(rshsdepot) Heathcote Station (Scarsdale, NY)

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From today's Journal News.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
Scarsdale residents seek to  preserve Heathcote's "Five Corners"

Stacy A. Anderson
The Journal  News  
SCARSDALE - Residents and officials alike are determined to preserve the  
Heathcote's "Five Corners" in the village's historic district. 
The former site of the Heathcote station of the New York, Westchester and  
Boston Railroad is for sale again following negotiations between the village and 
 Frederick Fish. 
Fish was the highest responder to last year's request for the sale and  
restoration of the building at 300 Heathcote Road, but formally withdrew his bid  
in November. 
A pre-submission conference was held last week at the Village Hall for  
potential bidders since the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps plans to vacate  
the building after using it for more than 25 years. 
The future building owner must agree to a covenant to preserve historic  
elements of the building, including exterior medallions and wood bracket  designs, 
the two-story structure, the tile roof, stucco window seals and round  
windows on each side, said Elizabeth Marrinan, a village planner. 
Andy Bass, a resident seeking to preserve the station, said he was pleased  
with the turnout of at least five potential bidders. 
"I'm very optimistic that a lot of people care," Bass said. "It's important  
to the character of the community." 
Bass said buildings near the five-corner intersection help define the  
character of the village. 
"These are things that are really irreplaceable," he said. "New buildings  
don't have artistic qualities like this." 
While Fish is no longer pursuing ownership of the historic train station, he  
is planning to build senior residential units in the parking lot of a  
neighboring historic building. 
Fish owns a building at 2 Weaver St., which houses Backals restaurant and is  
adjacent to the station building. 
Village Mayor Noreen Fisher said a preliminary plan by Fish called for  
constructing a five-floor building with 24 senior residential units and two  levels 
of parking in part of the restaurant's existing parking lot. 
The mayor said Fish submitted a letter of intent to purchase additional land  
from the village to support his plans. 
The village's land-use committee met earlier this month and decided not to  
prematurely agree to sell Fish land, she said. 
Fisher said the trustees would need to review traffic and environmental  
studies before selling land for the development. Those studies would not be done  
until after Fish submits official plans to the building board, she said. 
The restaurant and train station buildings are both stucco, Italian-style  
designs that were constructed in the early 1900s. 
The train station building up for sale was built in 1912 at Wilmot and  
Heathcote Road, but became desolate by 1937 while surrounding shops and  
restaurants thrived. 
The Heathcote station was listed on the Westchester County Inventory of  
Historic Places in 1988. 
"I'm inspired by the history of the railroad and how this building and  
railroad were the birth of development in the Heathcote Five Corners," Bass  said. 
"Although it only lasted 25 years, it's had a lasting impact." 
The bid submission for the train station building is due at noon Feb.  29.



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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1666
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org