Ruthmarie Hicks

Garth Road in Scarsdale, NY is famous for its coop units. Many people come to me with a specific request for a unit on Garth Rd. Located right off the Bronx River Parkway and just steps from the Scarsdale Train Station, it is easy to understand why. Garth Rd. is convenient to the Village of Scarsdale and all it has to offer. With high –end shopping and first class dining. Being able to leave the car and walk a block or two to the train also holds an enormous advantage. The city is just steps to the train and a 30 minute ride while the hustle and bustle of downtown White Plains, NY, with the City Center, Westchester Mall, and Ritz Carlton are just about 10 minutes away by car. So any way you look at it, fine dining, high-end shopping, and first class cultural activities are close at hand. It should be noted that although this is a Scarsdale P.O. and located right in the village, the school system is Eastchester.

One of the biggest drawbacks for most of the complexes on Garth Rd. is that they are notorious for not being pet-friendly. Many will allow cats, but only one complex allows dogs.

Colchester Hall is the one complex that allows dogs. It is located just five minutes from the Train Station and the heart of the village and all that it has to offer – so its location on Garth Rd. is just about ideal. Parking is available, but there is a waitlist. Most people on Garth Rd. use street parking. The fee for the parking, if you get it is $75/month. Storage is available in the basement for all residents.

Cost of Living:

Right now there are a couple of units in pending from which I can derive a rough cost of living. Since there hasn’t been a title pass, these are rougher estimates than usual.
The complex requires a 20% downpayment

A 1200 sq.ft. 2 BR/1BA unit was listed for $379,900 and is now under contract. The maintenance fees are roughly $910/month without the STAR savings. Additional fees bring that sum up over $1000/month. Another 1 BR/1 BA unit (750 sq.ft.) was listed for $224,000 with the sale now pending. Maintenance fees plus extra charges amount to roughly $865/month without parking fees and without STAR. Assuming a 30 year fixed loan at 6%, the outlay after tax benefits and STAR is about $1500/month.

Pet-Friendly Status:

This is the only truly pet-friendly complex on Garth Rd. in that it is the only complex that allows dogs. The weight limit is 40 lbs.

Scarsdale Country Estates are located on Campus Place and Sentry Pl. directly off of Central Ave. Although they have a Scarsdale, P.O. address, it is important to clarify that they are actually located in the town of Greenburgh in the famous Edgemont school district. These are lovely old world garden style units with fine moldings, hard wood floors and fireplaces.

Being located directly off of Central Ave., these units offer easy access to the Express Bus to Manhattan as well as Shuttle service to the Scarsdale Train Station. Their location is definitely convenient many forms of shopping and within just of few minutes of the hustle, bustle, shopping and entertainment that downtown White Plains, NY and the City Center has to offer.

The units themselves are generously sized with loads of charm. 750-900 sq.ft. is customary for a 1 BR or Jr. 4 while 1250-1350 sq. ft. is the norm for a 2 BR. Many of the ground floor units offer private entrances complete with private patios and are very appealing for people who have pets or for those who just enjoy being outdoors in warmer weather. Parking is available but unassigned and storage is available.

Cost of Living:

There are several units under contract and in pending at this time. Although the final sales price is not known, the average sales price is about $222,500 for a 1 BR/1BA unit with units having a private patio having a correspondingly higher price. The average maintenance is $670 a month without STAR savings. Using a 30-year 6% loan and a 10% down payment as a basis, the outlay for such a unit after calculating standard tax deductions would be about $1600/month – more than competitive with rentals in the area. 2 BR units are selling for about $360,000 with maintenance fees running $960/month. The outlay is correspondingly higher at about $2400/month but still very competitive with rentals.

Pet Friendly Status:
Dogs are allowed although there is a weight restriction.

One of the benefits of living in lower Westchester is that in many ways, the advantages of living in New York City have found their way to Westchester County. This is particularly true of medical care. As recently as the early 90s if anyone I knew or loved was stricken with cancer I would have sneered at the idea of having it treated locally and insisted that a place like Sloan Kettering was the ONLY game in town. Since I have a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences I knew from whence I spoke – but times change.

