By Dan Murphy
Twenty two years ago, then-Assemblyman Ron Tocci secured a transfer of the New Rochelle Armory to the City of New Rochelle for $1, in the hopes that the Armory would be preserved in the memory of the servicemen who fought during World War II, and for other uses for the people of New Rochelle.
Now, 22 years later, the Armory is falling apart and the city has made no attempts to renovate the structure or to preserve the memory of veterans who served our nation, and some who never made it back home.
So, in one final attempt to save and preserve this piece of Westchester history, two New Rochelle veterans and the Westchester County American Legion are suing the City of New Rochelle. They made the announcement at a rally outside of New Rochelle City Hall last week.
The New Rochelle Armory sits on three acres of prime real estate on the Long Island Sound. Tocci was able to secure the Armory for $1 in 1997 under former Mayor Tim Idoni, with the caveat that it be preserve and used for “public benefit,” like a youth center or a location for senior services, and with a portion to be used for veterans’ services or a veterans’ museum.
The lawsuit states that the city has failed to live up to the terms of the deed transfer and has not kept up the building. Tocci says just the opposite is true. “The building was in good working order when it was transferred and over a period of time the city has purposely neglected and abused the Armory,” he said. “The city authorized the fire department to conduct drills inside for training, knowing that it would further deteriorate. The windows were left open in the winter, and the roof is gone.
“The city has done everything in their power to destroy the Armory so that a developer can come and knock it down. This lawsuit is our last chance to save it,” said Tocci.
Over the past 20-plus years, the city has attempted to bring in developers to build luxury apartments and condos on the property and adjacent city yard. Forest City Ratner made a seven-year attempt to build at the Armory and city yard, but pulled out. Since 2014, the city has contracted with developer Twining properties to build at the location and has given extensions over the past five years.
Local veterans’ groups have proposed other uses for the Armory in an attempt to save it, and now Tocci said two interested parties have come forward with a plan for a micro-brewery and an Italian rooftop restaurant. “They would invest $30 million in the property, maintain the Armory and provide the first floor for veterans’ services and a museum, youth programs and a spot for seniors on the weekend,” he said.
The plan was put together by a group called Save Our Armory Committee, which has led the fight to save the Armory for more than 10 years.
The lawsuit claims that the city has violated the deed restriction on the Armory, which requires that if it is not used for public benefit and properly maintained, it can be returned to the state. Tocci admits that while the state doesn’t want the Armory back, and the associated $4 million in costs to repair it, the state could transfer the property or sell it to someone “who wants to honor our veterans and give the gift to the people of New Rochelle. That’s why I got the property for $1 in the first place,” said Tocci. “The intent was not to have the state give it to the city and then have the city give it to a developer.”
The lawsuit seeks an injunction preventing the city and the developer from moving forward until a judge issues a decision. The city and the developer have stated in public that they do have the right to move forward with a development plan for the property.
The developer, Twining Properties, LLC, calls their development project “Pratt’s Landing” because it would be planned as an extension of Pratt Street, which is on the other side of Main Street. Two five-story buildings would be constructed with 400-plus units of luxury apartments or condos, with 80,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floors.
At several public meetings with the developer, residents have questioned the need for more retail space when buildings remain vacant downtown, while others believe that New Rochelle is becoming a skyscraper city and questioned the cost of building a new school for this project and other development projects.
In 2008, during a debate over whether to build the Echo Bay Waterfront development project and tear down the Armory, Mayor Noam Bramson stated, “That restoration of our Armory is an incompatible step to accomplishing our goals on the waterfront.”
“This mayor (Bramson) wants to turn New Rochelle into the sixth borough of New York City. We don’t need any more residential apartments. People moved out of the city to see the stars and the sky.”
Bramson has been at odds with veterans’ groups in New Rochelle for many of his 12 years in office. The animosity between Bramson and Tocci date back to 2002, when Bramson challenged Tocci in a democratic primary for Assembly. Tocci won, and Bramson claimed Tocci ruined his political career.
But the issue of the Armory is much more than a dispute over two political figures in Westchester. Most of our World War II veterans have passed on, and our Korean War veterans are approaching age 90 and older. The history of these brave men and women need to be preserved, and the New Rochelle Armory, was a place where these veterans shipped off to fight for our right to debate these issues.
“Many people feel this is a total disrespect to our veterans,” said Tocci. “We have a rich military history of service in New Rochelle and this is nothing but an insult to all of us, and the more than 400 people who came back to the Armory and service and did their reserve time here, not just from New Rochelle, but from around the region.
“Why would you desecrate a building like this? Why not restore it and keep part of it as a museum for military families, or for the Congressional honor society to display their heroes. It’s also a perfect setting for a Veterans’ Service Center? But there’s not a lot of time left – if it goes through another winter, then it’s gone,” said Tocci.
The lawsuit was filed July 24 by attorney Michael Amodio and also names New York State Attorney General Letitia James as a defendant and asks the court, and James, to analyze and make a legal determination on whether the city can or cannot move forward on demolishing a Westchester historical landmark.
We have reported on this issue for more than 10 years. We have also reported on efforts over the years by other local governments to attempt to build over war memorials in their communities. The Kemper War Memorial in Mamaroneck was one monument that was preserved, thanks to veterans’ groups speaking out and reminding those of what they were about to do.
The same debate is now happening in New Rochelle. All Westchester veterans’ groups and families of veterans in Westchester should take a stand and rally to help Tocci and those involved.
Please e-mail or Call the city of New Rochelle if you would like to see the City of New Rochelle live up to its obligations.
