To the editor:

It’s time for a new chapter in Pelham Manor. So much more can be achieved to enhance our quality of life while truly addressing the important public safety problems we face. We need a proactive vision toward reinvesting in Pelham Manor in ways that keep our families safe, build the tax base and help our village realize its full potential. Kate Pringle and Mark Cardwell offer this vision—thoughtfully, with great depth and specificity—and it’s up to us to take them up on it. I strongly endorse their candidacies for village trustee in our March 19 election.

I believe that real leadership in Pelham Manor should build consensus and buy-in, tap into our residents’ exceptional range of expertise and sense of service and push the community forward in new ways. Too often, Pelham Manor has been caught off-guard, insular, reactive and focused on preservation rather than needed change. How many of us visit other communities and are inspired to think about Pelham Manor’s true potential? The most vibrant communities often make a first impression that wows you—there is a sense of place that is defining and compelling. One can see and touch the reinvestment, which drives higher property values and top-of-mind awareness among young families in the city talking with their friends and colleagues about where to move in the suburbs. I am proud to live in Pelham Manor—we have still-beautiful places and homes to enjoy, rooted in a centuries-long history and with a great deal of staying power—but we are long overdue for village leadership that demonstrates a vision for our future that matches my pride, and yours. Pringle and Cardwell are these types of leaders.

The lack of planning and reinvestment in Pelham Manor shows up in our property values, with our housing market materially lagging peer communities of Larchmont, Bronxville, Scarsdale and Rye, for example. In 2023, Pelham Manor’s median single-family home sale price per square foot was $490, as compared with $662 in Larchmont, $668 in Bronxville, $550 in Scarsdale and $704 in Rye.  On average between 2016 and 2023, Pelham Manor houses have sold at a per-square-foot discount to these other housing markets, ranging from a discount of 11.4% versus Scarsdale to a discount of 34.4% versus Bronxville. For what it’s worth, the Village of Pelham tracks very closely to Pelham Manor, but the median price per square foot in Pelham has also been slightly higher, on average, since 2016. While Pelham Manor’s home values have certainly appreciated, so have homes in other communities—in some cases, a lot more. There remains a significant and persistent difference in the way the market values Pelham Manor versus other communities, and we ought to be working hard to change that; it’s good for the tax base.

Lost in the boasting about “invaluable twice-weekly trash pick-up” and pleas to vote for the “proven team” is any discussion of advancement, of growth. After 20 or 40 years, and more, of sameness, we have missed opportunities for positive change, preparedness and quality of life enhancements. And we have been surpassed by our peer communities in terms of market perception. Keeping things the same doesn’t age well.

Then again, property taxes also have a lot to do with our property values. I have been surprised to receive ads bragging that the current village trustees are “delivering top-tier services while keeping taxes low!” Fact check: Our taxes are exceptionally high. And “top tier services” rings hollow when we are nowhere close to resolving our flooding problem. How many newer residents in our village would have chosen to live here if they knew that, despite their hefty tax bill, there was not an ambulance at-the-ready in Pelham Manor 24/7? Top-tier, indeed. We can and must do better.

Shore Park could be truly exceptional, with landscape enhancements, activating the small stone building at the entry and creating a kayak launch. However, the sink holes and chain link fence tell of a lack of attention here for decades. We pay people to sit guard at Shore Park, but if we must keep people out, we could be using modern technology and digital access to save money. The erosion there is unsustainable and dangerous, yet there is absolutely no plan for any solutions to shore up Shore Park. Improvements to all our parks would demonstrate to visitors on a first impression basis that we care about providing value to our residents.

There have been times in Pelham Manor’s history when our culture and government was marked by big moves and vision. Among them, the recruitment of Fairway, to anchor a revitalized commercial development initiative that bolstered our tax base, was an inspired public-private partnership. But our retail environment, our commercial tax base, is under threat, with Four Corners neglected and a gradual degradation of the retail tenant quality west of the Hutchinson River Parkway. Occupancy is better than vacancy, but in the long-term, how many creditworthy Chase Banks can be replaced by nail salons before we dive in to defend this key component to our financial strength and community perception?

Pringle and Cardwell will work hard to bolster our critical public services, while improving the important quality of life metrics that are valued by prospective home buyers and existing residents alike.  Village Manager Lindsey Luft is to be commended for her hard work during her first year on the job. We should all support her with ideas, encouragement and our thanks for the time she puts into sorting out a path forward on an array of tough issues. Pringle and Cardwell will support Luft’s success by working collaboratively with her and by helping her to tap into the expert volunteer talent we have in this community.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting Kate Pringle and Mark Cardwell on March 19. Pelham Manor deserves more, and we are very fortunate that these incredible volunteers are stepping up to help us make the progress we must expect in our village government.

Peter Bazeli

8 Rockledge Drive