The Dickstein Cancer Center of White Plains, is the only freestanding cancer treatment center in Westchester County, NY. It is definitely state-of-the-art and so close at hand, that the need to travel into Manhattan for treatment is negated. Dickstein boasts an outpatient infusion center, radiation services including a linear accelerator, a cancer genetics program, and a resource library for patients and their families. In addition the cancer center also supports complementary therapies – such as yoga and meditation as well as support groups.

Dickstein opened its doors in 1999 and has served many Westchester residents during its short life. This past year White Plains Hospital Center – with which the Dickstein Center is affiliated - won the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. It was the only hospital in the New York metropolitan area to be recognized for the reward.

For my part, I am personally grateful for the Dickstein Cancer Center and White Plains Hospital Center. I got the fateful call that all children dread in June of last year. “I’m being put through a battery of tests – it seems I have a couple of masses that have to be checked out.” He had advanced colon cancer with liver metastasis and needed immediate surgery and chemotherapy or the results were going to be rapidly fatal. The treatment at White Plains and Dickstein has been nothing short of phenomenal. Complications kept my father hospitalized for nearly 4 weeks, a couple of them in ICU. Following rehab, he began chemotherapy. The doctors and nurses at Dickstein have been absolutely amazing. There were several serious problems with his medicare HMO and the nurses and administrative staff went to the WALL to help push his treatment through the red tape. Another wonderful feature is the valet parking. For a cancer patient undergoing treatment, being relieved of having to fight for limited downtown parking is a tremendous relief.

The Dickstein Cancer Center serves a vital function in lower Westchester bringing top-of-the-line specialty care to the “backwoods” of Westchester County.

* "Legacy of Cutting-Edge Cancer," by Jon. B. Schandler, The White Plains Times, June 14, 2007 was used as a reference for this post.

The Ritz Carlton is located right in the heart of the downtown of White Plains just one block away from the White Plains City Center. It dominates the downtown skyline as well it should because as I posted previously, it is the tallest building between Manhattan and Albany. The facade itself dwarfs everything in its path and is sleek and modern in with steel and glass all around. Standing at 42 stories height it consists of a hotel at its base and luxury condominiums rising into the sky are contained in its two towers. This complex itself provides a new standard of luxury for our city in condominium residences with the lowest priced sold thus far passing title for $718,000. The unit itself was a large 1 BR/1.5 BA unit (over 1000 sq.ft.) on the 11th floor. The penthouse area begins at the 36th floor with units over 5000 square feet and selling for $8 million. Owners of these units have access to a variety of special amenities including access to a special club and a private pool. These residents also have access to service from the rooftop restaurant “42” named for its location on the 42nd floor.

Speaking of restaurants, there is the BLT (Bistro Laurent Tourondel) which seats 105 and will eventually have additional seasonal outdoor seating. 42 – the 200 seat restaurant at the top of the Ritz Carlton is not part of the Ritz-Carlton facility specifically and is run by executive chef Anthony Goncalves. The views on the 42nd floor are nothing short of spectacular and include a panorama that encompasses Manhattan, the Long Island Sound, and the Hudson River, and the Hudson River Valley depending on which direction you are facing.

The fabulous five star service that are a hallmark feature of the hotel carry over into the condominium residences as do all of the hotel’s fabulous amenities - which is why owning a residence at the Ritz Carlton is considered such a special experience. The interior design elements from burnished silver leaf on the floating ceiling in the lobby, to Anegre paneling from West Africa to custom designed hand-knotted carpeting depicts a new level of luxury for our city. For more interior shots click HERE for an article in the White Plains Times.

The residence units themselves have amenities worth noting including floor to ceiling windows with electronic shades and UV protection. Top-of-the line kitchens and appliances, hard-wood floors, Ritz Carlton managed concierge service with doorman service valet parking, rooftop pool and spa access.

Cost of Living:

Most residents that come to live at the Ritz Carlton have considerable assets for a generous down payment, so I will mostly discuss taxes and common charges to give people a general idea. As stated in previously, the lowest priced unit sold for $718,000 with $8 million in the Penthouse area. The cynic in me finds it amazing that these residences are actually selling after the debacle at Trump Tower in 2005-2006. But selling they are, so the adage if you build it they will come applies here. There was far more demand for this type of residence than I realized initially.

