News

TARRYTOWN—Armies of economic pundits appear mixed in their predictions about where the U.S. economy is going in 2024. Is it heading into recession or to a soft landing? But they’re in lockstep that the construction sector will continue to be a beacon of profitability and job creation over the coming year. Look elsewhere if you’re looking for a recession.

WHITE PLAINS—Westchester County Executive George Latimer and administration staff released on Oct. 17 a $473.7-million proposed 2024 Capital Budget that is highlighted by significant road and bridge projects, millions of dollars in flood mitigation work, $50 million for affordable housing property acquisition and infrastructure improvements as well as $160 million earmarked for sewer, water and refuse districts in the county.

WHITE PLAINS—In what is clearly the most anticipated development proposal to hit the desks of city leaders in decades, Pacific Retail Capital Partners, The Cappelli Organization, SL Green Realty Corporation, and Aareal Bank, owners of The Galleria at White Plains, presented a $2.5-billion redevelopment plan for the property to the White Plains Common Council on Sept. 28.

TARRYTOWN, NY—In the 47-year history of the Construction Industry Council, there has never been a guest speaker at an annual membership meeting quite like the one last week—someone with a resume that lists experience as a U.S. congressman, a lieutenant governor, a Rhodes Scholar, a Harvard-trained lawyer and a hip-hop artist.

BOCA RATON, FLA—Harold Vogt, the longtime leader of The County Chamber of Commerce (now operating as The Business Council of Westchester), died on Sept. 28 in Boca Raton, FL. He was 88.

CIC-BCA’s Fall Membership meeting was attended by more than 110 Members, Guests and Exhibitors.

We discussed last month how Sections 200, 240(1), and 241(6) of New York’s Labor Law, which are commonly referred to as New York’s “Scaffold Law,” apply only to workers and not to third parties who may also be on the project site (such as a building inspector, in that case).

Joann Gentile finally found the pathway to her career one snowy night, around 2:00 am, when she queued up— along with 100 other hopeful applicants in a line that wrapped around the building—for the chance to enroll in Laborers Union Local 60’s apprentice training program in Brewster, NY.

MOUNT PLEASANT, NY—In response to the recent flooding emergencies that continue to inundate sections of the Town of Mount Pleasant during significant storms, the Town Board is speaking to a local engineering firm to study the problem and propose mitigation actions that could include new public works construction

Housing market activity remains particularly weak, which is being attributed to rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices and constrained housing inventory. According to Forbes, this combination of headwinds is stoking a housing affordability crisis, which is also being fueled by irksome high inflation and the looming uncertainty of more interest rate hikes ahead.