NEW ROCHELLE. NY -- July 8, 2010 -- Seeking public input for their proposed l0 story, 393 bed building on Mayflower Avenue in New Rochelle, Iona College invited nearby residents to a meeting to listen to their concerns. The people living in the neighborhood were not shy about expressing their views. President of Iona, Brother James A. Liguori, was listening to residents and planning to present Iona's dormitory proposal at the next Council meeting (in July). A brochure given out at the meeting titled "Economic Impact Summary 2009-2010" credited Iona College with generating $25 million "of direct spending' in the City and indirect spending of over $52 million. It also said "Iona College generated over 1,600 jobs within the City of New Rochelle.
Nick Williams, the President of the Halcyon Park Neighborhood Association, expressed his dismay with the problems that this proposed dormitory will create for the people living on Mount Joy Place which is adjacent to the proposed site. Among the concerns cited were the storm water, inadequate water pressure from United Water New Rochelle, and the lack of parking in the area. He stated, "Until you have parking for all students, you are going to have a problem." Residents of Mount Joy Place also spoke. One woman said she has called Iona every day about problems with Iona students vomiting and urinating on her front lawn. She asked why the old homes in Beechmont which are used for administration couldn't be used for student dorms. Administration buildings would not impact the neighborhood. Several speakers insisted that despite Iona's policies that underclassmen don't have cars, many students do have cars and they park on nearby streets such as Mount Joy Place, Clove Road and Hillside Avenue. A resident of White Oak Street wanted to know why students can't park in the Iona garage at night. Apparently Iona has a policy of prohibiting students in the dormitories from parking on the campus. It was also brought up that students are in the Avalon buildings in downtown with four or five students in an apartment, and this is unacceptable (according to the New Rochelle building codes.) Also calls have been made to Iona security at night when students are drunk.
Robert McCaffrery claimed his taxes have doubled since 2005 and felt one way of addressing neighborhood concerns was to spread out the dorm buildings using only two or three story buildings instead of one ten story building. Sue Ann Dentini of White Oak Street said "the water pressure was horrible." She felt her home was "the biggest investment of her life." Her quality of life is not that great during the school year and she is looking forward to the summer. But she has to run her air conditioner all year because of the noise.
The attorney for Iona, Anthony Dougherty, said this application process for the Dormitory has been going on for years. Iona went to see New Rochelle Mayor Bramson five years ago. It has been an "open and transparent process, not a done deal." A city official clarified that the proposed building under regulation 331.87 requires a special permit, and under 331.69, the expansion must be granted by City Council. A draft environmental impact statement must also be prepared.
