Work on City Center at White Plains moving forward

Real Estate Weekly, Jan 29, 2003

Construction crews working on City Center at White Plains in the heart of Westchester County (NY) have recently been hoisting gypsum reinforced pre-cast concrete wall panels into place, as work on the $320 million project moves forward at a rapid pace.

The 12 x 20 foot panels, each weighing some 4,000 pounds and being used at the site, are made in New Jersey and Texas by Eastern Exterior Wall Systems of Bethlehem, Penn., and are brought to the site on flatbed trailer trucks.

These photos show recent work on the Main Street side of the site. The hoisting work at this location required a temporary closing of the street and had to be done after normal business hours. This was required for traffic safety reasons and because the Greenpoint Savings Bank in the foreground is still in use. Building rules forbid lifting the heavy panels while people are within the building.

The bank building, which has landmark status, is owned the project developer and will be part of City Center. It is to become the first Westchester County location for Legal Seafoods, a popular Boston-based restaurant group. Greenpoint bank will switch its operations to a new location on the Mamaroneck Avenue side of the City Center project.

Approximately 600 construction workers are currently employed on the City Center job. They are simultaneously working on the retail and entertainment aspects of the project, a new parking garage and the first of two 35-story residential towers. George A. Fuller Construction, a Cappelli Enterprises subsidiary, is building the non-residential components, while HRH Construction of White Plains is building the residential towers.

Construction of City Center is on schedule. The retail and entertainment components are slated to open in October of this year, with the first residential tower to follow in the spring of 2004.