for pedestrians to cross the street safely, because of broken or missing crosswalk signals.
At the Feb. 13 Common Council meeting, during his Quality of Life report, City Manager Matt Alexander said the city was aware of the problem with the pedestrian signals and that Chris Gross, the Director of the Department of Public Works, was going to be receiving training on how to reprogram them from the company that installed them.
A dozen Peekskill residents homeless after Sunday morning blaze
All 12 adults and children residents of a legally-designated two-family house on Orchard Street survived a fire that burned the entire residence down on Feb 4.
Fire officials determined that the origin was electrical in nature and have pinpointed and focused on an area where there is a junction box underneath the first floor porch in the back.
Resident Kimberly Llapa, 22 had been in her first floor bedroom at the back of the house when she smelled something akin to when a candle goes out. She went to the living room to investigate if her mother left a candle burning and didn’t find anything. Returning to her bedroom she noticed the smell was getting more pronounced. Looking out the window she saw smoke on the concrete driveway, and opening her window she saw flames that engulfed her daughter’s scooter. That’s when she realized the house was on fire. Llapa quickly evacuated herself and her daughter, and notified the other upstairs family.
Thanks to Llapa’s quick action, all residents evacuated safely.
Update on Downtown Revitalization Projects
In August 2019, Peekskill was awarded $10 million through Round 4 of the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative for the Mid-Hudson region. In May of 2021, Gov. Hochul announced the 11 approved projects: seven are public projects by the city of Peekskill and four are private projects led by private partners working with New York State.
Pugsley and Monument Parks
In December 2023, the city was awarded a $500,000 NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) grant, to augment existing DRI funding for enhancements at Pugsley and Monument Parks.
Pugsley Park received new lighting, benches and park furniture, and landscaping, and was opened in summer 2024.
The Monument Park project will include new pedestrian lighting, concrete work and landscaping. Construction is expected to begin in late 2024/early 2025.
Downtown Civic Hub and Connectivity
The Downtown Civic Hub project is backed by $1.6 million in DRI funding, and includes renovations to the public spaces around the flagpole and the gazebo at North Division Street and Park Street, the construction of “Peekskill Plaza” on South Division Street, and enhancements to pedestrian crossings.
This project calls for a wider brown plaza surrounding the gazebo with added seating areas facing restaurant row for live music and events, while leaving space for informal gatherings. The city contracted with Barton & Loguidice for design, engineering, bidding assistance, and construction inspection services for the Civic Hub and Connectivity Projects for $428,750.
Fleischmann Pier
The Fleischman Pier ($180,000 project) was a part of a larger $5 million project to reimagine the entire Charles Point Park and the pier. The pier reopened in June, and Fall Foliage boat tours were launched in October and November. In the future, the planning department is seeking to receive funds for dredging to allow larger boats to dock in Peekskill.
Wayfinding
For the $290,000 Wayfinding project the city contracted ACSM, Inc. based in Charlotte, North Carolina for consulting services. According to the RFP for this project, a signage program will be created to assist visitors in navigating Peekskill’s diverse points of interest for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
ACSM, Inc. visited Peekskill in Feb. and provided a draft strategy document in the spring. City staff convened an advisory committee to review the draft strategy and decide the type of signage, as well as locations that should be prioritized.
In November, City Planner Peter Erwin showcased several vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding sign and kiosk designs that would be at parking facilities, near the train station, and places getting a lot of foot traffic.
The next week, one member of the advisory committee that reviewed wayfinding signage proposals noted his displeasure with the chosen design. That is partially because the design selected by the city was presented to the council before the committee could give feedback on the full proposal, he said. Sepp Spenlinhauer,the husband of Councilman Brian Fassett, voiced his disapproval of the process at Monday’s Common Council meeting, calling it not appropriate.
Marketing & Branding
The $210,000 Marketing & Branding project has stalled. The city initially contracted with Weinrib & Connor for advertising and marketing services. Weinrib & Connor kicked off their campaign at a Chamber of Commerce lunch in Feb.
Six months after explaining how they would carry out their charge to the Peekskill business community, and with no campaign underway, Weinrib & Connor is out and the project is taking a fresh start.
