Archive for the 'Gedney Farms' Category
Over the past few months I have written several times about the now infamous Gedney Farms vs. FASNY issue. For those not in the know – the private French American School (FASNY) is seeking a special permit to build a 1200 student K-12 campus in the Gedney neighborhood. I have been on record as being against the project. I have written a couple of posts to this effect outlining my concerns for the neighborhood and the implications for the future building prospects on other large tracts of land that have yet to be developed.
Over time, circumstances change and neighborhoods often have to change with them.
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Recently, I’ve posted several posts on the issue of the French American School of New York and their purchase of the Ridgeway Golf Club. Previously many of the home owners in Gedney Farms enjoyed the wonderful vista of golf course views from their back yards. Most bought their homes with the understanding that should the golf club disappear, the local zoning was for very low-density housing . Now FASNY wants to build a major campus for 1200 students on the grounds.
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Zoning – Schomning! That’s what a lot of developers and buyers with deep pockets are saying these days….
In a world increasingly divided between the have mores and the have nots, and municipalities struggling to make ends meet – those with deep pockets feel that minor incidentals such as “zoning” and a “city planning” are small obstacles to be pushed aside with relative ease. All they have to do is purchase a property – zoning not withstanding – plant their flag and impose their “vision” for the future of the land on the community.
- Zoning – Who cares? We’ll just threaten litigation if the city refuses us.
- Declining Property Values? Change is inevitable - so if a few people get “hurt” in the name of progress – that’s life.
- City Planning? – We bought the land – the city will just have to change its “plans!”
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The jet stream has created some particularly volatile weather in our region over the past several years. Watching storm clouds gather has almost become a hobby. This was taken about a week ago in the Gedney Farms neighborhood of White Plains NY. It was in the wake of all of the dangerous tornadoes that hit the south. There were some isolated tornado warnings in New Jersey – which is rare at any time – although we do get some in the summer around June. The sky was ominous enough for me to question whether or not I should be out. The eerie contrast between the bright spring colors and the dark gray sky prompted me to stop for a photo op! The clouds hung so low that I could almost imagine a funnel cloud forming. But I had things to do for my clients. Perhaps I should have listened to my gut. The the storm did break I could not see three feet in front of me and had to pull off the road.
© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
For those still looking for Westchester Christmas light displays – stay tuned. There is more to come in the next few days. This latest set are from Gedney Farms White Plains. These displays come under the heading of “less is more” variety of light displays. They are lovely, but perhaps a bit more geared to grown ups. Still – they are great for the entire family. The last photo is more spectacular to look at than the photo indicates. Its amazing what spot lights and with very little in the way of glitter can do to light up a home. Subtle – but spectacular. My next photos will be more high voltage! This was definitely a low key display…..
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Over the past week, I have been weighing the pro and con arguments of the city of White Plains purchasing the Ridgeway Golf Club. My first reaction to the possibility of the golf course being purchased by the city was that of relief. I grew up in Gedney Farms. Both my parents and grandparents owned homes facing the Ridgeway Golf Course. I played on that golf course at night. I climbed the apple tree in our back yard and watched the golfers from that vantage point. So I have hesitated in offering an opinion. Was nostalgia for a lifestyle whose time has passed clouding my judgment?
How can the city justify spending that kind of money during a fiscal crisis?
One of my problems was endorsing such a massive purchase which would increase debt while taking a large parcel off of the tax rolls. White Plains is in a fiscal crisis. A few months ago I actually wrote about how necessary the drastic cutbacks the city was enacting were for maintaining property values. At the time, I wrote that keeping the tax burden down for home owners was essential for stabilizing housing prices and I still hold to that. How does that square with deliberately taking a large property off the tax rolls and going into a hole to purchase it?
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The Gedney Farms White Plains NY neighborhood has been on pins and needles since the 2009 announcement that the Ridgeway Golf Club including the Golf course that graces the neighborhood was up for sale. The financial reversals of 2008 hit the Ridgeway’s members severely and the resulting drop in membership forced the Ridgeway to put their beloved golf club on the block to the highest bidder. It went on the market at $20 million.
