Galleria mall redevelopment plan revealed: 7 residential towers, parks and pet playgrounds
WHITE PLAINS − Six months after the Galleria mall in White Plains closed, a developer has unveiled a long-awaited redevelopment proposal.
The plan is to tear down the 43-year-old, 870,000-square-foot mall and build The District Galleria, including seven residential towers with a fitness center, grocery store and eateries, as well as professional and personal service amenities, according to a news release.
The residential towers will include 3,200 apartments with 384 affordable units.
White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach said the redevelopment would bring people to the downtown, support small businesses, enhance walkability and generate tax revenue for the city.
"This is such an important project to our city," Roach said. "My focus will be on making sure this project produces benefits for everyone in our community. I'm looking forward to continuing to work on that."
The developer, Pacific Retail Capital Partners, told the City Council on Wednesday that nearly half the project’s footprint would be designated as open space. The firm proposed creating a mile-long green promenade with pet playgrounds and pocket parks for community gatherings, outdoor events, public entertainment and art.
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Najla Kayyem, executive vice president for Pacific Retail Capital Partners, said in the release the key to the redevelopment is to appeal to people’s desire for connection and belonging.
“The evolution of an enclosed mall to an open-air mixed-use development with the unified vision of The District Galleria is pivotal in evolving real estate for the next generation,” Kayyem said.
Roach said the plan takes a good step in the right direction in terms of creating open space for the community. He hopes to see more affordable units and environmentally friendly designs in the proposal.
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The developer said the project is being designed as sustainable and energy efficient and would align with the city’s strategic plan to expand transit-oriented development.
Roach said the planning process could take between one and two years. The developer is requesting rezoning from the city's Common Council. He promised the public will have a good opportunity to participate in the planning process.
"Right now we don't even have an application but this is such an important site that we want to get it out to our public as early as possible," the mayor said. "The city has control over that; that gives us a strong negotiating position as we move forward on."
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: White Plains development: Galleria mall to be replaced with apartments
