Victoria's Secret, Black Bass Properties Could Soon Be Approved For New Uses

The City Planning Commission (CPC) sent architects back to the drawing board on many projects Tuesday night.

Three projects of particular public interest included new use for the former Victoria's Secret site on Purchase St., possible demolition of Black Bass Restaurant on Central Ave. and parking district changes to the city-owned 1031 Boston Post Rd.

The CPC also assessed architectural plans for wetland permits at 10 Martin Rd., 12 Philips Ln., 83 Brevoort Ln., and proposed subdivisions at 2 Forest Ave., 35 Cedar Pl., and 1 Hidden Spring Ln. Architects working on these projects were repeatedly sent back for revisions by the CPC.

In the case of the former Victoria’s Secret site at 60-62 Purchase St., the motion requiring approval involved converting existing single tenant commercial building space into two commercial spaces.

One space would become the new home for an undisclosed existing Rye restaurant, likely to be Koo, a Japanese restaurant currently located on Purdy Ave.

The CPC expressed concerns regarding site parking and trash disposal in both instances and, regarding the restaurant, wanted further clarification regarding the kitchen, piping, exhaust fumes, adequate rest rooms for 112 prospective customers and proximity to apartments.

Revised architectural plans were requested by the next CPC meeting on Sept. 13.

In the instance of the former Black Bass restaurant site at 2 Central Ave. in the bridge reconstruction area, the site plan and wetland permit requiring approval involves the removal of the existing structure with retail on the ground floor and two apartments on the second floor within 100 feet of Blind Brook.

The CPC again voiced concerns over parking and requested that plans be refined and re-submitted at the next CPC meeting.

The CPC also reviewed without acting on an advisory recommendation to the City Council for zoning and parking district changes at 1051, 1037 and 1031 Boston Post Rd.--the current site of Lester’s Department Store-- prior to the City Council's Aug. 10 public hearing.

The city is looking to change classification of the properties from the B-1 Neighborhood Business District to the B-2 Central Business District and also change the parking district designation of 1031 Boston Post Rd. from the “C” to "A."

Pending further study, the CPC at this time recommended only that parking be restricted to a maximum of 68 to 72 spaces and that underground parking be ruled out due to excessive cost.

The city wants to implement the re-zoning to increase development opportunities and maximize potential sale profits from the site. The proposed move to extend the business district would allow for mixed use capability on the city-owned rental site previous occupied by CVS.

CVS has long since moved to the former A&P site opposite the Rye Post Office with the A&P departure leaving the city without a major supermarket since 2006.

The B-2 designation also permits as many as three stories and can include both multi-family dwellings and commercial operations on the city-owned property purchased by the city in 2006 for $6.2 million under the administration of former Mayor Steve Otis.

At that time the property was seen as a potential new police headquarters and courthouse site, but the projected cost of $25 million ruled that out during the protracted economic downturn. Instead, the property was rented out to Lester’s with the lease extended to March for the one-story, 10,000-square foot building.

The proposed re-zoning would allow a broad range of possibilities for the space in Rye's downtown area, opposite City Hall and the Rye Free Reading Room.

The decided last June not to continue plans for municipal redevelopment and paid off the remaining $5 million balance on the 1037 Lester’s site.