Spano talk notes
By ALEX PHILIPPIDIS :: January 19, 2007

Spano: Cappelli sets sights on Mount Vernon

Add Mount Vernon to the list of Westchester cities Louis R. Cappelli has his eye on redeveloping. County Executive Andrew J. Spano mentioned the prospect briefly in opening remarks of an hour-long address Thursday to a Westchester County Association breakfast attended by some 300 business and professional leaders at the Westchester Country Club in Rye.

“Now they’re looking at Mount Vernon,” Spano said.

Joseph V. Apicella, Cappelli’s executive vice president, said something is in the works, but wouldn’t give details: “We’re not ready for prime time.”

Spano offered strong praise for the Valhalla builder’s role in jumpstarting urban redevelopment efforts in White Plains and New Rochelle, and his plan to do so with two partners in Yonkers: “It always takes one person to take a big risk. He took it, and a lot of very high quality builders are part of that whole process.”

Photo File story spurs calls to county IDA

Salvatore J. Carrera, Westchester County’s director of economic development/real estate, said minutes after Spano’s address two business owners called his office after reading the Business Journal’s Jan. 15 report about the county Industrial Development Agency’s offering Photo File Inc. incentives if it consolidates in Westchester offices now scattered in Yonkers and New Jersey. The licensee of pro sports images is in talks to lease 42,... square feet at 333 North Bedford Road in Mount Kisco.

“... Carrera said.

County, 3 engineering firms complete China RFP

Carrera said the county and three local engineering firms were to submit by Jan. 19 their response to a Chinese request for proposals to carry out water and sewer projects.

Malcolm Pirnie Inc. of Harrison (White Plains address), LynStaar Engineering P.C. of Pleasantville and Stearns & Wheler L.L.C., which is based upstate and has Elmsford offices, would undertake five “multi-million-dollar” pilot programs for Beijing and Shandong Province, Carrera said. If the pilot programs prove successful they would be rolled out across China.

BEYOND REAL ESTATE

Strongest hint yet: Med Center CEO will be permanent

Spano offered the strongest hint yet that Westchester Medical Center CEO Michael Israel will eventually be the permanent CEO of the regional hospital: “It’s being run by someone we brought in with a management company who I think eventually will be the next person in charge, in fact probably soon.”

Israel became interim president and CEO in August 2005 through his association with the med center’s turnaround management consultant, Pitts Management Associates. Pitts’ contract with the county is set to expire at the end of March, and is not expected to be renewed.

The med center and Israel have not commented on his status beyond the Pitts agreement.

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