Welcome to the Town of Greenburgh
News & Information  
  Select News to View

Please select the year.
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Back to Article List

explanations of game on/frank's nursery proposal --meeting tomorrow evening at 7 pm(rain date thurs)
Release Date: July 18, 2012


MEETING WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 AT 7 PM FRANKS NURSERY--IN EVENT OF RAIN MEETING POSTPONED TILL THURSDAY (SAME TIME, SAME PLACE) We will post updates on website if we think meeting will be postponed..

TOWN BOARD TO MEET JULY 25TH AT 6:30 pm AT TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS GAME ON PROPOSAL--MEETING WILL START ONE HOUR EARLIER THAN USUAL...

You are invited to a community meeting tomorrow evening Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at Frank’s nursery on Dobbs Ferry Road. The meeting will be outside –at the site of the proposed sports bubble. The meeting starts at 7 PM. In the event of rain the meeting will be held on Thursday evening same time – same place. At the meeting you will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed lease with Game On, to ask questions. Town officials will also answer questions about the financial arrangements regarding the lease. Alot of misleading and wrong information has been sent to residents from a company that is planning to build another sports facility in the area--they object to competition. The Board will not vote on the 25th --a vote is expected a short time after the meeting takes place.

The proposed lease with Game On is for 15 years. The town will receive a minimum of $260,000 a year in revenue. After three years the revenues increase to $300,000 a year. And—the revenues escalate to $330,000 by the end of the 15 years. In addition, Game On will help the town cleanup a contaminated site ---they have agreed to pay $100,000 for the cleanup. The town factored the taxes into the rent. If the costs of the cleanup are excessive both the town and Game On have the right to back off from the lease. We have compared the revenues we are receiving to rent other localities that have sports bubbles in their communities receive. The town is generating much more revenue from our proposed agreement with Game On that neighboring localities. Even with the taxes deducted from the rent, the rent payments we receive will be above market value.

Some people have asked: how did Game On become the preferred tenant for this property. Last year, after the town took ownership of the property due to a foreclosure, we had a community meeting at Frank’s. A number of proposals for the property were discussed. Neighbors objected to many of them. We put up a big sign outside of Frank’s inviting people/businesses to submit proposals. I located letters that I sent to the Westchester County Board of Realtors and the Construction Industry Council of Westchester (letters were dated August 10) requesting that they circulate the RFP to their members. I also sent out notices about the RFP to newspapers, blogs, social media contacts, etc… We received three bids. Two bids were to purchase the property- the Sports Bubble was the third bid. Property values are not at the high point right now. We decided that leasing the land was best for the town. In 15 years we probably will get a few million dollars more for the property. And we’re getting almost $5 million during the life of the contract. In addition, at the end of the lease we will own a clean site—something we don’t own. We currently are paying over $50,000 a year in taxes to the school district, county and fire districts—and getting nothing in return.

Will there be traffic? A traffic study will be conducted as part of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The Westchester Field House is an ideal project for the area since the majority of its business will occur during off-peak traffic hours; after school, during the evening, and on weekends. Also, as an indoor sports facility, the busiest season will be winter. During the winter, all neighboring properties (Westchester Golf Range, Elmwood Country Club, Rumbrook Park, Carlson’s Nursery) have very little traffic, if any.

\ The Westchester Field House will have more parking than is required by code.


The process for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) has started for the site and meets New York State requirements. The Town of Greenburgh has declared itself the lead agency as the owner of the property.

In comparison to similar commercial land leases, the lease payments are above market value.


Instead of selling the property in a depressed market, the Town board opted for a 15 year land lease which will generate close to $5,000,000 for the Town. The financial benefits to the Town include retaining ownership of a valuable property while receiving annual income that far exceeds any potential tax it would receive from selling the property.


As is standard with a land lease, Game On 365 will begin paying full rent upon the issuance of building approvals. Full approvals are anticipated within one year.


Game On 365 has agreed to pay for the Phase II environmental study. If any remediation is required, Game On 365 will spend up to $250,000 to clean up the site without the Town incurring any out of pocket expense.


The Westchester Field House is a multi-sport training facility with turf fields for activities and clinics where kids will be supervised by trainers, coaches and parents at all times.


Game On partners have more than 15 years of experience operating similar successful recreational facilities in Bergen County, New Jersey. Both the Soccer Coliseum in Teaneck and Superdome Sports in Waldwick are operated by Game On partners.


An attractive amenities building will replace the current dilapidated Franks Nursery. This building will sit in front of the dome substantially improving the overall visual impact from Dobbs Ferry Road.
PAUL FEINER
PS: If you have any questions please feel free to call me directly at my cell: 438 1343.



Print this page Print this page Print this page Email this page Email this page





Contact Information | Home | Town Supervisor | Town Council | Town Clerk's Office | Tax Department | Departments | Documents & Forms | Town Code | GIS Maps, Tax and Assessment Information | Agendas & Minutes | Watch Live Board Meetings | Public Access TV On Demand | Links | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Employment Opportunities | Town Updates by E-Mail | Pay Parking Tickets Online | Pay Water Bill Online | On-Line Tax Payments
Use Mobile Site

Copyright © 2014 Town of Greenburgh, NY. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Cit-e-Net