*
*West Clarkstown Road Senior Housing Project Clears Hurdle**
A contentious senior housing development on the former Camp Champion site in New City has secured a crucial approval, despite lingering safety concerns. The project, which includes 121 units and 217 parking spaces, will now proceed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for minor area variances.
Safety issues on West Clarkstown Road, a heavily trafficked county-owned road, had stalled the project's progress. Ninety accidents over two-and-a-half years, including fatalities, prompted the Planning Board to re-examine safety measures. After multiple public meetings and concessions from the developer, mitigation efforts were agreed upon, including:
* Intersection warning signs
* Signal warning signs
* Relocation of a stop sign
* Pruning and clearing growth obstructing signage
* 15 MPH speed advisory plaques
* Two radar speed feedback signs
The developer has also committed to constructing a left-turn lane into the development. However, a request for rumble strips at an S-curve on the road was rejected by the county due to noise concerns.
**Sheraton Mahwah Hotel Demolition Scheduled**
The iconic Sheraton Mahwah Hotel is set to be demolished on April 27, marking the end of a nearly two-year closure. The demolition will involve a massive coordination effort between state agencies, local authorities, and experts. Potential hazards, including asbestos, have been removed from the building.
While no new site plan has been submitted, it's expected that a warehouse or distribution center will replace the hotel. The property was previously owned by Ford Motor Company, which had a large assembly plant on the site until 1980. Crossroads Developers Associates owns the property and has submitted plans for two large warehouses totaling approximately 1.5 million square feet.
**Paint Sludge Cleanup Underway**
The New York State DEC has announced an expedited cleanup of the Ramapo Paint Sludge Sites, including the former Camp Hill Day Camp site in Pomona. The cleanup will be undertaken by Ford Motor Company and is expected to begin in April, lasting approximately seven months.
The site, listed as a Class 2 site on the State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites, poses a significant threat to public health or the environment. The cleanup plan includes excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil, as well as importation of clean material backfill. Post-cleanup plans include a Health and Safety Plan, Community Air Monitoring Plan, and Traffic Control Plan.
**Forever 21 Bankruptcy Hits Simon Property Group**
Simon Property Group Inc., the largest U.S. shopping mall owner, has seen its shares fall about 12 percent following Forever 21's bankruptcy filing. The company acquired a 37.5 percent stake in Forever 21 in 2020 and owns interests in other retailers, including Brooks Bros., Rue Gilt, and J.C Penney.
Simon Property Group sold The Shops at Nanuet to local developer Gabe Alexander for $60 million, fitting its strategy to focus on revitalizing mid-tier malls.
