Rose Enterprises Group and Garden Communities are proposing to redevelop the approximately 55-acre property at 701-777 Westchester Avenue in White Plains, NY. The plan may involve possibly demolishing the existing and fifty percent vacant five office buildings (totaling about 675,000 square feet) and constructing a mixed-use, master planned, live-work-play community.
This includes:
⬥ Anchoring the site will be a state-of-the-art office medical facility at 701 Westchester Avenue.
⬥ Up-to 550 luxury multifamily rental apartment residences (market, senior and affordable)
⬥ Up-to 50 for sale luxury senior market rate townhomes
⬥ A series of indoor and outdoor residential amenities.
Our project aligns with White Plains' One White Plains Comprehensive Plan, promoting sustainable mixed-use development through adaptive reuse of underutilized office space. A zoning amendment would be required to permit multifamily residential in the Campus-Office (C-O) district.
What is the plan for Renaissance White Plains Gateway?
The plan emphasizes sustainability, community connectivity, and enhanced open spaces:
⬥ New internal roadways, pedestrian paths, and a 300-foot wooded buffer along the eastern edge to integrate the site and buffer neighboring homes.
⬥ Private amenities including two private parks (approximately 0.6 and 1 acres respectively), a dog park and a 1.4-acre recreation area.
⬥ Public benefits include a one-mile trail and a one acre open space both available for public use.
⬥ There will be a substantial reduction in critical peak hours.
What else does the plan entail?
Will Renaissance White Plains Gateway increase traffic (mobility)?
No, our project is expected to decrease traffic overall. A mobility study based on our proposed mixed-use plan would result in approximately 2,600 fewer weekday daily trips compared to the existing as-of-right office use.
⬥ Peak AM hour: Net decrease of 402 trips.
⬥ Peak PM hour: Net decrease of 483 trips.
⬥ No significant traffic impacts are anticipated that cannot be readily mitigated, supporting sustainable land use by reducing commuter traffic.
⬥ Our site has an excellent regional access to I-287 which substantially limits any impacts/traffic to the local roadway network.
Is there adequate parking for residents and guests?
Yes, the plan includes sufficient parking based on the concept designs. Parking counts will be finalized during the review process, but the illustrative plan accounts for resident and guest needs, including dedicated spaces for the state-of-the-art medical office facility and townhomes.
What impact will Renaissance White Plains Gateway have on school population?
Our project is designed to have a minimal impact on the school student population. Our proposed community is intended to appeal to mature adult singles and couples professionals, empty-nesters, and downsizing households, resulting in fewer school-age children than traditional single-family housing.
Will the plan require new infrastructure?
The plan leverages existing infrastructure with targeted upgrades:
⬥ Stormwater: Existing runoff conveyed to existing basin with additional on-site and enhanced stormwater facilities to be added as needed
⬥ Upgrades to stormwater systems, sewer infrastructure, site circulation, landscaped buffers, perimeter walls, pedestrian linkages, publicly accessible open space, enhanced wooded areas, public safety enhancements (e.g., improved emergency access, traffic improvements), and contributions to public services—representing millions of dollars of public benefit to the residents of White Plains.
What impact will the plan have on water and sanitary systems?
Our project will have minimal impact and may include upgrades such as:
⬥ Sanitary Sewer: An existing 36-39-inch Westchester County Trunk Sewer serves the area. Onsite mains serve the buildings; the plan will connect appropriately without overload, based on discussions with the City of White Plains Department of Public Works.
⬥ Water: A 12-inch water line (within a 15-foot easement) extends from Westchester Avenue to Bryant Avenue, with a 10-inch private line serving 777 Westchester. No known issues; the redevelopment will use this system efficiently.
Will the buildings block neighbors’ views?
The design minimizes visual impacts through thoughtful placement and buffering, with strict adherence to City of White Plains regulations, zoning requirements, building codes, environmental guidelines, and any applicable covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CCRs):
⬥ Buildings are set back with a 300-foot wooded buffer along the eastern edge to preserve privacy and views for neighboring homes.
⬥ Townhomes and multifamily structures are clustered to maintain open spaces, with heights and massing considerate of the site's topography.
⬥ Private parks and the publicly available walking trail enhance the landscape without obstructing key views. A visual impact analysis will be part of the review process.
What about additional excess lighting?
Lighting will be designed to minimize excess spillover:
⬥ Lighting elements in Renaissance Westchester White Plains Gateway will tie together aesthetically while adhering to dark-sky principles to reduce light pollution.
⬥ Site lighting will focus on safety for pathways, parks, and amenities, with shielded fixtures to direct light downward and avoid impacting neighbors.
⬥ Cohesive architectural lighting will enhance community identity without excess brightness. Details will be reviewed during the approval process.
The state-of-the-art medical office facility at 701 Westchester Avenue will anchor our project:
⬥ It will provide vital health services for Westchester County.
⬥ The facility will create high-quality jobs, boost economic vitality, and integrate with the residential components.
⬥ Lot line adjustments ensure dedicated space and parking for the center, enhancing the site's medical focus.
What is happening with the medical office facility?
What makes our Renaissance White Plains Gateway such a good site for residences?
The 55-acre site along the Platinum Mile is ideal for adaptive reuse:
⬥ Strategic location with access to I-287, Westchester Avenue, and nearby amenities, supporting walkable, mixed-use communities.
⬥ Transformation from underutilized offices to resilient live-work-play spaces, reducing traffic, diversifying the tax base, and aligning with White Plains' vision for sustainable growth.
⬥ Strong market demand for luxury, amenity-rich housing, as confirmed by RCLCO's economic study (opportunities for market-rate rentals, townhomes, active adult, and affordable senior housing).
⬥ Proximity and integration to healthcare hubs and integration into our Renaissance Plains Gateway provides for a cohesive and vibrant corridor.
