Focus: Advocacy

On June 27th our docents and Board Members gathered at the Keeper’s House to celebrate the designation of the first Scenic Landmark in The Bronx — Aqueduct Walk — by the New York City Landmarks Commission.

Scenic Landmarks are outdoor sites in New York City which have a special character and historic or aesthetic interest. There are currently 12 Scenic Landmarks in New York City but Aqueduct Walk is the first in the Bronx. Its designation on April 16th, 2024 comes 50 years to the day from that of the first Scenic Landmark, Central Park, which was designated on April 16th, 1974.

The Aqueduct Walk is a 4.9 acre linear park along Aqueduct Avenue between West Kingsbridge Road and West Burnside Avenue. It features a public walkway built on top of the Old Croton Aqueduct and has long been a beloved park and gathering spot for the west Bronx community.

Sarah Eccles from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission delivers a lecture to FOCA members

The Friends, whose mission to promote and protect the Old Croton Aqueduct encompasses the sections in the Bronx and Manhattan, welcomed Sarah Eccles, a researcher with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, to speak on the history and current status of the landmarked section in the Bronx.

Sarah Eccles, of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Committee with Keith Doherty and Robert Kornfeld.

A private reception provided an opportunity for The Friends’ historians and docents to chat with Sarah and share insights over wine and cheese. We were joined by several Bronxites including Roger McCormack, the Director of Education for the Bronx County Historical Society. Sarah’s lecture was fascinating and a welcome introduction to the Aqueduct in the Bronx for many of our Westchester members.

Don’t forget to visit Aqueduct Walk on your next adventure in the Bronx!

Map of Aqueduct Walk Scenic Landmark

Download the Designation Report (6MB)

The Friends are active in View Preservation and its impact everywhere on the 26 miles of the trail. We know how important views of the Palisades and the Hudson River are to walkers.

A recent view preservation issue has come up in Hastings. A plan for luxury town homes that will abut the trail have been approved by the Hastings Zoning Board of Appeals. This plan was acceptable to the Friends. However, the developer has now requested approval of a plan for the building to be increased by 5 feet. With this plan the building will be 3 feet above the height of the Trail, seriously diminishing renowned views of the Hudson River and the Palisades for 125 feet of the Trail. In addition, the View Preservation statute allows for the installation of solar panels on roofs as a matter of right; their installation would further obliterate views.

The Friends have written a persuasive letter to the Enterprise, deploring this plan. We encourage all members to follow suit and write letters to the Enterprise, and to the Zoning Board and the Board of Trustees in support of our position of preventing this increase in height of this building.

DOWNLOAD THE LETTER

Rivertowns Enterprise (editor@rivertowns.net)
Hastings Zoning Board (zoningboard@hastingsgov.org)
Hastings Village Trustees (boardoftrustees@hastingsgov.org) to turn it down.

We will attend the ZBA hearing on March 23 at 7 PM in Hastings Village Hall to voice our opposition. We urge all concerned to inform others and consider appearing in person to add your support.

Zoning Board of Appeals
7 Maple Avenue
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706
914-478-3400

Village of Hastings on Hudson
Board of Trustees
7 Maple Street
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY  10706
914 478 3400

For Questions and more information please contact:
John Flack
johnl0422@yahoo.com
(914)262-3575

Thank you to all who have written to the Ossining Zoning Board of Appeals supporting enforcement of the required 25-foot buffer between the Aqueduct property and the 4-story building proposed for 49 Spring St.

Decision: At its May 14 hearing, the Village of Ossining Zoning Board of Appeals voted to allow the variance from Ossining’s 25-foot buffer requirement.  Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct and its supporters on this issue did achieve some concessions.  The property owner is required to abide by the 8-foot buffer he had agreed to; the original proposal had no buffer.  In addition, he committed to installing a nicer fence than the one currently in place, and to planting low shrubs next to the Aqueduct. He stated he will not store any garbage behind the building – garbage will be stored in the basement.

Although the 8-foot buffer is far less than required and that we all strenuously argued for, we definitely raised the profile of the Aqueduct as a National Historic Landmark, state park, and popular regional trail traversing Ossining. Officials are now also aware of the large number of visitors who come to Ossining – and often stay to patronize shops and restaurants – because of its Aqueduct features. Many of these visitors come to Ossining as participants in the Friends’ walks and weir tours.

