Preservation Code Under Attack

These are uneasy times for anyone concerned with preserving Scarsdale’s historic homes. The challenges to our local historic preservation code are ever present, primarily from developers who wish to tear down older homes and trees on prime lots and replace them with oversized McMansions that often extend to the property line.

What’s going on?

--Currently, an appeal by Scarsdale Village to a State Supreme Court ruling that would clear the way for the demolition of a Normandy style home at 11 Dolma Road is in process, and no one knows how long it will take for the case to be heard. That case challenges the legality of local historic preservation code. In the interim, lawyers are using the ruling as precedent to justify more applications.

--In October 2021, a local developer subverted Village process and tore down a historic Tudor at 41 Hampton Road without permission. Will he go unpunished for his actions?

--In February 2022 the Committee for Historic Preservation consented to allow a builder to lop off a portion of a historic home at 40 Mamaroneck Road to facilitate a subdivision of the property and the construction of a new home, essentially in the front yard of the stately home. It appeared that the concession was a tradeoff to save the main house.

On May 31, 2022 the Committee for Historic Preservation considered the fate of two homes that preservation expert Andrew Dolkart deemed worthy of preservation. The committee approved the demolition of 29 Church Lane and adjourned a decision on 19 Dolma Road.

For both homes, the applicants retained Emily Cooperman, an architectural historian from Pennsylvania to refute testimony from Dolkart. She views Scarsdale’s law through the lens of Philadelphia’s code and believes we have little worth saving here. One wonders why the applicants can’t find a hired gun who is familiar with this area’s history.

An application has been filed to demolish 1 Obry DriveTo further complicate matters, the agenda for the committee’s June 28, 2022 meeting is already posted and includes an application to raze a lovely and unique 1915 Mediterranean home on 1.5 acres at 1 Obry Drive.

What’s to be done?

Our law and the committee’s rulings are under attack. Though the Village Manager had indicated they would schedule a work session on historic preservation early in 2022, it is now June and nothing is on the calendar. The teardowns continue. There seems to be no end to the campaign by homeowners and builders to raze everything that makes our Village so beautiful.

What’s ironic is that there is a tight market for homes in Scarsdale. New buyers with young children are standing in line to buy the few homes that are for sale, resulting in price wars for scarce inventory. Developers are fueling this shortage by taking existing homes off the market and replacing them with mansions that few can afford. Take a look at how many new homes above $4 million are sitting empty while prospective buyers are turned away.

Readers – is anyone out there? Do you care what happens on your block and in your neighborhood? If so, write to [email protected] and make your feelings known. If not, when they tear down the house next door, you will have only yourself to blame.

Sales
95 Brite Avenue
Picturesque, sun-filled Colonial in prime Fox Meadow location. Set on .47 acres of professionally manicured property, this residence is an easy walk to Metro North, village shops, restaurants and elementary and high school. Free bus to the middle school. This beautiful home boasts fine architectural detail and has been impeccably renovated over time with the finest finishes. Enjoy spacious rooms: living room with access to the sun porch, formal dining room, office/den, gourmet chef's eat-in kitchen, amazing family room with access to the back deck. Upstairs find a primary bedroom suite, three additional bedrooms and hall bath. The finished lower level is ideal for multi-recreational use (446 square feet) and includes a full bath with shower. This is the perfect combination of stylish living and a great location!
Sale Price: $2,500,000
Assessed Value: $1,975,000
Real Estate Taxes: $49,814

219 Fox Meadow Road
This Storybook small castle is filled with enchanting character and old world grandeur and is nestled on one of the most sought after locations in the heart of Scarsdale's prestigious Fox Meadow area! The coveted neighborhood is within close walking distance to the train station (0.5 mile), Fox Meadow elementary school,Scarsdale High School and Public Library. Striking details include a turret, custom millwork, original leaded windows, archways, hardwood floors and oversized formal rooms perfect for entertaining. The eat-in kitchen includes a sun-filled breakfast room w/door to stone patio and cooking area. Stone steps lead to a level yard with room for play. A family room with fireplace and a library with custom bookcases and arched windows,terrace, guest bedroom and full bathroom complete the first floor.The 2nd level features a grand primary suite with sitting room/cathedral ceiling, fireplace, luxe bath, 3 bedrooms and hall bath.The lower level features a recreation room, full bath and 2-car garage.
Sale Price: $1,899,000
Assessed Value: $1,500,000
Real Estate Taxes: $37,833