Speaking at the Aug. 5 Peekskill Common Council work session, Director of Planning Carol Samol asked the council members to approve a new request for proposals to find new vendors.
Tom Connor, a principal of the firm, said his firm interviewed more than 100 potential Peekskill people to film, and wound up producing interviews with 75 of them, shooting the film in 57 different locations over a 10-week period from mid-March to Memorial Day. They also did branding and logo work for each category to accompany the videos.
The goal was to produce 24 finished videos, eight in each category – real estate showing homeowners who promote living in Peekskill, videos to attract tourists, and eight businesses located here. Weinrib & Connor delivered rough cuts of some videos to the Planning Department and 120 pages of proposals, Connor said.
While the original schedule called for a May debut of social media posts promoting tourism and a video of a lavish dance number production up Central Avenue, as well as paid advertising to begin in June, without approvals from the Planning Department of finished videos in hand the project fell way behind its target dates.
After several weeks of discussions, the city and Weinrib & Connor agreed on a final payment and terminated the contract.
According to City Manager Matt Alexander, the city now has multiple assets that can be used in marketing efforts going forward, including video footage of the city and its environs and interviews with residents, business owners, students, parents, teachers, and others; draft landing page art and copy; a draft logo; contact lists; other research and strategy briefs, and other products. Weinrib & Connor was paid $83,377, Alexander said.
Regarding who will make the final creative decisions for the city, Alexander said “As with many municipal projects, different decision-makers are involved at different stages of work.”
Downtown Revitalization Fund
The last public project Erwin discussed was the Downtown Revitalization Fund (DRF). The DRF is a micro-grant program meant to assist small businesses and building owners in the downtown area with making capital improvements. The fund has $700,00 in DRI funding and ten applications are in the process. All applicants were awarded through competitive open call in 2023.
Erwin informed the council that TerraDulce Bakery, located at 1049 Main Street, is furthest along in the application process. The bakery seeks to install outdoor dining. Erwin noted that this would be diagonally across from Pugsley Park:“I’m excited about seeing that [project] completed… and having a lot of action in that part of town.”
Enlighten Peekskill
This project is a three part public arts initiative, funded by the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (HV MOCA) through $500,000 in DRI funding. The three parts of this project are Illuminate Peekskill!, Making Connections Murals, and the Five Elements Murals, which was completed in March 2023.
Illuminate Peekskill! features five sculptures approved for sites between the waterfront and the downtown. The first installation (Wind Farm) is expected in April, with all installations expected to be done by June 2024. “Wind Farm” by Scott Goss and “Illuminate!” by David Farquharson were presented to the council last December.
Erwin presented a rendering of “Luminated Rhythm ” by Shagun Singh, a series of panels that will form a lenticular image underneath the overpass of Route 9 along Central Avenue. The image shown was just to depict the structure and the colors shown are not confirmed, said Erwin. “The artist is willing to work with the community about how to populate these panels with images and what they would like to do is find images of traditional dress and attire from all over the world.”
Also shown was “Ol’ Man River” by Robert Brush, which is an illuminated sculpture displaying the lyrics of a Paul Robeson song. The location used for the rendering is the building behind Taco Dive Bar, but Erwin emphasized that location has not been approved and HV MOCA is looking for a very prominent site to display this art piece.
In addition, Erwin’s presentation featured an image of a map of Peekskill and each sculpture’s location. “These are the sculpture sites. You can see how they form a trail that’s going to really be complementary with our connectivity work and create incentive for visitors to walk up the hill and discover what Peekskill has to offer.”
All Making Connections Murals are expected to be complete by the end of 2024. This project is sponsored by the Peekskill Arts Alliance. Three murals were shown and discussed with the council. The artists responsible for the art are Leonardo Moleiro (side of Bean Runner Cafe building), Mikail Tyutyunik (side of Bruised Apple Bookstore building), and Robert Barthelmes (police station). Erwin stated that all three murals received certificates of appropriateness from the Peekskill Historic Landmarks & Preservation Board and are ready to go.
