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Developer presents mixed‑use plan for 599 White Plains Road, board presses salvage and deconstruction safeguards
Summary
At a Greenburgh preservation board meeting, the applicant for 599 White Plains Road presented mixed‑use design options and a deconstruction plan for an on‑site chapel; the board urged documented salvage outreach and asked staff to craft conditions for any deconstruction permit.
The board reviewed an updated proposal for 599 White Plains Road on May 12, when the project representative presented site overlays, three façade/elevation options and a plan to convert the existing parcel to a mixed‑use building with two residential units above commercial space.
The representative told the board his heritage consultant would catalogue items for salvage, that an art appraiser would be engaged to value fixtures and that the applicant would seek salvage firms to take windows, doors, and other architectural elements prior to deconstruction. He said asbestos remediation required by the town has been completed and that some re‑use of on‑site brick, fieldstone and wood is planned.
The building department provided a preliminary zoning review indicating the proposed two‑family residential use with ground‑floor commercial is zoning‑compliant, the applicant said. The board pressed the team to document outreach to salvage companies, to consult the diocese about the chapel and to supply a take‑off showing how much material is recoverable.
"We will get an appraiser…to take a look at what is valuable, and appraise each item accordingly, before removal of anything," the applicant said. The board also discussed deconstruction methods and whether a demolition permit would be required; the applicant confirmed a demolition permit will be needed to begin deconstruction work.
Why it matters: The proposal includes removing an on‑site chapel and reusing historic fabric where possible. Board members said preserving architectural character and maximizing salvage material could reduce landfill waste and retain community features.
What’s next: Staff and counsel will work with the applicant to draft a letter with conditions that would allow limited deconstruction while the board and town obtain further details and explore options for relocation or reuse of chapel elements.
"We are going to store this stuff... until we get established companies to take it," the applicant said, describing ongoing salvage outreach. The board asked for documentation of those efforts before staff advances any deconstruction approval.
