450 Saw Mill River Road purchase nears approval
Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano’s controversial plan to purchase a vacant warehouse/office building in Greenburgh — a property owned by one of his frequent campaign contributors — and use it to store new voting machines cleared a huge hurdle today.
The proposal won approval from two key committees of the Board of Legislators, setting up a vote before the full board early next month. In addition to new voting machines, which the county must sooon purchase under state and federal election reforms, the building will also house the administrative headquarters of the county’s Department of Public Safety.
“We’ve got a very good price here and we ought to jump at it,” said Legislator Judy Myers, a a Democrat from Mamaroneck.
Spano’s plan calls for the county to spend $13.6 million to purchase and renovate the building at 450 Saw Mill River Road, which is located just outside the village of Ardsley. The building is owned by Ardsley Partners III, whose principal, Jon Halpern, is a major Democratic donor and has hosted a fundraiser for Spano.
Administration officials have argued that the building represents the best-available deal for taxpayers and that Halpern’s contributions have played no role in the process.
After more than a year of debate, Spano’s arguments seem to be taking hold. Several legislators today expressed support for the proposal, describing it as a cost effective deal for taxpayers.
Legislator Thomas Abinanti, D-Greenbrugh, however, remained critical.
“In these economic times, we should not be buying a building,” Abinanti said. “We should be making do with what we have.”
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Arrogance cubed! And you can bet this is not 13.6 million to fruition.
Put the machines in the new $16 million + bath house at Playland.
Boy, is this a pay back for Legislator Myers for the vote on the bath house at playland in her district.. Maybe Ms. Myers is able to spend that much money. Not the taxpayers of Westchester. I bet she hasn’t even been in that building. Wrong move by these committees. Waste of Taxpayers money.
As a Realtor, I am sure Andy can find a building for 13 mil or less in White Plains or nearby especially when office space is available. Oh and also, I am sure this purchase has nothing to do with the owner being a contributor to andy…. Politics at its best…...
Andy Spano should be indicted for theft. The corruption in this county is so blatant, but of course why not, the D.A, Janet Difiore is on their same side. She participates in all this blatant out right corruption. God, We need help here.
Time for Andy Cuomo to start an investigation into ethics violations/corruption re: the purchase of this building (aka white elephant) from one of ASpano’s biggest contributors.
Ridiculous to have it turned down for a number of reasons yet Spano keeps popping up with reasons to buy it at an exhorbitant cost in one of the nations – and westchester’s worst housing markets in history,
Hey Cuomo, who has standing to commence an investigation!?
the purchase of this building has all the appearances
of a payback..check the amounts of money given to spano
by both the owner and the lawfirm which will handle
the transaction. check back to andy’s first run…
the interest on 13,000,000 is what…about 6% annually
that comes out to 780,000…or 65,000 per month
let them rent space if they need it….for storage
of the machines….how about out at the airport
let them get one of those aluminum pre fab jobs
why do they need a real building…..one that
is more appropriate for office space…in addition
shouldn’t the storage of voting machines be easy
to get to from all parts of the county…so that
when elections are held machines can be accessed
by every municipality..ie in the center of the county