108 Carstensen Drive
South-Facing Fox Meadow 1978 Colonial on a cul- de-sac, near Scarsdale High School, train, library and village. Circular driveway leads to the beautiful home with front porch. Large, sunny, great open floor makes this home perfect! Wood floor living room with fireplace opens to formal dining with sliding doors to blue stone patio. Gourmet kitchen with granitops, stainless appliances opens to a large family room that leads to patio and playset in the backyard. Laundry room, mud room, powder room and two car garage finish the first floor. Second floor boasts a primary suite with a huge walk-in closet, three big size family bedrooms and a hallway bath. Legal 1002 square foot walkout lower level perfect for family room, playroom, gym, office, recreation(not including sqft) .Upgrades include waterproof foundation, new insulation, sump pumps, flooring, doors, gutters, dishwasher, vent out oven range hood, washer, dryer and more.
Sale Price: $1,760,000
Assessed Value: $1,057,500
Real Estate Taxes: $25,454

32 Sprain Valley Road
Welcome to this lovingly maintained Split Level home located in the Edgemont School District. Situated on a half acre this house has been freshly painted with newly finished hardwood floors. Enter the front door to the main level with a large living room with wood burning fireplace, open dining area and sliding glass door to the freshly painted deck. The eat in kitchen offers granite counters and stainless steel appliances and door to the outside. One level down you will find the above grade family room/play room w/new floors and a sliding glass door to patio and backyard. Half bath, laundry, utilities and storage complete the lower level. One level up from main floor sits a very spacious private primary bedroom with walk-in closet and full bath. Third level offers three generous sized bedrooms, full bath with double sinks. Driveway accommodates many cars.
Sale Price: $862,500
Assessed Value: $840,300
Real Estate Taxes: $24,200

Featured Listings

12 Park Road
Scarsdale, NY
Built atop a knoll in the sought-after Grange estate area of Greenacres, this ultra-private stately residence built by a prominent local developer as his family's primary home offers a magnificent setting for both entertaining on a large scale, as well as a welcoming multi-generational retreat. French doors from many main level areas lead to the delightful outdoor covered porches, expansive bluestone patio featuring a built-in barbeque station, a curved salt-water Gunite heated pool, astutely manicured mature gardens with five raised vegetable garden beds. The grandly proportioned interiors of this 10,500+ square foot home with a 21’ ceiling entrance incorporates all the amenities and needs of a modern family with high-tech mechanical systems and rich architectural appointments throughout. Featuring two fireplaces, formal and casual rooms, professional kitchen, office, playrooms, workshop, wine cellar, plenty of storage space and a three-car garage complete this majestic tranquil home. A masterpiece property.
Learn more here.
Listing Price: $7,950,000

5 Wynmor Road
Scarsdale, NY
This is the home you have been waiting for! Great location and significant attention to detail, meticulously renovated and restored with the highest quality materials and appliances. Seventy percent of the house was rebuilt offering the best of both worlds: new amenities and upgrades with beautiful old world charm - arched doorways, lead glass windows, beamed ceilings, Juliette balcony, turret, slate roof, just to name a few. This yummy four bedroom, three and a half bath home will warm your heart. From the moment you enter the bright foyer leading to living room with sliders to a romantic stone patio, fabulous real Chefs Kitchen, formal dining rm, and breakfast area/ office with glass slider to large bluestone patio, powder rm, a few steps down to family room with radiant heat and slider to parking court and yard. Second floor has a primary bedroom and bath, a bedroom with turret which is perfect for studying or cozying up with a good book, and another family bedroom, a hall bath. Lower level offers fourth bedroom, bath and bonus space
Learn more here.
Listing Price: $1,795,000