From the Mayor's Desk...December 18, 2012
The horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut have left my wife and me utterly speechless, not just as parents but as human beings. I would be remiss if I did not add to the chorus of sympathies being expressed to the families of the victims of that terrible tragedy. I want to assure you that Police Chief Cerone and I continue to work closely with Dr. Harrison and the Irvington School District to provide a subtle yet stable presence to help ensure the safety of our students. I’m sure you can all appreciate that it is quite delicate to increase police presence without alarming the students unnecessarily.
Cloudy Water
Over the past several weeks, you may have noticed cloudiness in our drinking water. Since early November, we have been feeding our drinking water from the Town of Greenburgh directly to the Riverview Road water tank, bypassing the water tank on Mountain Road to allow for its replacement. This direct feed is causing differing pressures in the water lines, resulting in an excess of air bubbles. While the water is not particularly appetizing to look at, it is most definitely safe to drink. Our water, collected from multiple collection points around the Village, is tested on a daily basis at the Westchester County Department of Health laboratories. All tests have shown our water to be safe to drink.
The Mountain Road water tank replacement project is expected to continue through the spring.
Historic District Meeting
In August 2011, my colleagues and I formed a Committee to study the possibility of establishing an historic district in the Village of Irvington. A group of very energetic, talented, and motivated citizens, led by Earl Ferguson and Andy Lyons, have met for the past year to move the process forward. I am pleased to report that the Irvington Historic District Committee will hold a public informational meeting on January 10, 2013. Please see their press release for a complete description of this important meeting:
The Irvington Historic District Committee is pleased to announce that it is launching a public information forum on the topic of “Creating an Historic District” on January 10th, 2013 at 7 PM at the Irvington Public Library. (Snow date: Wednesday, January 16).
The forum will feature guest speakers Walter Sedovic, FAIA, LEED and Joseph Pell Lombardi, followed by a panel discussion and question and answer period. The purpose of the forum is to initiate a community discussion and information-sharing session focused on the proposed historic district, how it can be created, and its potential community benefits. A panel of members of the Historic District Committee will discuss perspectives on Irvington’s historic character.
Joseph Pell Lombardi was one of the first architects to specialize in preservation of historical buildings. His preservation practice ranges from historical restoration projects to large-scale adaptive re-use of historical buildings worldwide, including many in New York. He is an Irvington resident and owner of the National Historic Landmark, Armour-Stiner (‘Octagon House’) in Irvington. The recipient of many awards for his service to historic preservation – including the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission Certificate of Merit, and the Preservation League of NY State Achievement Award – Mr. Lombardi’s work is nationally recognized and widely published.
Walter Sedovic, Architect AIA, is Principal and CEO of Walter Sedovic Architects, established in 1986 following his ten-year tenure with the National Park Service in Boston and New York, working with historical sites of national significance. Located in Irvington, NY, his firm specializes in historic preservation and sustainable design resulting in enriched educational and cultural opportunities, and strong community ties. Mr. Sedovic is a distinguished and nationally recognized leader and expert on the subject of sustainable preservation. He is a sought after speaker internationally, and he has lectured and published widely on historic preservation issues. Committed to ensuring that historical sites conserve the integrity of their original fabric and features, his love of preservation is rooted in the belief that historic buildings provide critical identity for community as physical expression of events, culture, and history. His firm has won virtually every national award recognizing excellence in architectural preservation, and recently he has been elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.
For more information on the proposed Irvington Historic District, visit the Irvington Historic District Committee Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IrvingtonHistoricDistrict, or contact the Historic District Committee co-chairs, Andy Lyons (andy@bsp1.com) or Earl Ferguson (eferguson@earlfergusonarchitect.com).
There is quite an extensive “history” of efforts to establish such a district and I invite you to read about it on the Village web site at: http://www.irvingtonny.gov/index.aspx?nid=159
Best,
Brian C. Smith
Mayor
bsmith@irvingtonny.gov
