Vote on November 7!

Bond Referendum Project to Address Village’s Critical Needs

On Tuesday, November 7, the Village of Irvington will hold a bond referendum to authorize borrowing up to $18.2 million for a comprehensive update of our municipal facilities.

The goal is to create a municipal center that resolves safety and accessibility deficiencies in our 122-year-old Village Hall by relocating departments and the Justice Court to an expanded complex that would include the firehouse at 90 Main Street opposite Village Hall.

This project was professionally studied and discussed over more than 10 years by the present and past Village Boards to address the current and future needs of the Village and residents.

The expansion and consolidation project addresses more than 30 critical needs across eight departments, including ADA accessibility, security technology and new restrooms in the Police Department, Justice Court, and theater.

Improvements to the Fire headquarters include creating safe clearances between trucks, a decontamination room, a protected filling station, a protected area for all turnout gear, and a women’s locker room.

The Justice Court would address significant security issues and include a courtroom, judge’s chamber, and court offices.

The plan provides the Irvington Police Department with proper facilities for both male and female officers and an indoor, soundproof shooting range.

The relocation of municipal offices will allow for the creation of a proper lobby, ADA accessible restrooms, box office, and concession space for the Irvington Theater on Main Street. Additionally, there will be new, flexible programming space for the Recreation Department.

We welcome the public to attend open house information sessions at Village Hall on October 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and October 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please email Larry Schopfer at lschopfer@irvingtonny.gov with any questions.

For locations of polling places, visit citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/find-polling-place

Bringing New Life to a Cultural Gem  

Among the many benefits of the project is the revitalization of the Irvington Theater, a treasured and historic venue that has been a vital presenter of entertainment attracting a broad range of audiences from the greater New York metropolitan area.

The project will improve access to the Irvington Theater by creating a Main Street entrance along with lobby, box office, and concession space. In addition, the Village secured a state grant that will fund the installation of a new air conditioning system in the theater. 

The Irvington Theater closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. We are hopeful that our Village’s cultural gem will reopen soon.

Facts About the Project

What is being proposed?

The Village Board proposes an infrastructure-improvement project to address more than 30 critical needs in eight departments. The result would be a new municipal complex at 90 Main Street combining Village operations, the Justice Court and the fire department. The relocation of Village offices would allow for improved access to the Irvington Theater by creating a Main Street entrance, lobby, box office and concession space, plus the creation of three first-floor activity rooms for the Recreation Department. The Village Board estimates that the work will cost up to $18.2 million.

Why do we need a new municipal complex?

Village offices occupy a historic building primarily designed as a theater that cannot accommodate 21st-century municipal functions. A new municipal complex across from the theater would consolidate all Village operations and allow for security upgrades in the Village’s courtroom, improved judges’ chambers, and necessary attorney/client meeting rooms. The Recreation Department currently operates in a decaying building prone to flooding. The Police Department lacks locker rooms, a secure evidence room, and office space. Finally, the current fire station bays are too small. A fire engine in the 1960s occupied 279 square feet of space. Today’s fire engines occupy 712 square feet, more than 2 1⁄2 times larger. A firefighter in gear can barely pass through the bay, creating a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.

What are the safety issues?

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that municipal buildings comply with accessibility regulations. Several Village offices and the firehouse do not meet ADA requirements and, as a result, expose Irvington to potential litigation in the event of a serious accident.

The firehouse was built in 1964 and it does not meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Furthermore, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that fire departments provide facilities for disinfecting, cleaning, and storage. The current fire station does not comply with such guidelines.

The Justice Court needs security improvements so that court officers can safely segregate suspects from judges.

How long has the Village studied its space needs?

The Village Board began its expansion reviews in 2012 when it hired Mitchell Associates Architects to study the fire department’s space requirements. After years of searching for alternate firehouse locations, the Village acquired property next to the firehouse for an expansion.

How much will this cost?

Based on the average Irvington home’s assessed value of $1,200,000, the municipal complex project will add $690 to an annual tax bill over the life of the bond.