By Mary C. Marvin

Sep. 30, 2015:  I am pleased to announce that after over 30 years--hard to believe--the Kensington Road development has overcome final hurdles, most notably issues with our monopolies--United Water, Metro-North, and Con Edison--and a sales office will open in mid-October at 9 Park Place in the village.

The Kensington Road site has had a turbulent history as developers either proposed projects not in keeping with the village character or arrived only to be stymied by the economic downturns of the early 1990s and then again in 2008-2009.

The benefits of completion of this project are at least fourfold. The village will no longer have a Brownfield site; our current zero tax benefit will be replaced by significant tax revenues for the village; resident and merchant parkers will now have clean and safe indoor parking and the village's aggregate inventory of spaces will increase; and the area will be graced with high-quality residential construction in a neighborhood compatible with Mediterranean/European-style architecture.

Amenities in the new development include a 24-hour concierge service, a private extension to the Metro-North platform, two covered parking spaces per unit, a fully equipped fitness center, a play area for children and grandchildren, outdoor common spaces, and an indoor entertainment space.

The condominium units themselves, an unprecedented half of which will have private outdoor patios or terraces, will also feature special "urban" windows, gourmet islands with top-of-the-line appliances, spa baths, and open great rooms. The apartments vary in size, with five penthouse units available complete with wraparound terraces.

The parking garage is expected to be completed and in use by next summer, with unit occupancy commencing in the spring of 2017.

The pricing plan has yet to be completed, as the developer awaits final approvals from the New York State Attorney General's Office. The sales office will offer a virtual tour of the apartments for purchase, as well as a fully replicated kitchen and the opportunity to choose one's own interior finishes.

The project's developer is Fareri and Associates of Greenwich, which owns or develops over $600 million of real estate in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Fareri projects include the signature "Harbor" on the Greenwich waterfront, as well as the "Chieftans," a collection of 28 luxury homes built on the former Gimbel estate, also in Greenwich.

The company chairman, John Fareri, was also the founder of the $200 million Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla, honoring the memory of his youngest daughter.

The village and the developer were sued this past spring by Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., for alleged violation of the Fair Housing Act, claiming the project would discriminate against families with children.

The following is a public statement by the village agreed upon by all three parties per the recent settlement of the lawsuit:

In the past, we have described the new condominium project being built on Kensington Road in Bronxville as "age-targeted" and designed to accommodate empty nesters. With recent changes to our zoning code, this description no longer accurately describes the project.

The Kensington Road project will not be "age-targeted." The village has amended the Bronxville Code so that it no longer provides for an "age-targeted" special permit.

The Kensington Road developer has confirmed that the project will not be marketed specifically for empty nesters. It will be designed and marketed for all people, including families with school-age children.

These changes are in keeping with Bronxville's legal obligation under federal, state, and local law, and I am proud to say that these changes strengthen Bronxville's commitment to providing equal housing opportunities for all people, without discrimination on the basis of family status or any other protected category.

Bronxville is a wonderful place to raise children--with our great schools, beautiful parks, and strong community. We certainly welcome new children in the Kensington Road project and throughout our Village.

We are pleased the lawsuit is resolved. We believe the Kensington condominiums will be a great new addition to our village, and we are excited to see them coming to fruition after many years of careful planning.