The City of White Plains, New York has released a Request For Proposals (RFP) for the White Plains Transit District. Through this RFP, the City will solicit interest from qualified parties in the re-development of three city-owned properties and one Urban Renewal Agency parcel totaling approximately 4.5 acres. The parcels are located along the easterly side of the White Plains Metro-North railroad station within what is known as the White Plains Transit District.
This project represents a significant re-development opportunity for the City. It also presents a unique opportunity to enhance critical pedestrian connections between the Transit District and adjacent neighborhoods, including Battle Hill, Fisher Hill and Ferris Avenue, as well as reinforce the existing Main Street connection to the downtown core.
The RFP specifies that all development concepts must be consistent with the six primary community-driven planning principles developed through significant public input through the Transit District Strategic Plan process, including: Bike/Pedestrian Improvements, “Placemaking,” Open Space, Density, Economic Development, and Parking.
In December 2016, the City released the White Plains Transit District Strategic Plan, which encompasses the area 1/3 of a mile around the White Plains Metro-North Station (the highest ridership station in Westchester County and leading reverse commute destination on the Harlem Line from New York City). The district also includes the Westchester County Bee-Line TransCenter Bus Terminal, and multiple stops as well as the eastern terminus of the Lower Hudson Transit Link Bus Rapid Transit from Rockland County, NY to White Plains.
The community-driven plan was formulated using extensive feedback received through a comprehensive and robust 15-month community engagement process resulting in the collection of over 2,000 public comments compiled during multiple public engagement meetings, city events, “Question of the Week” surveys and web-based comments. The final Strategic Plan, background studies, presentations, and public comments are available for download at the White Plains Transit District website: www.wptransitdistrict.com.
In June 2017 the City released a Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the Transit District. The responses received enabled the City to more fully develop its concept for the re-development of the Transit District. And, since 2017, over 2,000 multi-family dwelling units have been approved within the district and Metro-North Railroad has commenced a $93 million train station enhancement project to be completed in 2020.
“We have taken a very thoughtful and deliberate approach to this project. Our strategic planning process for the Transit District included unprecedented public outreach and detailed baseline studies of the project area,” said Mayor Roach. “The RFEI process tested the waters to see what was possible as well as the level of potential interest in these sites. Now, as we enter the next phase of this complex and vitally important project for our city, I look forward to building on that solid foundation. Our goal is to translate the key findings of our strategic plan into a re-development plan that is achievable, provides benefits for our residents, and helps us grow responsibly as a city.”
Image courtesy of MTA.
The deadline to submit proposals is November 1, 2019.