Building Delays at 2-4 Weaver: Plus Vacant Lots Mean Lost Revenue for Scarsdale

It's not your imagination – work at the former Heathcote Tavern building at 2-4 Weaver Street has come to a halt and the large signs for Twin Oaks Construction have been taken down. According to Village Manager Steve Pappalardo, Twin Oaks is no longer the general contractor on the job and a new firm has been retained and will restart the work shortly.

This is just the most recent setback on a project with a long history. Even before Scarsdale10583 was founded in 2009, a group called the "Heathcote Coalition" fought development at the site for years, and urged trustees not to sell a small strip of land adjacent to the property to the developers in order to block their plans. Claiming environmental, aesthetic and traffic concerns, they stalled approval for the project but ultimately a term sheet was signed and construction began, albeit slowly.

Steve Oder, the developer of the property, says a "misunderstanding about procedures and operations" with Twin Oaks caused a delay of several months. They hope to be back on track with the new general contractor who is starting work next week. Plans call for the completion of a model in the late fall and for the entire project to be done before next summer. Stay tuned.

We also noticed a general slowdown in building, with many vacant home sites waiting for buyers. Speculative developers purchase lots, tear down the homes and are now sitting on their investments. As these lots do not include homes, their assessments have dropped steeply and the village is suffering a loss in revenue.

For example, at 31 Murray Hill Road, the home has been torn down and taxes on the vacant lot have been reduced from $63,012 in 2015 to $22,792 in 2014. 18 Heathcote Road, a 5.39 acre property is also vacant. The developer had plans approved to build an expansive new home and take down 33 trees. But while they wait for a buyer, taxes which were as high as $195,144 in 2014, have now been reduced to $44,096. At 14 Reimer Road, the owner received permission to tear down the home in December, 2015. The 1.32 acre lot is now vacant and taxes have been reduced from $60,776 to $21,980.

So in addition to the loss of historic homes, the Village of Scarsdale is suffering a loss in tax revenue from the demolition of homes by speculative builders.

Sales:

16 South Church Lane

This classic brick Colonial built in 1932 was renovated from 2004-2014. This home sits on .69 acres in Fox Meadow and Crane Berkley. There is more than 5,200 square feet plus a 40 foot pool with an electronic cover, a pool house with heat and central air conditioning plus a full kitchen, bathroom, storage room, outdoor built-in BBQ, covered patio, and a pergola. In the house, there is a marble vestibule, an entry foyer, a living room with a gas fireplace, a formal dining room, a Clive Christian mahogany library with a gas fireplace, a Christopher Peacock kitchen, a breakfast room/family room with a gas fireplace, a conservatory, mudroom, laundry room, and a second powder room. On the second floor, there is a master bedroom with a bathroom, walk-in closet, and four additional bedrooms with three bathrooms. On the lower level, there is a gym/playroom. There are Marvin windows, new heating and air conditioning systems and an interior/exterior sound system.

Sale Price: $3,875,000
Taxes: $57,667

7 Stonehouse Road

This newly built nearly 6,000 square foot Colonial has an open kitchen/family room. There is also a library, laundry and mudroom off the two car garage on the first floor. On the second floor, there is a master bedroom suite with tray ceilings and two walk in closets. There are three additional bedrooms with three full baths and a back staircase.

Sale Price: $2,862,500
Taxes: TBD

129 Carthage Road

This Heathcote Colonial with a new kitchen, renovated baths and wood floors throughout is situated on .62 acre with a circular driveway, a master bedroom on the main level with custom closets and a newly updated bath, two more bedrooms and bath on the main level, plus two second floor bedrooms with a hall bath and a family room, two laundry areas (one on first floor and one on second floor), a living room with fireplace and bay window, a formal dining room, a family room with a fireplace, vaulted ceiling with skylights and doors to the deck. There is a first floor office, a basement with a playroom/movie room and another full bath.

Sale Price: $2,005,000
Taxes: $37,722

77 Greenacres Avenue

This one level home is situated on .78 of an acre. It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two half baths, a master suite with a sitting room and a three-car garage. Next to the barrel-ceiling living room with fireplace, there is a loggia leading to a bluestone courtyard overlooking the garden. Features in this home include a steam shower/whirlpool soaking tub in the master bath, radiant heat bathrooms, two powder rooms, a cedar closet in the attic, new windows, hardwood floors with mahogany inlay, mudroom/laundry room/pantry/second refrigerator/freezer, built-in storage, and indoor/outdoor speakers.

Sale Price: $1,810,000
Taxes: $34,105

164 Boulevard

This Colonial is on .25 acres of landscaped property. Recent upgrades include a new kitchen featuring Leicht custom cabinetry, Miele and Thermador professional grade appliances, caesarstone counter tops, new Marvin Ultimate Clad windows and doors, whole house gas generator, new chimney flue, upgraded ADT security system with four cameras, insulated attic and garage ceiling, extended patio, terraced retaining walls, two new air conditioning condenser units, re-paved entrance walkway and steps, interior/exterior painting, and California closets.