An important, indirect achievement of this campaign is the reopening of the Aqueduct section between Maple Place and Waller Ave., which had been gated off for decades. The section was improved and is now a very green swath in the heart of downtown (see photo), with signs announcing it as part of Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park.

The Friends are grateful to the activist who alerted us to this project and the variance application. We count on Aqueduct devotees to keep “eyes on the park”!

View original blog entry here.

Update on 49 Spring St., Ossining, New Building Proposal

See the original post here.

Thank you to all who have written to the Ossining Zoning Board of Appeals supporting enforcement of the required buffer between the Aqueduct property and the 4-story building proposed for 49 Spring St.

(The April hearing has been cancelled)

The next hearing is May 14, 7 pm, at the Ossining Operations Center on Rte. 9A. Please continue writing, attend the hearing (this project is first on the agenda), and consider saying a few words asking the Board to require a substantial buffer between the back wall of any new building at 49 Spring St. and the Aqueduct. Much more is needed than the 8-foot setback the developer now proposes, which would be little more than an alley.

At the March hearing, the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct pointed out:

–that the developer knew of the required 25-foot setback from the Aqueduct when he purchased the property, taking a chance on being granted a variance;
–that the Aqueduct buffer requirement is based on the Village’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan, which itself is based on input from Village residents;
–that the economic value of the Aqueduct to the Village was recognized by New York State when it chose Ossining as a State Heritage Area, leading to the permanent Aqueduct exhibit in the Community Center. Pay a visit!

Help us preserve the openness of this green stretch of the Aqueduct in downtown Ossining! Information on writing to the Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals is given below.
 

To write to the Zoning Board of Appeals:
Susanne Donnelly, Chairperson
Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning
Ossining Operations Center
101 Route 9A
Ossining, NY 10562
E-mail: suedonnelly@villageofossining.org

Links of interest: 
—Minutes of Oct. 2019 ZBA meeting when the Friends testified
—General information about the Zoning Board of Appeals:
https://www.villageofossining.org/zoning-board-appeals

To reach the Friends on this issue:
saraakelsey@gmail.com
czfahn1@gmail.com

The Aqueduct trail from Maple Place looking toward Waller Ave, October 2018.  The 4-story rear wall of the proposed building at 49 Spring St. would be at the right edge of the photo.

The Old Croton Aqueduct and the 49 Spring St. project, Ossining

For the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct’s letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals fully stating its position on this project, please click  HERE. Additional, specific points are made in a subsequent letter HERE

The owner of the unbuilt parcel of land at 49 Spring St. in downtown Ossining has applied to Ossining’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a variance. If granted, the variance would permit construction of a new, 4-story building that backs up close to the Aqueduct. The developer needs a variance because the Ossining zoning code requires a 25-ft, no-build buffer zone on both sides of the Aqueduct corridor.

 If built, the new building would be adjacent on one side to the existing buildings on the block of Spring St. between Maple Place and Waller Ave.  On the other side would be the grassy area behind the large bus stop at the corner of Spring and Waller.

The Friends were instrumental in the recent removal of the fences that for decades blocked both ends of the green trail between Maple and Waller, and are urging the ZBA to deny the variance and enforce the 25-ft buffer requirement. The ZBA especially needs to hear from Ossining residents who support enforcing the 25-foot buffer zone and don’t want another building wall closing in the green Aqueduct corridor.

What you can do:

> Send even a short note to the ZBA chair (name and address below) right away. If you live in Ossining, identify yourself as an Ossining resident. Please urge the Board to enforce the Aqueduct buffer requirement in order to protect the openness of the Aqueduct path between Maple Place and Waller Ave. It’s not necessary to get into technicalities or offer solutions or alternatives.

>  Attend the ZBA’s March 12, 7:00pm hearing at the Route 9A Operations Center, first floor. Here is the agenda, and call 914-762-6232 (Building/Planning Dept.) that afternoon to ask if the project will be discussed at the hearing.

>  If you know others who may be interested, pass this notice along. Thank you!

To write to the Zoning Board of Appeals:
Susanne Donnelly, Chairperson
Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning
Ossining Operations Center
101 Route 9A
Ossining, NY 10562
E-mail: suedonnelly@villageofossining.org

Links of interest: 
—Minutes of Oct. 2019 ZBA meeting when the Friends testified
—General information about the Zoning Board of Appeals:
https://www.villageofossining.org/zoning-board-appeals

To reach the Friends on this issue:
saraakelsey@gmail.com
czfahn1@gmail.com