On the precipice of its 150^th Anniversary, the Village of Port Chester is open for business and wants to hear from the development community about the ability to partner with the Village, community, and property owners to make Port Chester the community the region's premier place to live, work, and play.

The Village of Port Chester is located in the southeastern corner of Westchester County along the Byram River and within one mile of the Long Island Sound. The Village has a total land area of 2.4 square miles. The Census Bureau's most recent estimates indicate that the Village of Port Chester has a population of approximately 30,000 living in approximately 9,772 housing units. The 2015 estimated median household income is $55,437 as compared with an area median income (AMI) of $83,958 in Westchester County. Within a few miles of Port Chester are higher income areas such as the Village of Rye Brook, the Town of Rye, and the Village of Harrison with median incomes ranging from $90,000-$180,000. Approximately 43% of all homes in Port Chester are owner-occupied, versus 57% renter-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied units is roughly $440,000.

In terms of location, Port Chester is well situated, accessible by Metro North's New Haven line, within 15 miles of New York City, and has earned the reputation of being the Westchester county capital of dining and entertainment. Port Chester is home to an eclectic and vibrantly diverse population that continues to grow and change almost overnight. A convenient geographical location, position as the "Entertainment and Restaurant Capital of Westchester County", and dense and walkable downtown has begun to attract more and more newcomers and developer interest.

Despite all of these advantages, the Village, like many other municipalities, is forced to approach land development on a largely ad-hoc basis. There is a disconnect between what is proposed for development, what the Village needs, and what the community desires. The Village seeks to utilize the expertise of a professional who can simultaneously communicate the Village's vision for downtown's growth, and see it through to reality and/or work with private property owners on behalf of the Village to realize the same.

The Village of Port Chester is considering partnering with a master developer or master development team (hereinafter referred to as the "master developer") to work with the Village to implement a strategic community planning and redevelopment effort of its downtown , waterfront, and other strategic areas within the Village. The Village is seeking specifically to revitalize the area in and around the Port Chester Metro-North train station into a cohesive, walkable, transit-oriented, environmentally sustainable downtown and activate its waterfront, as well as spur the revitalization of other areas within the Village, including Fox Island and the former United Hospital site. Through this RFQ, the Village seeks Statements of Qualifications from experienced mixed-use, context-sensitive developers and/or development teams to help revitalize a tentative site area encompassing approximately 120 acres. The Project Area consists of a wide range of existing residential, commercial and industrial uses that encompass the breadth and diversity of uses, tastes, and experiences that is the community of Port Chester.

The Tentative Project Area contains both private and public assets. In the public realm is the Byram River waterfront promenade, various large-lot commercial developments at the southeast part of downtown (dubbed "The Modified Marina Redevelopment Project"), and smaller parking lots and infill sites located throughout the downtown.

Beyond these sites, there is an opportunity for redevelopment of the Department of Public Works site (8.62 acres) on Fox Island to the southeast, partnership opportunities with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") for downtown MTA property, and potential aid in the redevelopment of the former United Hospital site on Boston Post Road.

It is anticipated that a successful community-based development and planning process will accomplish the following, among other things:

• Improve the quality of life for Village residents,
• Increase property tax revenues and establish a sustainable fiscal base for the Village,
• Provide additional job opportunities and material community benefits for the residents of Port Chester,
• Implement a walkable, transit-oriented development through residential and mixed-use development, and
• Provide a distinct "sense of place" for Port Chester.

For more information on this RFQ, or to access the full document, please visit the following website:

http://www.portchesterny.com/home/bids/downtown-master-developer

Sincerely,

Eric Zamft, AICP
Planning & Economic Development Director
ezamft@portchesterny.com
914-937-6780