The Village of Mamaroneck: Unchanged in Character over Time

“The key to the success of the Village of Mamaroneck . . . is that its character has remained the same,” asserted Mayor Norm Rosenblum at the Local Summit’s monthly meeting on April 17. He proudly noted that the Village of Mamaroneck – with a population of just under 20,000 - ranked 60 in CNN Money magazine’s 2011 ranking of the 100 best small towns to live in the U.S. Leading off the Local Summit’s planned series on “The Changing Face of our Community,” two lifelong Village of Mamaroneck residents, Mayor Norm Rosenblum and unofficial village historian Joe Germano, reminisced about how the village has changed over time, yet stayed the same.

Both men and their families have contributed to the village’s long and rich history. Mayor Rosenblum’s grandfather – a painting and general contractor - came to Mamaroneck in 1904; he built the first apartment buildings in the village and constructed many of the buildings that are still part of the village today, including the building occupied by Molly Spillane’s. Likewise, Mr. Germano, who was born in the village in 1925 and was in the Marine Corps in WWII, was an important figure in the village’s history. He owned and operated Mamaroneck Garage, one of the largest enterprises on Mamaroneck Avenue, and was known for providing opportunities for Mamaroneck High School students.

Changing Face of Mamaroneck . . . Businesses and Neighborhoods

Mayor Norm Rosenblum and Mr. Germano spoke of the many businesses, large and small, that were important employers in the 1900’s, such as Technical Material Corporation (TMC), where Majestic Kitchen and Toyota now are located; Selectro, which operated 2-3 shifts its heyday; Pure Foods; and Schaefer Beer. The two men fondly recalled the days when fair grounds occupied the space where Sarah Newman Center now stands, when there was a friendly neighborhood rivalry between the “Flats” and the “Strawberry Patch,” and when famed filmmaker DW Griffith’s studio, located on Orienta Point, made Mamaroneck one of the birthplaces of the American movie industry.

According to Mayor Rosenblum, the character of the village has by and large remained unchanged over time, with many of its buildings intact from 50-100 years ago. However, he pointed out that one event in particular had a dramatic impact on the character of the community; the coming of I-95 caused neighborhoods to be separated, people to lose homes, and ruined a favorite sledding hill. On a more positive note, the character of the village was improved by burying the wires around twenty years ago.

The Changing Face of Mamaroneck . . . the People . . . A Microcosm of What is Happening in the US

Accompanying the business development cycle over the years have been changes to the faces living in the Village of Mamaroneck. Referring to the latest shift in demographics,

Mayor Rosenblum believes that the Village of Mamaroneck “reflects what the times are.” He praised Mamaroneck’s religious and cultural diversity and called Mamaroneck “representative of America as a melting pot.”

Calling the recent day laborers’ lawsuit a “bump in the road,” he maintains that this event “actually represents the continuing development of this country” and is “the same concept as you see anywhere . . . a new group comes in, starts taking jobs that others don’t want . . . it’s not negative . . . this is America.” He traced the influx of different ethnic groups to Mamaroneck over time, citing the arrival of the European Jews, the Irish, and the Italians. Mayor Rosenblum asserts that “there has been a 180° turnaround” with regards to the day laborer situation, because of the residents and strong leadership in the village.

Success of the Village

Emphasizing that everyone in the Village of Mamaroneck works together, Mayor Rosenblum boasted that the Village of Mamaroneck “always has been and continues to be ‘The Friendly Village’” and maintains that “whether you are a 4th or 5th generation resident or you’ve just moved here, there are supports for you.”

Mayor Rosenblum credits the quality of life for the village’s ongoing popularity; Mamaroneck was recently named one of New York’s ten best small cities to live in by Movoto Real Estate. While the shops on Mamaroneck Avenue change, Mayor Rosenblum says that the village “is blessed because it has small stores” and that demand is still there, enabling the character of the village to remain.

Harbor Island Park and Harbor are jewels of the village. Mayor Rosenblum pointed out that the Mamaroneck Harbor is the 2nd largest small boat harbor in the US, and that it provides the only open public access to the Sound in the Bronx-Connecticut corridor. (One does not need to be a resident to access the sound from the Mamaroneck Harbor.)

Current Challenges/Upcoming Changes

While the picture for the Village of Mamaroneck seems rosy, there are some challenges and upcoming changes that the village is facing.

As the popularity of the shops and restaurants on Mamaroneck Avenue have grown, so have its parking woes. Business owners and residents believe that the shortage of parking spaces may be threatening the viability of its local businesses. The mayor has formed a parking committee and will be reviewing options with the village board in the coming weeks. Under consideration – and not without controversy - are the use of multi-space meters, limiting the length of time a vehicle can park in designated locations, and the construction of a multi-level parking facility on Spencer Place.

Another new development that has raised the concern of some residents is the recent creation of a Transit Oriented District (TOD) by the village board, accompanied by zoning changes that allow residential space above retail space in the area surrounding the train station. According to Mayor Rosenblum, the current plan calls for retail units at the ground level, with residential units above; 10% of the units built will be affordable housing.

Asked about Historic Preservation, Mayor Rosenblum responded that there is “no standing method to demand that potential historic building be saved” without the permission of landowner. He cited two examples of efforts to get structures on the National Registry, the “Skinny House” on Grand St, and Walter’s Hot Dog Stand. To prevent future unwanted changes, as happened with the Mamaroneck movie theatre, Mayor Rosenblum noted that the village board just passed a zoning overlay, requiring that plans go before the Planning Board in order to obtain a demolition permit. He hopes that this will help restrict development and keep the character of the village intact.

This breakfast forum was hosted by The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit, an informal community council that seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. Its monthly public meetings are held at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck at 7:45 a.m. usually on the third Tuesday of the month. The next breakfast meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 19, and the topic will be on health programs in the community.

<5|