Tuckahoe trustees, residents clash over Ward House preservation as developer lawsuit moves forward

The Village of Tuckahoe Board of Trustees heard extended public comment and a legal update Feb. 10 as a dispute over the Ward House historic landmark moved deeper into court and into public view.

The dispute centers on a developer who owns the Ward House and a lawsuit the developer filed after the village designated the property a local historic landmark. Village attorney Gary (last name not specified) told the board the developer sued for $3 million, the village's motion to dismiss was denied and the matter is entering discovery, the stage the village attorney described as the costliest phase of litigation.

Friends of the Ward House and other residents urged the board to do more to stop demolition and preserve the site. "I expect nothing more than for the village to back this 100%," said Elaine Provenzano, president of the Friends of the Ward House, during public comment. Provenzano said Westchester County has appropriated $2,550,000 toward purchase and restoration; Mayor (not specified) told the board that county money was included in a proposed capital plan but still must be voted by the county legislature and that the timing and availability are not immediate.

The village attorney summarized the procedural posture: the developer sued after the village denied a request for a certificate of appropriateness; the developer alleges an unconstitutional taking and seeks $3 million. "We're at the point of litigation where it's discovery phase," the village attorney said, adding the village currently has two law firms representing it, including counsel appointed by the village's insurer.

Friends members and other residents described damage and alleged neglect of the Ward House after the developer's purchases. "He has not followed the HPC law," Provenzano said, referring to the Historic Preservation Commission rules. Several public speakers said demolition-related permits and utility disconnects appeared in building-department records and asked why work continued while the case is pending. The mayor and the village attorney said they could not discuss ongoing litigation in detail and urged residents to meet with staff for clarifying information that would not jeopardize the village's legal position.

Residents urged the board to work with Westchester County, which the Friends say has appraised the property and included funds in a multi-year capital plan. "The $2,500,000 that was put into the budget is not actually appropriated money yet," the mayor said, adding that the county had agreed to obtain an appraisal and to pay for the appraisal. The mayor also said the proposed county funding is included in a five-year plan and therefore not immediately distributable until the legislature votes.

Board members asked residents for input and said they were balancing a duty to preserve historic resources against a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. "We're in a bind," the mayor said. Trustee comments emphasized both preservation and fiscal caution, with one trustee noting that a large adverse outcome in the litigation could impose millions in cost on village taxpayers.

Friends and other supporters said private fundraising and offers to purchase the property had been explored but stalled. Residents named a potential private buyer and said negotiations had broken down over price. Several speakers asked for transparency about permit approvals and the village's enforcement actions; the village said it would meet with interested residents to provide what information it can while the case is active.

No formal new direction or vote was taken by the board at the meeting. The legal schedule included a pending conference with the judge later in the month, when discovery timelines are expected to be set.

The dispute over the Ward House follows the village's 2021 historic-preservation work and a 2023 historic-preservation law; the litigation now tests how the law is enforced and what remedies are available to preserve the building.

Residents may request more information from Village Hall; the board said it would continue to coordinate with Westchester County and monitor the court schedule.