Next Step Looms in Strait Gate Church Bankruptcy

The bankruptcy proceedings of Mamaroneck's Strait Gate Church last year left the future of the vacant 8.3-acre lot at 380 Mamaroneck Ave. in Harrison in question.

The church had previously sought to sell the currently undeveloped land for various commercial operations and town houses prior to its bankruptcy. All these proposals were defeated by local resident groups over the years, who successfully denied any change to the site's existing zoning.

The land is currently zoned one acre residential. It appears unlikely that the zoning would be changed, even if the land were to be sold to an owner who had the money to develop it.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh has clearly stated her opposition to townhouses or other high-density housing on the site.

"While townhouses may be appropriate in some areas of Harrison, I do not believe this is an appropriate area," she has said.

Other members of the Harrison Town Board side with the majority of town residents against any and all high-density housing. Councilman Joe Cannella is one of them."I don't support high density housing anywhere in Harrison," he stated categorically.

That leaves the use of the 8.3 acres in question.

At its most recent bankruptcy hearing several months ago, Strait Gate Church requested one more opportunity to sell the lot as a parcel, instead of subdividing it into single lots. The property was subsequently listed with a local broker for a listed price of $13 million.

Although the attempt generated some interest initially, none of that preliminary interest resulted in a sale of any kind given the restrictions of the site, both geographically with boulders and wetlands, and with the land's zoning.

The church's deadline is now up and it is expected that bankruptcy court will force the church to take 'first and best' offers on individual lots within the site.

The only offer on the books is from a local resident whose home is literally surrounded by the site, and who wishes to buy the lot directly in front of his home to ensure he can retain privacy for his existing house.