Dear Editor,
Although my neighbor William Snyder is willing to put up with "the disruption and loss of open space" resulting from the Lawrence Hospital expansion project (letter, June 30), he does not speak for me and other neighbors in Stoneleigh Plaza, to say nothing of the pedestrian and vehicular traffic that already crowds Pondfield Road West and the traffic circle.
Mr. Snyder's former associates on the hospital governing board are inflicting a scar on one of the few the remaining open spaces on the West Side of the Village, an area in which few of the reigning decision-makers live.
Despite the public relations surge the hospital has mounted, the project rests on dubious assumptions as to the need for accessible cancer care. It also ignores alternative sites for necessary new operating rooms.
It also will inflict a massive structure into a residential area. Even at this late stage, the hospital governors should realize they are making a terrible mistake. In doing so, they can demonstrate they are neighbors, not invaders, and hew to the motto above the portal of Massachusetts General Hospital--"First of all, do no harm."
Sincerely,
Richard Magat
1 Westbourne, Alger Court
Bronxville
July 6, 2011
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400