Palmer Avenue Streetscape Still on Hiatus

Despite its promise of a new and improved Larchmont business district, the Palmer Avenue Streetscape Project, for now, remains in a state of temporary limbo, after performance issues with the Mt. Vernon-based DiMarino Brothers Contracting company, derailing the original timeline for the $1.7 million project to fix sidewalks and curbs.

At Monday night's Board of Trustees' meeting, Mayor Anne McAndrews spoke of the enormous levels of red tape that are often part and parcel of the federal grant process. A majority of the project was financed through NYS Department of Transporation and federal grants. 

"These grants are murderously difficult and time-consuming to administer," she said, adding that, among other requirements, one grant included a clause about hiring someone to count the rotations on a cement truck.

Currently, the village has suspended DiMarino Brothers' operations until May 20 while the contractor submits additional documentation to the village engineer and counsel. She said, going forward, there would be definite time constraints on when work would need to be completed.

"This was on the basis of our observation of his performance," said McAndrews, without going into further detail about the reason for the most recent delay.

"We are working very, very hard to continue this contract, if at all possible," she said.

Trustee Robert Fanelli urged the public to be patient with the delays, which often occur during large scale public projects.

"This is a massive project—it's going to take time. Everybody needs to calm down...let the men do their work," he said.

Some residents of the Pine Brook section of Larchmont have voiced their concerns about the storage of a bulldozer and other construction materials in the newly renovated Pine Brook Park, making a Tee Ball court unusable now that the weather is warmer.

Dave Manney, whose home backs up to the park, said of the contractors: "They were horrible neighbors."

In addition to the inconvenience that having construction in the middle of a park presented, Manney said that workers were driving trucks around the perimeter of the enclosure where equipment was fenced and have placed an outhouse near a swing set where children play.

"Tonight I hear you say 'We the village don't trust the company to do their job appropriately.' I'm not expecting them to fix my park that they just parked their equipment on for two years," he said.

McAndrews said that the contractor had agreed to improve the park—part of which was in "marginal condition"—once the project was completed, though nothing had been put in writing. It was unclear how the village would enforce the improvements if the contractor did not complete the project.

The park was chosen to house equipment due to its location; Vanderburgh or "Turtle Park" could not be used due to its water issues.

"What we're trying to do is make lemonade out of a lemon," she said, apologizing for the delays.

"I can assure you that the park will look very nice by the time we're finished."