The “MAKER Zone:” Exciting Plans to Revitalize Mamaroneck’s Industrial Area

By Janet O’Connell

On September 19, the Co-chairs of the Mamaroneck Industrial Area Redevelopment Committee (IAC), Andrew Spatz and John Verni, appeared at the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit to highlight the plans to revitalize the manufacturing district in Mamaroneck. Gregg DeAngelis another committee member also spoke. Mr. Spatz and Mr. Verni explained that this approximately 70-acre area is bordered by the Metro-North tracks, I-95, Rockland Avenue and the Sheldrake River, is currently underused and has huge potential for future economic growth.

The project goes by the acronym of Mamaroneck MAKER Zone:

M anufacturing

A rtisanal Foods and Arts

K rafts & Design Businesses

E nvironmental Buffers

R ecreation

The IAC envisions a coordinated, non-political effort to encourage economic growth and job creation while being environmentally sensitive to this flood-prone area and ensuring that existing businesses and residences are not displaced. At present, the area is zoned for manufacturing and not for retail. “You can smelt iron there now under the existing zoning, but you can’t sell a cupcake,” Mr. Spatz noted.

The planning is wide-ranging:

• Encourage business development, including artisanal food producers, joining the ones that are already there, along with furniture and custom design businesses and other light manufacturers, seeking reasonably priced space.
• Currently the area is “mostly a parking lot” for car dealers and repair companies, but the planners do not want to drive away existing businesses, many of which are locally owned. “It’s not like the IKEA deal a few years ago in New Rochelle,” Mr. Verni said,
• Keep the 17 residences that are there now and build apartments above the new businesses. Mr. Spatz noted that “if the ground floor spaces are being used by crafts people for studios and showrooms, there can be affordable apartments on the floors above.”
• Improve the environment. The area is currently mostly paved over. New green spaces will make it more attractive, more porous and less prone to flooding.
• Build above the water line. The committee hopes that the Army Corps of Engineers will fulfill its promise to improve local infrastructure, but we have to make our own improvements. “Infrastructure is not like wine. It does not improve with age,” Building heights will be limited to 45’, starting above the water line.
• Indoor sports facilities: “Why should our kids have to go to the Chelsea Piers in Stamford to play soccer in the winter?” asked Mr. Spatz.
• Perhaps a theater for Sand Box and other performances to make the area more hospitable at night.
• A much hoped-for microbrewery at Half Time is included in the plans even though Half Time is technically outside the area.
• STEM projects with our schools to train graduates to work in the new businesses.
• Bike lanes and greenways through this area connecting Larchmont and Mamaroneck will address traffic issues and make it safer and more conducive to foot traffic for young people.
• Encourage a much-needed grocery store to build there.
• New businesses will improve the tax base.

The project is still in its early stages, and the next steps will include the Village of Mamaroneck amending the zoning laws for the area and preparing an environmental impact study to address issues of flooding, noise, land use, traffic and air quality among other things. Eventually the Village will select a consultant and then begin to accept bids for the various aspects of the redevelopment project.

The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit is an informal community council that seeks to make life better in the tri-municipal area. The Local Summit meets monthly 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 October 17, 2017. Please join us to hear about the quality of our drinking water.