Scarsdale residents wondering what redevelopment of the aging Freightway garage could mean for their commute, their property taxes, and their kids' classrooms now have a roadmap.
At a Tuesday, July 28, 2026 work session, the Village Board reviewed the full scope of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the Freightway site.
The study area spans 2.77 acres, including 2.38 acres of Village-owned land and 16 privately owned parcels along Garth Road. Peter Feroe, a planner with consulting firm AKRF, told trustees the study will analyze traffic at specific intersections, water and sewer capacity, school enrollment impacts, property and sales tax revenues, police and fire service loads, parks, soil contamination from past uses, and cultural resources near the Bronx River Parkway.
"We want to figure out what the impacts of redevelopment would be, so we can get to a scenario that is beneficial to the village," Feroe said at the session, which was held in Rutherford Hall at Village Hall.
He added that if the study concludes there is no viable path forward meeting Scarsdale's needs, the Village is under no obligation to continue with redevelopment. The GEIS also must study a "No Action" alternative.
The study area includes the village-owned Freightway garage, the open surface lot, the Beedee lot, and the Scarsdale Avenue lot across the tracks, according to a report from Scarsdale10583. The five-story garage and surface lots currently hold about 700 vehicles; the Scarsdale Avenue lot adds 77 spaces.
A 2020 engineering study found that maintaining the existing garage would require "many millions of dollars" in repairs, according to the Village's Freightway project website. The GEIS will examine multifamily housing scenarios designed to help offset those maintenance costs. Feroe noted that multifamily use is already permitted under current zoning.
Trustees push for specifics
Trustee Goldschmidt pressed Feroe on whether the parking analysis would distinguish between commuter parking and daily parking for shoppers and residents. Feroe confirmed AKRF has been collecting parking counts at the garage at different times of day and has obtained current and historic permit data from Village Manager Alex Marshall's office.
Trustee Kofman asked that the scope spell out the parameters for redevelopment scenarios, including unit count and unit type. Trustees also requested that the study address pedestrian safety and traffic mitigation measures.
Seth Ross of 21 Ardmore Road, chair of the Scarsdale Forum Committee on Freightway, asked that the GEIS analyze the project both with and without the privately owned Garth Road parcels and include analysis of alternative transportation options such as bicycles, scooters, and other small motorized vehicles.
How to weigh in
The Village Board adopted a Positive SEQRA Declaration on Tuesday, July 14, formally determining that the project could have significant environmental impacts requiring a full study.
The Board of Trustees is acting as Lead Agency, meaning the Village controls the process rather than a developer.
A second public scoping session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, according to a Village notice. Written comments can be submitted online or emailed to [email protected] through 5 p.m. Monday, September 14. The Village expects to finalize the scope by the end of September.