The common charges on the lower priced units is averaging about $714/month and the tax bite without STAR is roughly $8000/year or $525/month with STAR in round numbers. Thus, without a mortgage, the cost of living before tax deductions would be roughly $1240/month. Assuming a hefty down payment ($300,000) and a mortgage of $400,000 @ 6% the monthly cost of living would be about $3000 after tax deductions and including the steep $200/month fee for valet parking for one car. A unit listed for $1,350,000 has a common charge of $961 and taxes of close to $6450 without STAR. Monthly that would run the average buyer about $1448 after tax deductions and STAR are calculated and this of course would be before any mortgage payment is made. For the extremely high-priced residences over $5 million, I don’t have listing information on these, but suffice it to say that if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it!

Pet-Friendly Status:

I am pleased to report that the Ritz Carlton residences are pet friendly, however, there is a weight restriction of 30 lbs. So small dogs are welcome and medium dogs up to a point.

*“Touring the Ritz: Art and Architecture Create a New Realm at Renaissance Square,” by Pat Casey, The White Plains Times, December 14, 2007 was used as a reference for this post.

One of the major sights of interest in Hartsdale, NY is the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery. Established in 1896, Hartsdale Canine Cemetery has the distinction of being the nations first pet cemetery. It all began by accident when Dr. Samuel Johnson, a practicing veterinarian in Manhattan and renowned professor of veterinary surgery at New York Hospital offered a spot in his apple orchard located in the remote countryside of Hartsdale, NY to a client who wanted a proper burial for her dog. If the woman was willing to make the trip, he was happy to allow her to bury her best friend there.

Life went on as usual for Dr. Johnson and his apple orchard until he casually mentioned the incident to a reporter – promptly did what reporters do best – put the story in print. As a result, Dr. Johnson was suddenly deluged with requests from grieving pet owners requesting the same service. Thus was born the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery. Although it is called a “canine cemetery” many pets including a pet lion are buried there. Some people have even had their cremated remains placed here with their beloved pets. Early pictures of the cemetery show that wire baskets often marked the plots and headstones dot the landscape. It had the look of a typical rural cemetery. In 1905 the Hartsdale Cemetery was written up in the New York Times and in 1914 the Canine Pet Cemetery was finally incorporated in order to insure that the land would always be utilized for pet burial.

By the end of World War I over 2000 burials had taken place and the stories of the feats of War Dogs operating with the Red Cross had caught the public attention. A group of plot owners felt that a memorial to these wonderful dogs was warranted. A competition was held to determine who would build the monument. Robert Caterson won this competition. Caterson was a well known artist who had been involved with the building of Grand Central Station. The bronze statue of a German shepherd wearing Red Cross markings standing atop a 10 foot monument of granite dominates the scene at the cemetery. At his feet are a canteen and soldier’s helmet. These two objects are highly symbolic of the role that a Red Cross dog played in a combat situation. Dogs often carried water and spirits to the wounded and when they found a survivor, they would bring an object belonging to the victim back to their handler to inform them that they had found a live victim in need of help. The hero canines are honored every year on Memorial Day by the American Legion Post 8 of New Rochelle.

On a personal note, my mother had her beloved German Shepherd/Labrador mix buried at Hartsdale. A friend of mine has her wonderful golden-mix (Whisky) buried at Hartsdale as well. They also cared for the remains of three of my dogs, Houdini, Maggie and Harley – to whom I wrote a memorial when I first started blogging on AR.

The cemetery is truly a beautiful place and a site well worth visiting if you are in the area. The cemetery tells the story of over 100,000 pets and their families. Many famous animals and famous people’s animals were laid to rest there. For example Boots – a movie star who sold $9 million in war bonds during World War II is buried at Hartsdale.

For more information go to the Hartsdale Cemetery web site.

Much of the information for this blog was derived from Dr. Johnson’s Apple Orchard: The Story of America’s First Pet Cemetery by Edward C. Martin, Jr.