Other DRI projects are: redevelop 41 N Division St. to include the Peekskill Arts Center, $1.6 million; revitalize the Paramount Theater, $1 million; transform the Kiley Youth Center as a new location of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, $1.5 million; implement public Wi-Fi in Lepore and Pugsley Parks and low-cost internet service for Bohlmann Towers and Barham Senior House, $300,000.
March
City fails to collect unpaid property taxes
Records obtained by The Herald from the Peekskill Finance Department reveal that 15 property owners owe unpaid city, school and county property taxes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some of those bills dating as far back as 2016.
Like many other municipalities, Peekskill faces constant annual increases in expenses, from higher costs of healthcare for employees, rising insurance rates, and higher prices for supplies and materials.
Peekskill officials have warned that these projected budget shortfalls could require the city to override the state-mandated 2 percent property tax cap for years to come, increasing taxes annually by 3.5 percent instead, nearly doubling the rate of the allowed cap increase. The Common Council did raise the tax rate by 3.5 percent in the 2024 budget.
The Common Council is expected to raise parking meter fees and traffic fines on Monday, March 25 to raise additional dollars. Last year the fee schedule for selected permits and city transactions were increased.
But the city is failing to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue from property owners who just don’t pay the property taxes that everyone else hands over voluntarily every year.
11th Hour Reprieve for Shelter and Food Pantry
Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP) announced it had extended lease agreements with landlords of its homeless shelter and food pantry, increasing the charity’s operating costs, but ensuring continued services for area unhoused and food-insecure residents.
In a statement, the nonprofit said it had reached an interim two-year agreement with the owners of 200 North Water Street to renew its expiring lease for Jan Peek House, its long-running North Water Street shelter whose existence was threatened in late 2023 when the property owner demanded a substantial rent increase at the conclusion of CHHOP’s lease period.
The local charity has proactively sought a new location since 2018, when it proposed moving to a vacant commercial building at 851 Washington Street on the city’s south side. Following a vocal opposition campaign by some neighborhood residents, the organization abandoned that plan.
Legal battle looms over Indian Point Water Disposal
Getting the 240 acres of land at Indian Point restored and redeveloped is a goal for everyone involved. The loss of $33 million in annual tax revenue and 1,000 jobs is devastating for the local community.
Holtec International, the company charged with completing the complex task of safely storing the spent uranium fuel rods, removing all the buildings and disposing of any waste materials, showed a timeline for the overall project at the last public meeting of the Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight Board held on Dec. 6.
What began as a target date of 2033 has now been pushed back to 2041 by Holtec, a delay they claim is caused by a state law passed last year that bans disposing 1.3 million gallons of treated wastewater with traces of radioactive tritium into the Hudson River.
At that December meeting, heated discussions about Holtec’s projected delay took center stage. The representative for Riverkeeper, Richard Webster, and state assemblywoman Dana Levenberg both expressed their frustration and anger that Holtec had not prepared an alternate plan to dispose of the water. A follow-up meeting of the board scheduled for Feb. 29 was canceled and the next meeting will now be held on April 25, when an update on how the water will be dealt with is anticipated.
A tale of two developers
The neighborhood surrounding the Monument on North Division Street is dominated by two abandoned square-block lots of old buildings begging for redevelopment.
At one site, a responsible local developer has devoted several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to present a vibrant plan that’s won strong support from the city and most residents. The other site, a crumbling, burned-out shell, is owned by a Brooklyn-based firm with that owes tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid Peekskill property taxes and hasn’t come back with a revised plan to restore the property.
It’s a tale of two projects, one moving forward to improve Peekskill while the other leaves a square city block as a dangerous, crumbling eyesore.
April
Peekskill becomes battleground in NY’s marijuana wars
New York’s costly, drawn-out and mismanaged rollout of legal sales of marijuana played out in three locations around the Gazebo in downtown Peekskill. A half a block up North Division Street, one applicant for a retail license has filed a lawsuit against the state and a competitor. Another half block down Central Avenue, the applicant named in the lawsuit has the required state license and now seeks approval from Peekskill to open before other competitors. And another half block along Park Street, state agents seized illegal marijuana being sold from a smoke shop and tagged the building for the illegal sales.
