The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

new construction

Our Walkable Town: Just Part of the Magic of Pleasantville!

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When we moved to Pleasantville in 2007 it was only because there was a house for rent here that was a new construction. Coming from a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, we decided that we weren’t going to pass that up.  “But there are no school busses in Pleasantville,” a long-time friend new to the suburbs said to us.

As parents of a young child, we wondered why no one had ever mentioned that to us and quickly came to realize that it was because… in Pleasantville, it simply doesn’t matter. And the longer we lived here we believed that the absence of those busses was actually a little part of the magic.

Living in a town where people walk to and from school, to meet friends for coffee, to go to the movies, out to dinner or the local book store enables us to create and maintain connections that make life special. Running into a friend or neighbor while out walking Ruby, our golden-doodle, results easily in knowing who needs dinner delivered or what issues are being discussed at the village board meeting.

This walking town has also been and continues to be an integral part of Lucy and Sadie’s childhoods. Being able to walk home from school by themselves or in to town after school on a Friday with friends is not only fun but it’s also a boost to their confidence and self-esteem; small gifts all because of some well-maintained sidewalks and a lovely community.

“If I could get paid to be the Pleasantville Welcome Wagon, I would!” is what I’m often telling people I meet who are new to our little town. I’m so excited for them, for the greatness that they don’t really know they’ve found.

Brandywyne – A Site for new Construction in the Town of New Castle

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Seventeen years ago when this intrepid reporter began searching for a home in town, new construction was fairly prevalent.  Although Random Farms had been completed, bulldozers still reigned at Hardscrabble Lake.  Today, available space is generally sparse except at Brandywyne, a new site located off Brandon Drive.

Construction continues here at a brisk pace, despite the fact that this development has actually been under consideration for many years, dating back to the late 1980s when the former owner sought approval to build 23 homes.  In 1999 Antonio Velardo Inc. purchased the property and reached an agreement to build eight homes on the 77.6 acre site.   Issues such as the desire to preserve the habitat for existing wildlife and access from Bittersweet Lane (which was not granted) were finally overcome.  “One of the things that was required was to set up some open land,”  Mario Velardo, Vice President of Antonio Velardo Inc. said.  33.5 acres have been dedicated to this end.

The homes – which are being built on speculation – measure about 6,000 square feet on lots of approximately three acres.  One home is currently occupied and another is currently on the market for $2,950,000.  Each home includes a generator, a virtual necessity in today’s environment.  All power lines have been installed underground.

According to Town Planner Sabrina Charney Hull, very little space is available for new development in New Castle.  “Less than 10% of the town is undeveloped,” she noted.  At this point, the only viable option for future subdivisions is those of a smaller scale.