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Vision For New Rochelle Redevelopment Continues To Take Shape

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – With the “most ambitious redevelopment in New Rochelle history” well underway in the downtown business district, the organizers tasked with reimagining the city continue soliciting ideas from the community.

It was a packed house in New Rochelle at the first "idea generating meet-up."

It was a packed house in New Rochelle at the first "idea generating meet-up."

Photo Credit: NR Future

As part of the Crowdsourced Placemaking process that began earlier this month, city officials are poised to join developers with RDRXR – a teaming of Renaissance Downtowns and RXR Realty – for a second “idea generating meet-up,” where they will welcome input regarding what amenities residents are looking for in their new downtown.

At the first meeting, ideas ranging from a digital learning locations, historic storefronts and indoor flea markets to more space for artists, roof top bars and a waterfront amphitheater were collected by city officials and posted on NR Future, the official hub for information regarding the redevelopment.

The public now has a chance to review the many ideas that have been floated thus far through the process, support the ones they like and continue a conversation about each notion.

Since being named as the city’s master developer last year, officials with RDRXR – a teaming of Renaissance Downtowns and RXR Realty – have pledged to work alongside the residents of New Rochelle and to honor the city’s historic roots.

“We are thrilled to take this important step in our collaboration with the city of New Rochelle and its residents,” RXR CEO Scott Rechler stated. “We look forward to developing a vision that builds on the strengths of the community and to ensure that this vision gets realized in a way that is sensitive to the community’s proud history.”

The proposal from RDRXR is poised to make the Metro-North train station a “door to the community,” with an emphasis on the arts, a new library, cultural arts center and garden atrium and amphitheater around Ruby Dee Park.

When the redevelopment is fully underway, it is expected to generate 12,000 temporary construction jobs and nearly 5,000 permanent full-time jobs for the community.

In his State of the City address, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said the deal with RDRXR represents the city's future.

“If we get this right, if we take advantage of the good economy, execute a good plan, show ourselves to be good leaders, and give everyone from the biggest fan to the biggest skeptic a good reason to feel that their investment in this city is paid back in full, then it’s not just our bank accounts and budgets that will be enriched by the right kind of development – it’s our city’s soul,” he said.

The next “idea generating meet-up” will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 at Cross-Cultural Solutions on Clinton Place.

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