Residents gather to talk about housing in Peekskill
More than 60 members of the Peekskill community shared ideas at “A Conversation on Housing in Peekskill” hosted by the Peekskill Herald at the Red Door Creative Space.
Participants silenced their Facebook, Instagram and phone notifications for a while and talked with old friends in person and met new folks. They spoke and listened and stepped out of the “virtual” world to learn what other people thought.
The discussion kicked off with a viewing of the six-minute documentary “Peekskill: A Friendly Town” on housing and gentrification in Peekskill, created by three documentary students at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.
Take down parking lots and put up paradise?
The Planning Department proposed a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the redevelopment of four city-owned commuter parking lots on South Water Street and Railroad Avenue in the center of the city’s waterfront district. The RFEI differs from the city’s typical development approach for public properties, where the Planning Department usually has a specific design in mind, and then receives bids from companies to carry out that vision. For the parking lots, the Director of Planning Carol Samol noted that the city is “open to ideas.” She thinks “developers will be intrigued” by the possibility to pursue their own creativity.
McKenzie said city is strong in state of city address
Mayor Vivian McKenzie gave the State of the City address, highlighting the Depew Park field and new pickleball courts, police department funding for new locker rooms for female officers, and a rendering of a newly remodeled Paramount Center for the Arts. A color guard of three police officers led the procession of Common Council, Mayor and City Manager into Council Chambers crowded with city staff, friends and family members of McKenzie and Democratic party regulars along with the newly re-elected mayor of Buchanan Teresa Knickerbocker, state Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. George DeFeis, marketing manager at the Paramount Center, led the crowd in an acapella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the Rev. Robert Kilpatrick of the AME Zion Church on Park Street offered the invocation.
DA charges council member Scott with filing false documents
Council member Rob Scott was arrested and charged with filing designating petitions containing forged signatures for a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators in the June 2023 Democratic primary election. “Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. Undermining the petition process in an attempt to get on the ballot in an election violates the public’s trust,” District Attorney Miriam Rocah said.
Scott was charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a felony and was issued a desk appearance ticket for an April 30 arraignment in White Plains City Court. It is a class E felony. According the District Attorney’s office, there is a wide range of potential sentences associated with this charge ranging from a minimum of probation up to a maximum of one and a third to four years in state prison.
Peekskill IDA underbilled several developers for years
The Peekskill Industrial Agency (PIDA) underbilled two companies receiving tax breaks, the Holiday Inn Express and the Drum Hill Senior Living Community, by more than $700,000 over a six-year period.
The Peekskill Industrial Agency (PIDA), a government body separate from Peekskill city government, discovered the errors when a new financial professional was brought on board in mid-2023.
The PIDA’s board of directors can grant PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements that reduce the property taxes a developer pays for a set period of years before the tax resets to its normal rate. In theory this brings in more revenue than the city would realize if a project never happens and creates jobs and more business.
No dancing in the streets on Cinco de Mayo this year
A series of economic events caused Ruben Alvarez, proprietor of Ruben’s Mexican Cafe, to withdraw his permit application from the city for the Cinco de Mayo celebration he’s sponsored for 17 years. Manhattan Beer, a major sponsor of past festivals, withdrew support to the tune of $10,000; the city of Peekskill increased the price for police and department of public work presence by nearly three times past years from $4,000 to $11,000; and a number of vendors backed out, Alvarez said on Sunday.
There was confusion last week around whether the celebration was happening after the Common Council passed a resolution unanimously on March 11 to allow N. Division and Park Streets to be closed for the festival. [Before a permit can be issued, the Common Council has to pass a resolution.] After Alvarez received the permit he was informed of the increased cost of police and department of public works personnel. He withdrew his permit shortly after that.
“There was a notable increase last year in the number of people attending and drinking and we needed to increase the police presence,” said City Manager Matt Alexander on Friday.
