Westchester cities initiative focuses on Peekskill.

The Westchester Partnership for Economic Development (WPED) recently brought its Board of Directors to Peekskill to discuss specific economic issues and projects in that city, as part of the Partnership's Westchester Cities Initiative.

Designed to assist Westchester County's major urban centers in strengthening their economic development efforts, the Westchester Cities Initiative involves ongoing meetings with the mayors and municipal officials of Westchester's five urban cities: Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, White Plains and Yonkers. Previously, meetings were held in Yonkers, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon.

Chaired by WPED President William M. Mooney, Jr., the July 30th meeting in Peekskill was held at the Peekskill Neighborhood Facility and attended by 40 WPED board members. Members, along with the city's planning and economic development officials, took a bus tour of the city's targeted economic development areas, Afterwards, Peekskill Mayor Frances Gibbs addressed the meeting, reviewing specific economic development projects which the city has completed, or are underway or planned. A reception with refreshments followed.

The Partnership's goal is to help foster the economic development initiatives of these cities," Mooney said. "Westchester's urban downtowns, which historically have been the centers of economic vitality in the county, have been struggling in recent years, as the lion's share of development shifted to corporate parks and urban areas. However, today, some of the smaller communities do not want more development. Our job is to refocus the attention back on the locations that want development and have the infrastructure to support it.

"We will bring whatever resources are necessary - brain power, planning, contacts - to build stronger partnerships throughout all levels of government to stimulate economic growth not only in the cities, but in the County's towns and villages," Mooney said.

During the WPED Board of Directors meeting, Mayor Gibbs reviewed some of the targeted economic development areas visited on the bus tour of the city. They included:

* A 33,464-square-foot former department store that is being converted into offices for the Workers Compensation Board, which in the fall will open a district office serving Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Dutchess counties.

* Westchester Community College's satellite campus, which is located in a former Woolworth's store in downtown Peekskill.

* The Drum Hill School, a historic structure that was shuttered for many years, which is now being converted to an assisted-living facility. The historic components will be preserved.

* The Peekskill Waterfront: The City, in a co-ownership agreement with the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, will purchase the former Tallix Foundry property of some eight acres, which will be used as parkland, giving the city a large stretch of riverfront that will be accessible to the public. Adjacent to it is a city-owned site that will be developed as Peekskill Landing, which will include a small maritime museum, a small boat building facility that will produce replicas of historic ships, and a restaurant/conference center.

* Charles Point Industrial Area: The former Fleischmann site (later Standard Brands, Inc.) where yeast, distilled spirits and vinegar were produced, is now home to 20 companies that have converted the old buildings or built their own on the 36.5-acre site. Three former factory buildings have been converted to industrial office space, housing numerous small companies. Resco, the county's garbage to energy plant, was the first tenant. Some opportunities for development in the industrial park are still available.

The Westchester Partnership for Economic Development is a public/private not-for-profit organization, the mission of which is to retain existing businesses and to attract new businesses to Westchester.