Public holds mock funeral to protest plans to turn lot into apartment building

More than a dozen people gathered Wednesday to mourn, not a person, but transparency, public land and valuable parking spaces.

News 12 Staff

Jun 13, 2019, 2:11 AM

Updated 1,773 days ago

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More than a dozen people gathered Wednesday to mourn, not a person, but transparency, public land and valuable parking spaces.

The mock funeral was held in protest against plans to turn the parking lot on Irving Avenue into a 110-unit apartment building.

The Sustainable Port Chester Alliance says developing the public lot cannot be at the expense of residents.

"Responsible development on public lands should include community benefits," Joan Grangenois-Thomas said. "So what we need to hear is how many units will be affordable to working class people."

According to a village resolution passed in December, the village board says there are 47 parking spaces in the parking lot. When developed, there will 129 spots -- 71 of them will be controlled by the village for public use.

Christopher Pierro says he's afraid opponents of the project will discourage developers from coming into the village.

"We need Millennial housing," Pierro said. "We need as much as we can get around our train station. We've fallen short so many times in this effort, it's really pathetic that this issue has to arise."

News 12 reached out to the Port Chester's Mayor's office for comment but have not heard back. News 12 also reached out to the developer but did not hear back.


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