Money,water, sewer upgrades dominate council work session
Three presentations at the Common Council meeting centered on money: tax exemptions for homeowners, proposed increased fines for Building Department violations and a nearly $330,000 estimate to overhaul McKinley Park. The city’s Assessor, Robert Morin, described to the public the various real estate tax exemptions for which homeowners may be eligible (based on age, income, Veteran status, disabilities, etc.). The deadline to apply for tax exemptions is May 1. Morin also described the process to request a property tax review by June 18. Residents may contact the Assessor’s Office (914-734-4190) for more information about the tax exemptions and getting their property’s value reassessed.
Homeless encampment in Peekskill echoes national dilemma
Several people living in a makeshift shelter on the cliff overlooking McGregory Brook along Central Avenue drew the attention of citizens and city officials, confronting a national dilemma. Garbage has piled up on the hill. A mattress fell down the slope and is hanging just above the cascade of water that flows below. Bottles and other trash are accumulating at the mouth of the brook near the new 645 Main apartment building.
On Wednesday, April 24, after hearing from Peekskill residents about the need to act, a City of Peekskill mini-bulldozer started clearing a path from the top of the hill in the Kiley Center parking lot down toward to the encampment.
May
Kings House of Fire Opens Cannabis Dispensary in Cortlandt
Kings House of Fire on Route 6 in Cortlandt, the first legal cannabis dispensary in northern Westchester, is the newest business of the King family, operators of child care and a children’s entertainment space. When the Town of Cortlandt allowed dispensaries to open, they increased the amount of feet a cannabis business could open near a park and a school to 1500 from the state-mandated 500 feet. The location of Kings House of Fire is 1510 feet away from Van Cortlandtville Elementary School and 1510 away from the veteran’s park at the corner of Locust Avenue and E. Main Street.
Peekskill adding new neighbors at Park Place Towers
With balconies in each apartment and breathtaking views of the Hudson River from some units, the newly-opened Park Place Tower in the heart of downtown Peekskill is bringing a new vitality and economic activity. Featuring hardwood floors in each apartment and all the hallways, modern finishes, high ceilings, heated bathroom floors and large windows that provide each resident with natural light, the eight-floor building on Brown Street is 20 percent leased and attracting potential new residents from near and far.
“We’ve been receiving lots of interest from people throughout the area including Ossining, Mahopac, Poughkeepsie, Brooklyn, the Bronx and local Peekskill people as well,” said Steven Irizarry, the licensed real estate salesperson with The Irizarry Team at Serhant, the leasing agent for the building.
Will Boys & Girls Club come to Peekskill?
Alyzza Ozer, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, told the Peekskill Common Council they would transform the Kiley Youth Center into a Boys & Girls Club. Three years later, a final deal hasn’t been reached.
At the PHA board meeting last Monday, April 29, board member Rob Scott (who is the Common Council’s liaison to the PHA) raised the question of where talks stand. Scott asked whether the PHA would get county financing to renovate the Kiley Center if no deal is arranged with the Boys & Girls Club to run the programs. Scott said he didn’t want to have the Housing Authority lose the chance to have the Kiley Center renovated.
Mark Kamensky, the attorney for PHA, explained that a condition of Westchester County’s financing is that programs be run at the center. If the Boys & Girls Club were to decide at some point after an operating agreement with the Housing Authority was signed that they could not run the programs, the Housing Authority would then be responsible.
Kamensky said he is still optimistic that an operating agreement with the Boys & Girls Club will be signed, but that no deal has been arranged yet. He said he will urge that talks conclude soon with the Boys & Girls Club.
Living under siege at 901 Main Street
Residents from Peekskill Plaza Apartments at 901 Main Street expressed their frustration and fear over their living conditions. “Our apartment building is overrun with drug addicts, prostitutes, homeless people and drug dealers.” The 168-apartment complex consists of a seven-story high-rise brick building and three two-story garden apartment style buildings, with a courtyard in the center. At the May 13 Common Council meeting, Elizabeth Jones and several other Plaza tenants described how living conditions have deteriorated in their apartment complex.
Victim of savage beating works for Westchester County
Hasseem Jenkins was charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault following the brutal death of a 56-year-old woman at 901 South St.
