AR participated in the community planning process a few years ago that developed a conceptual site plan that included public access to the riverfront, greenspace, light commercial development and some housing options. We have had some discussions with Village officials over the future of the site and believe we share a broad vision of its potential. However, at this time, AR's immediate priority is the cleanup of the site and AR is focused on planning the environmental remediation of the property.
Hastings-on-Hudson has created a task force called the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) that is visualizing and planning the nature of future re-use and redevelopment of the riverfront. AR supports this planning process and has pledged to work closely with the community to make certain this site is ready to support the type of redevelopment the community wants and deserves. AR urges residents and other interested parties to become involved in the LWRP process. For more information, go to www.hastingsgov.org
While AR has not conducted an economic impact assessment of the project on the local area, any construction project of this size will generate significant revenues to the economies of Hastings-on-Hudson and surrounding communities.
Yes. In May 2004, AR deposited $1.5 million into the Environmental Trust Fund to be used for river access, open space and other environmental projects, with priority given to projects in Hastings-on-Hudson. For more information on this Fund, please contact the Village at www.hastingsgov.org
AR will continue to work cooperatively with the Village and NYSDEC to release important information on a timely basis. AR also has developed this web site and a periodic newsletter to create a regular means of dialogue with the community through which we can provide information and also respond directly to questions and concerns. AR will continue to send representatives to community meetings to listen to area residents and engage them in dialogue on issues of concern.
The river portion of the project is known as Operating Unit 2 or OU-2. NYSDEC issued a Proposed Remedy in March 2004 for OU-2 that called for significant dredging in the River. AR has been working closely with NYSDEC over the last several years to provide good science and solid technical reviews of the challenges posed by this portion of the environmental remediation.
AR's goal is to coordinate remediation on both the riverfront and the river into one integrated remediation strategy in order to expedite the process, but the river has the potential to have a significant impact on slowing down redevelopment. The more dredging NYSDEC requires, the more likely is that a significant portion of the riverfront will have to serve as a sediment staging area. This has a potential to slow the completion of the remediation work on the riverfront and its redevelopment. That is why it is important for AR to work closely with NYSDEC to find an acceptable approach to river remediation as soon as possible.
AR and NYSDEC are working closely on an intensive planning and design process for the environmental remedy. That process has made the original project timetables no longer relevant. Once this planning and design process is complete and a final remedy is selected, a new project timetable will be developed.