Sale Price: $1,800,000
Taxes: $35,981

32 Aspen Road

This updated home in the heart of Quaker Ridge has a living room with a wood-burning fireplace and built-ins and a formal dining room with French doors that open to the sunroom. There is a renovated gourmet kitchen with premium appliances and an island with seating overlooking the patio. There is also a wood-beamed family room. The first floor master bedroom offers custom closets and an en suite bathroom with a glass enclosed shower and marble double vanity. Two additional bedrooms complete the first floor with an updated hallway full bath. Upstairs are two large bedrooms and a new full bath. The lower level includes a laundry room, storage and a walk out basement.

Sale Price: $1,670,000
Taxes: $31,570

12 Montrose Road

This 2,851 square feet Colonial home on .28 acre in Greenacres has four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, granite counters, a center island and a separate breakfast area. The master bedroom suite has a fireplace and bathroom with dual sinks, glass enclosed shower and a separate tub. There is a cobblestone patio surrounded by a stone wall.

Sale Price: $1,610,000
Taxes: $36,466

7 Carstensen Road

This Fox Meadow center hall Tudor features parquet floors, a den/family room off the kitchen, with a stone wall and a fireplace, and a custom master bedroom walk-in closet.

Sale Price: $1,315,000
Taxes: $25,129

106 Brambach Road

This updated Scarsdale colonial has an enclosed wrap around sun porch with millwork, a renovated gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and breakfast bar, which opens into the family room. There are nine-foot ceilings throughout first floor with the living room with fireplace open to the dining room. The second floor has a master suite with an updated full bath, two additional bedrooms, plus a cherry wood office/ fourth bedroom and an updated hall bath. There is also a finished attic.

Sale Price: $1,198,000
Taxes: $15,128

Edgemont:

57 Midvale Road

This Edgemont Colonial is on .62 acres with golf course views. This home has four full and one half bathroom. The kitchen has been updated with a Carrara center island, window seat, teak desk and hutch, two sinks, a wine refrigerator, and high end stainless steel appliances. The kitchen opens to a formal dining room with bay windows overlooking a Gunite in-ground pool. There is a family room with a gas fireplace, a formal living room with custom built-ins and a fireplace, a bluestone patio accessible through French doors from the family and living rooms. There is a double story entry with custom wainscotting. There is also a second master en-suite bedroom and a powder room. The second floor has a master bedroom with a tray ceiling, four custom walk-in-closets, a master bathroom with double sinks, a jetted tub, separate shower and toilet. There are two additional bedrooms, a den with custom built-ins and a bath with double sinks. There is a new sound system in the kitchen/dining room/lower level playroom/pool area. There are new bamboo floors in the playroom, custom cabinets in the mudroom, and a new washer, dryer and bathroom with radiant heat through the floor.

Sale Price: $2,092,500
Taxes: $40,551

12 Edgemont Circle

This four bedroom, three bath home is on .38 acre on a cul-de-sac in Edgemont. This home has a family room with sliding glass doors to the yard.

Sale Price: $1,200,000
Taxes: $25,979

105 Old Colony Road

This Edgemont home features an eat-in kitchen with premium appliances, which opens to a family room with sliders to the patio, a formal living room with a wood burning fireplace and a formal dining room. The second level boasts three bedrooms, one en-suite full bath and one hall full bath. The third level contains a master suite incorporating a bedroom with skylights, a master bath with soaking tub, large shower and double vanity, and a dressing room with a walk-in closet. The lower level includes a recreation room/guest room/office with a fourth full bath and a door to the patio/yard, laundry and a fully outfitted two car garage.

Sale Price: $950,000
Taxes: $28,900

11 Meadowview Drive

This three bedroom, two and a half bath split level home is on .30 acre in the Edgemont School District. This home has an updated eat-in-kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and a door to the deck, a family/playroom with a fireplace and a powder room, a master bedroom with a bathroom, an additional den/office/fourth bedroom, hardwood floors throughout, vaulted ceiling, freshly painted, and a one-car attached garage.

Sale Price: $650,000
Taxes: $17,406

Featured Listings:

30 Morris Lane, Scarsdale

Majestically set in Scarsdale's prestigious Murray Hill, this stately six bedroom Georgian Modern Colonial sits on a private 1.82 acres that boasts a gorgeous pool, Deco Turf II tennis court and perfectly manicured landscaping. The gracious 23' high entry foyer with circular stairs leads to the elegant interior space. The unique design of high ceilings, an abundance of windows and doors allows for the house to be bathed daily in natural light. The master suite is a romantic vision in white. The lower level offers an additional 3100 square feet of beautiful, recreational space. House also available furnished with custom designed one of a kind Christian Liaigre and Holly Hunt furniture and Edward Fields rugs throughout. This is a true Scarsdale gem. Not to be missed! For more information, click here.

List Price: $8,600,000

8 Berkeley Lane, Scarsdale

Move right into this spacious three bedroom, two and a half bath Split Level set on .22 acres. Situated on a dead-end street, this well maintained home is a short distance to the school and only steps to the commuter bus to Scarsdale train station. The home offers an open floor plan, hardwood floors, and nicely sized rooms. Convenient access to the lower level and family room through the two-car garage is a plus. For more information, click here.

List Price: $899,000