A ruling from the New York Appellate Division’s Second Department will allow the City of New Rochelle to move forward with the construction of a new, relocated downtown firehouse. The Appellate Division ruled that the City of New Rochelle was in full compliance with the State Eminent Domain Procedure Law (EDPL) and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) when it condemned commercial property at 65 River Street in New Rochelle. The new structure (a 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art firehouse) will replace the aging existing firehouse located at 45 Harrison Street. The condemnation will allow the city to vacate its present, antiquated fire headquarters at 45 Harrison Street, which will be developed into a 27 story mixed-use residential building. In addition, the Court granted the City’s motion to dismiss a challenge to a 2016 amendment to its zoning code.

Harris Beach partners Darius Chafizadeh and Michael Curti represented the City of New Rochelle. The case is In the Matter of River Street Realty Corp. v. City of New Rochelle.