A project to uplift the core of the City of Peekskill and bring improvements to a downtown street took a big step forward on Feb. 23.
The Peekskill Common Council voted 6-1 to award a construction bid with Scape-Tech Landscape Technology to construct a new “Civic Hub” at the intersection of N.Division St. and Park St., along with improvements to S. Division St. at South St. and Brown St., for a total of $3,273,450.
The sole vote in opposition came from Councilman Brian Fassett, who shared concerns at the Feb. 17 Committee of the Whole about there being a single bidder for the project after 27 companies initially showed interest.
“That says either it was over-complicated and people couldn’t bid the project or there were other concerns potentially as to why,” Fassett said.
The project, part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative state grant, will add roughly 2,000 square feet of new space for pedestrians across a proposed plaza space on S. Division St. and an expanded area at Brown Plaza. It also includes 10 new pedestrian signals from Brown St. to Main St., new granite curbs, and concrete crosswalk for high visibility for pedestrians.
Planner Peter Erwin said those who didn’t submit a bid were deterred in part by the large project area, traffic control for construction, and volume of truck traffic that travels through the intersection, requiring the city to over-engineer all the concrete work.
“Our intention was to put all out to bid at once, thinking that a bigger project would gain some efficiencies and lower prices,” Erwin said on Feb. 17. “However, with that much area to control and also the different items to come up with pricing for, some contractors struggled to align all their subs in the time that was allowed under the bid.”
Fassett also shared concerns of the scope of the project, referencing what Erwin said was a price increase of 40 percent for the project since the city was awarded the grant in 2019. He suggested modifying the project and delaying a project to put a new plaza on S. Division St.in front of the currently vacant Ford Piano building.
“There was a desire in the community group that actually proposed this project that we have space to program without closing streets,” Erwin said. “And actually have a downtown that invites pedestrians to share space with vehicles… It feels good to deliver on a project that was thought of and designed by our community members.”
During the design process, residents on the advisory committee and attendees at a public workshop emphasized expanding pedestrian spaces and narrowing vehicle travel lanes within reason, Erwin told the Peekskill Herald. This, he said, would benefit Peekskill by slowing traffic, discouraging double parking, and allowing for certain small concerts and events to be scheduled without closing off streets to traffic which he noted can be expensive and disruptive.
One component of the project that has seen high public interest seeks to transform Brown Plaza into an expanded plaza space with a sculptural pavilion. Erwin said on Feb. 17 that, based on public feedback, they will be working with a design firm to come up with something that feels contextual to people and tells the story of why it is going there.
On Feb. 23, the council also unanimously passed a resolution to enter into a $197,000 contract with CHA for engineering design services to design four intersections under the Momentum Fund investment program, including one of the intersections that’s part of the Civic Hub project.
Engineering Proposal, Grants, Street Closures
Of 18 resolutions voted, 17 were passed unanimously on Feb. 23. That includes a resolution to authorize the city manager to execute a new engineering proposal ($53, 800) with Weston & Sampson Engineers for additional Hollowbrook Dam engineering services.
The council also passed two overdue resolutions that accepted 2024-2025 grant awards from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for the Peekskill Youth Bureau’s Advancing Leadership Initiatives for Teens program ($12,075) and the Rising Tide Boatbuilding program ($5,738).
The council also voted on resolutions that authorize the city to close streets for three upcoming events, including the Peekskill Flea Market, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the Juneteenth parade and festival.
Also passed by the council are the following resolutions…
- Authorizing the city manager to enter into a $1.8 million settlement of litigation agreement pertaining to a man imprisoned for 14 years.
- Resolutions authorizing the city manager to approve the city’s proposed immigration enforcement and discrimination policy, as well as request the New York State legislature pass, and the governor sign, the New York for All Act.
- Authorizing the city manager to negotiate the terms and conditions of a license agreement with Rivertown Management Services (RMS) to continue to operate the Emerald Princess at Fleischmann Pier and to provide pier management services. – See Related Story
- Authorizing the city manager to reappoint Malvina Dimeas to the Board of Ethics.
- Authorizing the city manager to certify the 2025 points listing for the Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps Length of Service Awards program.
- Authorizing the city manager to certify the 2025 points listing for the City of Peekskill Volunteer Firefighters Length of Services Awards program.
- Authorizing the fire chief to remove individuals from the list of active volunteer firefighters.
- Authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement to install and maintain an online application filing and tracking system ($20,000).
- Authorizing the city manager to adopt a hearing officer’s findings and recommendations rejecting an employee’s appeal with respect to the denial of an employee’s GML § 207-A benefits.
To view the full list of resolutions, click here.
