A special exception use was granted to Verco Properties, the developer overseeing the Harrison Playhouse Lofts project, at the Harrison Town Council meeting on Thursday, April 7.
The site is located at the long-defunct Harrison Cinema, located at 227-239 Harrison Ave. in the town’s downtown business district, and the proposed development includes the construction of 42 luxury rental units, with 52 parking spaces underneath, in addition to tenant amenities, including community terraces, rooftop terraces and a gym. There will also be a screening room constructed to pay homage to the building’s history as a 1920s era movie theater.
John Verni, attorney for the project and a partner at Verco Properties, said at the town board meeting that the firm has spent the past 20 months gaining approval from various boards for requirements, including height variances, the authority to create a six-story structure, and special exceptions to make this project a reality.
In addition to the old movie theater, the current site also includes a vacant lot on Purdy Street, which brings $30,000 a year in tax revenue, but according to Verni, once the project is completed, the Playhouse Lofts will create $400,000 in tax revenue for Harrison.
The Playhouse Lofts is not the only development project of its kind in downtown Harrison. An even larger project, put forth by the AvalonBay Communities—comprised of a mixed-use, transit-oriented development on Halstead Avenue that includes 143 apartments, 27,000 square feet of commercial space and 769 parking spaces—is still in its planning stages.
Most recently, a public hearing was held by Harrison’s Planning Board on Feb. 23 regarding the proposed scoping document for AvalonBay’s Draft Environmental Impact statement.
“[The Playhouse Lofts project] will jump-start the rebirth of downtown Harrison,” said Verni at the meeting, “and along with the [AvalonBay Communities] project, will make downtown Harrison the new destination in Westchester County.”
Verni could not be reached for comment as of press time.
