Continuum Decision Near

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Two years in, and despite widespread opposition throughout the community, Continuum continue to push forward in hopes of gaining approval for a massive assisted living facility at the gateway to Irvington.

It appears that we are nearing a decision by the Planning Board as to whether they will recommend that the Board of Trustees approve this project, making irreversible changes to Irvington in the process.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE MAY 1 PLANNING BOARD MEETING (Village Hall, 7pm) TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS.

As currently proposed, the Continuum project is actually 11% larger than the initial plan which had been described as “too large” and “a failed plan” by the Planning Board last October. That plan was 105,000 square feet, while the new plan is 117,000 square feet.

Why do many oppose the project?

Size: many in the Irvington community have expressed their concern that the project is too large for the site. At 3x the size of the Main Street School, it would be one of the largest commercial real estate developments in Irvington and would dominate the landscape, sitting at the gateway to Irvington.

Emergency services: the Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps ("IVAC") have been a shining star in the community. Yet this plan projects to increase their load by 45% or more. IVAC has already learned to do more with less in recent years - an increase of this magnitude would have a negative impact on their ability to serve the Irvington community. And there's simply no way for Continuum or the Village to mitigate that impact. 

Traffic: anyone who has driven the Station Road to Irvington High School corridor knows that traffic comes to a near-standstill during commuting and school transportation hours. New developments to the north and south will further aggravate the situation. The location, where two northbound lanes merge, is already troublesome, and left turns into or out of the property will be dangerous. Approval of this plan will further impact traffic issues, both during the extensive excavation and construction period, and thereafter, particularly during shift changes and with extensive deliveries.

Demolition of a potentially historic buiding: The property, known as “Hillside”, strongly contributes to the historic character of Irvington. Local architects and preservationists have suggested that it may qualify for the national historic registry. There are other proposals which would take an adaptive reuse approach, retaining the historic building.

Development risk: this would be the first assisted living facility built by Continuum, whose previous development projects have included a casino and luxury apartment buildings.

Environmental: the plan calls for the removal of 129 trees. Neighbors along the Station Road/Barney Brook area have expressed strong concerns about water runoff. 

Overall, this project provides no clear benefit to the community. The applicant has requested we change our zoning laws for this new use and to allow development that is not currently permitted in terms of setbacks, height, coverage, density and more. Yet the applicant has not demonstrated that this use is of greater benefit to the Village than the multifamily housing for which it is zoned. Either would generate a similar amount of tax revenue. Yet that latter could be done in a way that does not require special permits or zoning changes. Why should we change our Village laws solely to meet the financial goals of a single commercial property developer? 

What you can do:

1. Attend the next Planning Board meeting, Wednesday, May 1, at 7:00pm at Village Hall to learn more and share your views.
2. Email the Planning Board and Board of Trustees to express your concerns.
3. Learn more at the Protect Irvington NY site.