Police responded at approximately 3:10 p.m. last Tuesday to multiple reports of an assault in progress at an apartment at 900 South St., Peekskill police officers took Jenkins, 31, into custody and then charged him with second-degree attempted murder, a Class A-1 felony, and first-degree assault.
Upon arrival at the scene, police found Maria Coto, 56, with severe injuries. EMS and Peekskill fire department personnel responded to the call and immediately provided medical aid to the victim, who was then taken to the Medical Center in Valhalla. Coto is thought to have been seeing a client in the apartment when she was attacked.
Two marijuana shops set to open this summer
It took several years of work, but in the course of three business days Cloud 914 and Valley Greens retail marijuana stores finally received their major approvals to open.
Valley Greens, planning to open at 939 Central Avenue near the Bruised Apple bookstore, already had their state license and on Tuesday night, May 14, secured their special permit from the City of Peekskill Planning Commission.
Valley Greens now needs approval of signage, lighting fixtures, and possibly revised window treatment and ramp material from the Historic and Landmarks Preservation Board, which meets on Thursday, May 23. Changes to the exterior (ramp to front door) were approved by the Board on March 28.
The other company, Cloud 914, will operate at the current location of Nardone’s Furniture on Washington Street. Cloud 914 won their Peekskill special permit earlier this year, and received official word from New York state on Friday, May 10, that they were awarded a license.
School board election results for Peekskill and Hendrick Hudson
Voter turnout declined for the third year in the Peekskill City School district election., Only 382 people (three percent) of 12,519 eligible voters passed the $123 million budget and selected the two candidates running unopposed.
In Hen Hud, seven percent of 11,544 eligible voters picked two board candidates (Lauren Stanco and Cori Boudin) from five running and four percent voted on propositions including the $93 million budget.
How much do Peekskill households value certainty in their electric bills?
The Common Council heard a presentation from Sustainable Westchester, a program that pools consumer demand across Westchester County to negotiate a fixed, competitive price for electricity. Two years ago, the Herald reported on the savings Peekskill households reaped as a result of Westchester Power supplying their electricity. The guarantee of a monthly fixed electric rate from entirely renewable energy suppliers (e.g. hydropower), seemed like a no brainer to many. In January 2022, a household consuming 500 kilowatt (kWh) hours, which is typical for the county, saved close to $50 with the Westchester Power program compared to ConEd.
However, in the last year, Westchester Power has become a topic of debate among residents, with electricity rates coming in higher than what residents would have paid with Con Edison. For example, in March of this year, a household with typical county electrical usage would have paid about $35 more with Westchester Power than with ConEd.
Peekskill wins $10 million state infrastructure grant
Five developers and the City of Peekskill made a winning pitch to New York state, snagging a $10 million “Momentum” grant to build new municipal parking that could help bring 1,000 new residential units to Peekskill.
Gov. Kathy Hochul included Peekskill as one of the 13 projects in the first round of $67 million in grants from the state’s Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund. The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 29 at a news conference held at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park.
“As the first state program to reward our Pro-Housing Communities, the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund is not just helping them build more housing – it’s helping them chart a path toward a more affordable New York. My administration remains laser-focused on building the homes we need to bring down housing costs, and I am ready to work with any community that wants to join us.”
June
Safety, security concerns persist at Peekskill Plaza
Three weeks after the Herald reported on crime in 901 Main St. committed by homeless trespassers, including drug dealing and prostitution, security measures have been added but some residents are still living in fear. And, the Herald has learned that Peekskill Police average nearly one call a day to Peekskill Plaza, at 901 Main St., constantly investigating reports of unwanted people, suspicious activity, disputes, harassment and disorderly groups.
At the same time, the owner of the building is planning on selling the property to another group that intends to keep operating the site as subsidized affordable housing.
Focus on the unsafe conditions at Peekskill Plaza has drawn the attention of both City of Peekskill officials and the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency (PIDA). The PIDA helped the building owner win extremely favorable property tax reductions on the building beginning in 2005, saving the owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes that would have been paid to Peekskill, Westchester County and the Peekskill City School District.
