westfaironline.com February 20, 2023 Right, rendering of 150 Downing St., Yonkers. Left, rendering of GDC’s proposed building at 70 Pier St., Yonkers.
GINSBURG GETS LUDLOW APPROVAL, SUBMITS PLAN FOR NEW BUILDING BY PETER KATZ Pkatz@westfairinc.com The Yonkers Planning Board has approved plans for Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC) to construct an apartment tower in the Ludlow section of the city at 150 Downing St. Immediately after the vote, GDC unveiled details of its plan for a second building in the Ludlow section, adjacent to the Metro-
North tracks and about one-half block from the Ludlow train station at 70 Pier St. The second building, with an estimated construction cost of $11.5 million, would be four stories with 36 apartments over a ground floor that would include retail space as well as the building’s lobby and amenities for residents. There would be indoor parking for 35 cars, one fewer space than zoning requires. A
variance would be needed. The 70 Pier St. site formerly was home to an office and garage used by the Yonkers Parking Authority that GDC purchased in June of 2017. Adjacent is a municipal parking lot with spaces for 14 vehicles. GDC proposes taking over the parking lot and incorporating its 14 spaces along with seven additional permit spaces and 16 new metered paces into a new
layout. Ginsburg also would undertake revitalization of the existing city park known as Abe Cohen Plaza. The newly approved plans for 150 Downing St. call for a seven-story building over two levels of parking. It would have 131 one-bedroom units and 77 two-bedroom units for a total of 208 apartments. There would be 229 parking spaces provided. The cost of the building is estimat-
ed at $65 million. GDC estimated that the project will result in 625 construction jobs. When completed, there would be five full-time employees and four part-time employees at the property. The roots of the project extend from 2016 when Yonkers issued a Request for Proposals to sell the property at 150 Downing St. in the Ludlow section of the city. GDC was
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Fairfield County’s annual Giving Day event to end after a 10-year run BY PHIL HALL Phall@westfairinc.com
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n Feb. 23, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) will host its 10th annual Giving Day, the 24-hour virtual fundraising marathon that helps connect local nonprofits with donors eager to support their missions. By all measurements,
Giving Day has been a successful fundraising vehicle. Since 2014, the event has raised $13.75 million — and last year was a record-breaking feat with approximately 17,000 donations that generated more than $2 million. This year’s Giving Day will include the participation of nearly 400 local nonprofits — a complete list is on the FCGives. org website. The giving window
will open on the FCGives.org website at 12 a.m. on Feb. 23 and run through 11:59 p.m. that day; a minimum donation of $10 is required. FCCF President and CEO Mendi Blue Paca is looking to the Giving Day event with bittersweet feelings. On one hand, she is expecting another triumphant turnout by donors eager to assist local organizations. However, the FCCF has decided
that this year’s event will be the last. “It’s an event that has generated a lot of momentum over the years and a lot of dollars and a lot of unity and spirit,” Blue Paca told the Business Journals. “But the foundation is continually evaluating all of our initiatives and we always want to make sure that it is the best use of our limited human capital resources and financial
capital, and that we’re meeting the needs of our partners in the most timely ways.” During this evaluation process, Blue Paca heard comments from some of the FCCF’s partners who praised the Giving Day mission, but there were also comments from other partners who were concerned about working from “a heavy list” with hundreds
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