The sprawling 18-hole golf course facility which runs through the heart of the historic Gedney Farms neighborhood will be put up for sale. Directors of the 86-year-old Ridgeway Country Club listed it with CB Richard Ellis, a California based brokerage specializing in large properties. William V. Cuddy, Jr., an Executive Vice President at CB Richard Ellis has been named as the property's broker. The property contains environmentally sensitive ponds and wetlands and is zoned residential "R-30", meaning about one home per acre (approx. 100 homes).

On May 6, 2009 the Gedney Association organized an Open Board Meeting at Ridgeway Elementary School.

Gedney Farm Golf Club's history dates back to the pre-Revolutionary War era when John and Bartholomew Gedney purchased a large tract of land in White Plains. A luxury resort hotel, Gedney Farm Hotel, was built in 1912. Guests included Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. It had an 18-hole golf course, tennis facilities, swimming pool, bowling, squash courts, stables, a polo field, ice skating rink, and a kennel for pets of guests. Howard Willets, who owned racehorses, stabled them in a barn that is now the men's locker room. On September 20, 1924 a fire destroyed the Hotel. Eddie Cantor, a guest at the time, witnessed the 9-hour blaze.

The golf course remained as part of the Gedney Farm Golf Course until 1952 when it was purchased by a group of individuals from Harry Lewis and renamed the Ridgeway Country Club.

Dear Neighbor—

Last week was a busy week concerning the former Ridgeway Country Club property.

Monday evening, the Common Council held a public hearing on the proposed six month moratorium on building on certain open space properties including, among others, Fenway Golf Club, Westchester Hills Golf Club, Maplemoor Golf Course and the former Ridgeway Country Club. Thank you very much to those you attended the meeting. For those who were unable to attend, three members of the Gedney Association Board spoke on the proposed moratorium. We suggested several changes to the proposed moratorium ordinance and I am cautiously optimistic that some, if not all, of our suggested additions will be included in the final version. I am also confident that the moratorium legislation will pass.

Unfortunately, the intent of the public hearing – to express opinions concerning proposed moratorium – was largely ignored by the representatives of the French American School. Instead, the School decided to ignore the rules of the Council and the repeated reminders of the Mayor during the hearing and make the public hearing about their school. The School orchestrated a long series of speakers all wearing FASNY stickers. The overwhelming majority of the FASNY speakers were parents with children in the school and members of the school’s board of the trustees. Very few of these speakers were from White Plains. The attorney for FASNY attempted to paint the opposition to the School’s plans as an irrational group of neighbors adjacent to the former Ridgeway CC property. Also, several Gedney residents felt compelled to present their views of FASNY’s plans.

Thankfully, I believe the public relations ploy appeared to have backfired. The Members of the Council demonstrated remarkable patience and remained focused on the moratorium.

The following evening, the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) held its monthly meeting and the French American School presented their plans for the property. Although I was unable to attend personally, several members of the Gedney Board did attend. I am heartened to report that many representatives of other neighborhood associations expressed their skepticism about the benefits of FASNY’s plans. And, the City’s Commissioner of Planning attended the meeting and publicly rebuked FASNY’s attorney for making misleading and false statements concerning the property and asked him to refrain from continuing to make those statements.

This week also saw more rain and the resulting flooding of the former Ridgeway CC property. We have received many photos of the wet conditions on the property. Thank you to everyone who took those photos and sent them to us. They may prove useful during the long special permit process.

Also, thank you to those who have written letters to the Common Council. Those letters are an essential way for the Council members to be reminded of the importance of this issue.

Please remember to send us the email addresses of those who are not yet on our eblast list and wish to receive our updates. Please send the email addresses to info@gedneyfarms.net.

Thank you.

Terence Guerriere
President, Gedney Association

Additional Information:

Public to Speak on Land Use Approval Moratorium
White Plains Patch, February 11, 2011
A public hearing will be held March 7 on the common council's proposal to prevent land use approvals from going through in two zoning districts until September.

Dear Neighbor—

Several of the Gedney Association's board members attended the Open House held by the French American School at the former Ridgeway Country Club property on Saturday. For those who could not attend or chose not to, let me give you my impressions:

The open house was professionally planned and well run. As I have maintained since the outset, the School's administration and representatives seem to be nice and courteous people. Those representing the School at the open house only reinforced my opinion. The presentations were professionally prepared and demonstrate… and the food was good.

The School's plans have changed: all of the School's buildings are now planned to be constructed at the southern (Ridgeway) end of the property. The initial conceptual plans had called for the elementary and early childhood building to be located off of Bryant Avenue. This building is now planned for behind the homes on Ridgeway on the other side of Hathaway Lane with the athletic facilities are to be located along the Murchison Place, Hotel Drive and part of the Macy Avenue properties. This change concentrates the entire school's multiple building complex along Ridgeway.