Police make prostitution arrest, investigate stabbing
Crime in downtown Peekskill and the proliferation of “smoke shops” selling marijuana illegally need to be addressed as the city moves forward with a “downtown revitalization” and plans to build hundreds of new residential units. On the evening of Wednesday, June 5 into the morning of June 6, the City of Peekskill Police Department, along with several other agencies, conducted a joint operation dealing with prostitution and other quality of life issues.
Six arrests were made for prostitution as well as one arrest for fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to Peekskill Police Chief Leo Dylewski.
City celebrates Pugsley Park, state grants for development
Speaking to a crowd of public officials and residents, City Manager Matt Alexander called the grand opening of the new $1.2 million Pugsley Park the anchor project of Peekskill’s downtown revitalization initiative.
“The city knows of nine locations within two blocks of this park where just over 400 units could be built,” Alexander said. “There are over 600 units ready to be built at the riverfront area. We are very grateful that the governor has this problem on her radar and that we could be a part of the solution for New York state and for Peekskill.”
Peekskill used a portion of its $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant money awarded in 2019 to completely rebuild the rundown park on Main Street into a crown jewel.
State leave Papi’s Secret Stash high and dry
Claiming they made a clerical error, state officials informed the owner of Papi’s Secret Stash on Main Street that they were withdrawing their approval of his license for a retail cannabis store. Three days after that horrible news, the OCM sent Sanchez this message. The rescinding of his license “… was not a denial of your application. Your application still remains in process at this time. I wish I had some more information for you at this time” the OCM staff person wrote “but unfortunately I do not. Please continue to monitor your inbox for updates.”
At that point, Sanchez says “I’m upset, but hoping they made an error and would fix it in the next round or two. But they aren’t even responding to my attorney.”
And that was that. Since then two other Peekskill dispensaries and another in Cortlandt have been licensed by the state and plan to open this summer while Sanchez has to watch his opportunity languish in a bureaucratic fog of no answers.
Maria Coto, social worker attacked in Peekskill, dies
Maria Coto, 56, the Westchester County Department of Social Services worker viciously beaten for no reason on May 14 in Peekskill died on June 19 without ever recovering from her severe injuries. Coto remained on life-support at Westchester County Medical Center after the attack until the ventilator was removed in early June. Coto was 56 years old.
Common Council votes to recommit to electric bill certainty
Peekskill’s Common Council to vote to recommit to Westchester Power, a provider of a renewable energy option for monthly electric bills at a fixed price. Westchester Power also offers the choice of a renewable energy option. Several residents spoke about this program, mostly in favor of the council recommitting.
Proposed free shuttle service results in tensions amongst council members
A heated discussion among council members on a free shuttle service from the train station to the gazebo in downtown Peekskill ensued during a Common Council meeting, ultimately winning approval. The new shuttle service aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for both residents and visitors, while serving as an economic tool for the city. The shuttle will run from 4:00-10:30 P.M. on Fridays and 12:00-8:00 P.M. on Saturdays. This initiative is sponsored by Peekskill’s Business Improvement District (BID), which, through donations and other funding sources, will pay the city for the cost of the service, and provide insurance coverage. The city will provide the driver and the shuttle for this project.
State cracks down on illegal pot sales in Peekskill
State police swept through downtown Peekskill on June 26 for a second time in four months, charging Peekskill Smoke Shop at 988 Main St. and the South St. Deli at 900 South St. with selling pot illegally.
The first state raids in Peekskill happened on March 28, when enforcement agents from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) posted notices on several different locations in Peekskill that illicit cannabis had been seized from the stores.
City honors five for pride month
The Common Council celebrated Pride Month, honoring five individuals of the LGBTQ+ community – Sepp Spenlinhauer, David Carpenter, Cynthia Knox, Leslie Masson and Justin Wingenroth. All the proclamations read by Mayor McKenzie to the five honoree’s included the following language: Pride Month is a joyful display of love, unity and resilience which promotes inclusivity, educates the public, and celebrates the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. As we celebrate Pride Month, may we reflect on the powerful reminder of the importance of acceptance, diversity and love.