Recently the Golf Club sent letters to the residents of Gedney Farms that stated there was a buyer who was willing to use the land as a golf course for at least five years. The residents heaved a sigh of relief. Bulldozers were not moving in tomorrow.
Ridgeway Golf Club back on the market
However, the neighborhood was rocked again by the news that the deal had fallen through and the golf course was once again up for sale.
Now that the price of the golf club has been reduced to $13.5 million – it is literally on the block for a “song.” Naturally, the difficult real estate market had no small effect on the price. But what many don’t know is that only a portion of that land is capable of being developed given the extensive wetlands the golf club sits on. The new price certainly is a reflection of both of these issues.
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Gedney Farms White Plains NY:
When buyers are looking for high-end single family homes in White Plains NY – A home with plenty of green space and old-world charm – Gedney Farms is the first neighborhood that comes to mind. Gedney Farms was named after John Gedney who bought the land in 1740. Gedney Farms was a working farm that remained within the Gedney family right through the Civil War. It has long ceased to be farmland and is now a well established neighborhood.
Through much of the Gedney area the zoning is for no more than three homes per acre, so most lots have at least .33 acres of land which for lower Westchester is very difficult to find at a decent price. The roads are fairly narrow the wind around giving the feeling of country roads. No checkerboard streets here! This is also a plus because the streets are generally quiet as this discourages cut-through traffic that sometimes occurs in other parts of White Plains. The homes are a mix of Tudors and colonials many of them built during the Great Depression or before with a smaller percentage being built in the 50s and 60w. This is a mature neighborhood with very little buildable land remaining.
The Ridgeway Golf Course:
The Ridgeway golf course defines the neighborhood and depending on your location. It bisects the Gedney neighborhood in several places and many of the homes have spectacular golf course views. Some even have the fairways coming right into their back yards giving an illusion of almost endless open space. This type of amenity is difficult to match in lower Westchester and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the City Center and the Ritz Carlton of downtown White Plains. Some homes have their back yards extending right into the fairways. It looks like open space as far as the eyes can see.
Unfortunately, at this time the fate of the Ridgeway golf club is not settled. Although the club has no wish to sell its land to developers, difficult financial times may force that issue. So far they have been holding on. Much of the area is wetlands, so the quantity of building would be quite limited. Nevertheless, the loss of such a vista would be a blow to the area. Everyone is hoping that this issue will resolve itself as the economy continues to improve.
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These days when New Yorkers think of White Plains NY, they think of high-rise luxury living at the Ritz Carlton or Trump Tower. However, White Plains has a softer more residential side concentrated at the southern end of the city. The dichotomy between the residential and urban ends of the city is actually quite politically charged. Locals often describe these conflicts as “north end” vs. “south end.”
Gedney Farms is one of the premier high-end single-family neighborhoods at the southern tip of the city. The lots are large – generally over over a third of an acre. The homes are elegant and graceful with many striking pre-war Tudors and Colonials gracing the winding streets. Dominating the scene are golf course views enjoyed by many residents – courtesy of the Ridgeway Golf Club. The neighborhood of Gedney Farms was rocked by the news that the golf course views that are such a dominating feature of the neighborhood might be a mere memory in a few years.
History of the Ridgeway Golf Course and Current Status:
The Golf course itself has been around since 1914 and was initially part of the famous Gedney Farms Hotel which burned down in 1924. The golf course was taken over by Ridgeway about 60 years ago. This recession has known no economic barrier and some Country Clubs have been hit hard. Ridgeway has been no exception. At an open meeting of Gedney residents on May 6, Henry Shyer, the president of the Ridgeway golf club laid the shaky finances of the golf club on the line. They need 65 new members at $15,000 a year to make up their budget shortfall.While seeking new membership, the 114 acre golf course has also been put on the market for $20 million. A provision of the sale is that the golf course remain a golf course for the next five years.
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