Although the presentations were professional, they were not necessarily accurate or complete. Further, a letter issued by the School and sent to many in White Plains maintains that some of the Gedney Association's views are incorrect. It is unfortunate that the School's public relations effort has grown to include misleading assertions. Below are accurate statements about the School's plans and the property:

• The School's construction of a multiple building complex would significantly increase the density of the use of the property and would violate the City's Comprehensive Plan.
  
  
• We believe the preferred use of the property is as a golf course. The Comprehensive Plan calls for this low density use to continue. There are many well managed golf courses throughout the country. We believe that this property could be a financial success as a golf course under proper management.
  
  
• It is a matter of opinion how the surrounding communities' property values will be affected if the School's educational complex replaces the golf course. However, to assert that the property values will not be adversely affected is inaccurate.
  
  
• The introduction of cars and buses carrying 1,200 students and an estimated 200 faculty and staff onto the neighborhood's streets twice a day, every school day, will certainly cause traffic congestion.
  
  
• The school buildings complex will be large enough to accommodate 1,200 students. Comparisons to other existing private schools are valid: the German School and Solomon Schechter School each have less than 400 students: one third the size of the proposed French American School. Archbishop Stepinac High School has less than 600 students, half the size of FASNY's 1,200.
  
  
• Only taxpayer supported schools enjoy special consideration under NYS law. FASNY is a private, regional school and does not qualify for any special consideration. Further, the School must request a special permit to operate in a residential zone. A special permit application can be denied.
  
  
• The School will not pay property taxes; the tax burden for the property will now be spread to the other taxpayers of White Plains.
  
  
• Much of the property that the School does not plan to develop is not developable. A significant portion is already a designated wetland. Further, representatives of the School have stated that the School will not maintain the undeveloped open space. They expect the City, the Gedney Association or some other entity to pay to maintain the property.

Please contact the mayor (Adam Bradley) and Common Council members (Benjamin Boykin, David Buchwald, Milagros Lecuona, Dennis Power, Thomas Roach, Beth Smayda) and tell them how you feel about the School's plans for the Ridgeway property. Also, please discuss the plans with your neighbors, especially those who may not use email regularly and may not be as informed of the facts.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Terence Guerriere
President, Gedney Association

October 28, 2010

Dear Gedney Farms Neighbor,

As you likely are aware, the Common Council held a public meeting to present its plan for the potential acquisition of Ridgeway Country Club. I, along with several other members so the Gedney Association board, attended and spoke at the meeting. Since many of us may not have seen the local media reports, I thought it appropriate to send to you the text of what I said at the meeting. The text is below.

It remains unclear when the Council will vote on the question of whether to make a bid to acquire Ridgeway. We will continue to seek information and share what we know with you. Please plan to join us at our Annual Meeting, being held this year at Westchester Hills Golf Club, on November 10.

Thank you.

Terence Guerriere
President, Gedney Association

Remarks made at the Common Council Public Forum regarding Ridgeway Country Club (10/25/2010)

My name is Terence Guerriere and I am the president of the Gedney Association. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

The Gedney Association represents the Gedney Farms neighborhood surrounding Ridgeway CC.

We have heard from many of our neighbors and although there are many different opinions, there are some common thoughts.

As we have said since the club was first put up for sale over a year ago, we believe that the best use of Ridgeway CC is as open space and a golf club and nothing more.

The Gedney Association supports the City's interest in acquiring the club IF the City plans to keep the property undeveloped and a golf club.

We have several concerns:

• It is essential that the Club not be a burden on the taxpayers. If the city decides to acquire this property, a financial structure needs to be in place that will not drain the city's coffers. The club must be run by professionals, at a profit - with the profits used to pay off the City's debt incurred by acquiring the club and for any capital improvements.
  
  
• It is unfair and irresponsible for the city to run the club at a deficit – it must be self-sustaining.
  
  
• The club cannot be run as a recreational facility supported by tax dollars. The City cannot afford it.
  
  
• The plan for the financial structure is still not known to the public. It should be, before a vote to acquire is taken by the council.
  
  
• A vision for the property was unveiled tonight. However, my 17 years on various boards including the Planning and Zoning Boards have taught me that plans can change.
  
  
• And, my observations of how political pressure works tells me if the City were to purchase Ridgeway, the administration of the club and property must be removed from the political process.
  
  If it is not, this council, or future councils, could decide to change the way the club and property work to the detriment of the City and the surrounding neighborhood. One possibility would be to establish a separate entity or authority removed from political influence and responsible for administering the property.
  
  
• The club property is also a very important component to the lower Westchester watershed environment. There are experts here with bigger brains than mine that will tell us about its environmental role.
  
  
• However, it is safe to say that no additional structures or significant impervious surfaces can be added to the property without adverse effect.
  
  
• The council should pledge two things before a vote is taken:
  1. that there will be no additional building on the property, and
  2. that the property will be open space forever. This needs to be done permanently (perhaps through rezoning the property or divesting the development rights) without the possibility of a future council being able to change the City's mind.
     
     
• All of these concerns affect the city as a whole and are very important to us as residents of WP and to us as taxpayers.
  
  
• There are also concerns particular to the Gedney Farms neighborhood. The club is literally intertwined with the Gedney Farms neighborhood. Like other neighborhoods in White Plains, we already experience excessive speeds and traffic on relatively small roads such as Heatherbloom Road, Gedney Esplanade, and Hathaway Lane. One of the strengths of the neighborhood is its residential character. Any significant change to the volume of use in these roads, risks changing Gedney Farms' character.
  
  

Please consider our concerns and assure us, before you vote, that if you acquire Ridgeway CC that it remains open space, a golf club and is not a burden on the taxpayers.

Thank you.

October 20, 2010

Dear Gedney Farms Neighbor,

As you are likely well aware, Ridgeway Country Club is up for sale and has been for more than a year. The City is seriously considering acquiring Ridgeway Country Club for use as a City owned country club.

Although the Gedney Association has voiced its support for the City's efforts, we have also stated our concerns. We have heard from many of you and the opinions vary widely. One common theme among your responses, however, has been the fear of action by the City before the people are fully informed.

We have stated several times, in several venues, that we believe a public forum should be held by the Mayor and Common Council. However, it is possible that a decision will be reached without an opportunity for the public to hear directly from the City government. With that possibility in mind, we strongly encourage each of you to send an email to the Mayor and Council expressing your opinions. Their email addresses are below.

We also ask that you copy us on the emails so we can attempt to accurately gauge the response of the Gedney Farms neighborhood. Please send copies of the emails to info@gedneyfarms.net. The content of these emails will not be shared.

We will continue to try to remain engaged with the Mayor and Council and will keep you apprised of any information and developments.

Please do not forget to join us at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 10 at Westchester Hills Golf Club and our annual Halloween Fest on Sunday, October 24 on the grounds of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.

Thank you.

Terence P. Guerriere
President, Gedney Association

Contact Info:

• Mayor Adam Bradley
  abradley@whiteplainsny.gov
• Hon. Benjamin Boykin II
  bboykin@whiteplainsny.gov
• Hon. David Buchwald
  David.Buchwald@gmail.com
• Hon. Milagros Lecuona
  milagroslecuona@gmail.com
• Hon. Dennis J. Power
  djpower@verizon.net
• Hon. Thomas M. Roach, Council President
  troach@whiteplainsny.gov
• Hon. Beth N. Smayda
  bsmayda@bethsmayda.com

October 15, 2010

Dear Gedney Farms Neighbor,

We would like to give you an update on the proposed sale of Ridgeway Country Club. However, solid factual information is hard to come by. This is what we do know:

Ridgeway Country Club is up for sale and has been for more than a year. Several private parties have shown interest but no deal has been struck. Recently, the Club hired a new broker to assist with the sale and the asking price was lowered to $13,500,000.

The City is seriously considering acquiring Ridgeway Country Club for use as a City owned country club. Based on conversations with Council members and the Mayor, the City is reviewing the models of Rye Golf Club in Rye, Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester and others around the country.

The Gedney Association supports the City's efforts. We believe that the City has an excellent opportunity to preserve Ridgeway Country Club as open space and keep its historical use as a country club. The acquisition by the City would permanently eliminate the prospect of development of the land and would help preserve the home values of Gedney Farms. We believe, if properly financed and administered, a City owned country club would enhance the property values of all homes in White Plains and be profitable. Although the City would lose the current real estate tax receipts from the property, the profits and sales tax receipts generated from the club could provide some much needed real estate tax relief.

However, there are several important questions and concerns that remain unaddressed:

1. What is the process the City will follow in pursuing this purchase?
2. Will there be a public hearing so the people can be fully informed?
   • Although it is our understanding that a public hearing is not required, we believe the City should hold one so that the people of White Plains can be fully informed.
3. What will the City expect to change on the Ridgeway property after acquisition?
   • Any significant changes would possibly affect the character of the Gedney Farms neighborhood.
   • Issues such as traffic, noise levels and drainage problems are just a few of the potential issues to be considered.
4. How will the City finance the purchase?
   • Anything less than a financially self sustaining club would be problematic for the City's taxpayers.

There are many rumors swirling around our community. It is our hope and expectation that the City will do whatever it can to inform everyone of the facts and its plans.

We will continue to try to remain engaged with the Mayor and Council and will keep you apprised of any information and developments.

Please do not forget to join us at our scheduled Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 10 at Westchester Hills Golf Club and our annual Halloween Fest on Sunday, October 24 on the grounds of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.

Thank you.

Terence P. Guerriere
President, Gedney Association