Akiko Matsuda

amatsuda@lohud.com

DOBBS FERRY - Construction of the mixed-use mega development just west of the Saw Mill River Parkway's Exit 16 is nearing completion, and the formerly-blighted section of the village has emerged as a burgeoning neighborhood.

"We created something very different here than any other centers," said the developer, Marty Berger of the Armonk-based Saber Real Estate Advisors. "There's nothing like this in Westchester County that has all the components."

The complex, called Rivertowns Square, features 202 luxury apartments, a 138-room hotel, luxury movie theater, daycare center, urgent care, restaurants, supermarket, retail stores and 750-plus free parking spaces.

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The development — which replaced nearly 200,000 square feet of deteriorating buildings left behind the Akzo Nobel paint and chemical company — wraps around the existing Chauncey Square complex, a home for tenants such as New York Sports Clubs, Starbucks Coffee, GNC, Smoothie King, Oasis Day Spa and Home Helpers.

Including a hotel and apartments in the project turned out to be a key to attract tenants for retail buildings, Berger said.

"I think that's why we've been very successful leasing out our space," he said. "It works all together as one community where they have synergy among themselves."

One of a kind

The site's northern-most section is The Danforth Apartments, which began leasing last month. Rents for one-bedrooms start at $2,700 and two bedroom units start at $3,575.

The new commercial/retail section consists of eight buildings, and as of early May, it's 90 percent leased, Berger said.

The southern-most retail building in the complex was the first to open earlier this year. Tenants are Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chopt Creative Salad, and Ulta Beauty, a beauty salon that also sells cosmetics and skincare products.

The eight-screen, 580-seat iPic Theater, along with the 4,600-square-foot City Perch Kitchen + Bar restaurant, celebrated its grand opening Friday.

The Hilton Garden Inn is under construction and is slated to open late this summer or in the fall.

Other tenants, including Buddha Asian Grille, Lombardo's Pizzeria & Restaurant, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, GoHealth Urgent Care, the Learning Experience daycare center, and My Gym children's fitness center, are also under construction, aiming to open for business in the fall.

The 18,000-square-foot section just south of the apartment complex was originally slated to be occupied by Mrs. Green's Natural Market. But amid financial troubles last year, the grocery chain abandoned the plan.

After several months of searching, a "high-end, quality supermarket" has come forward to fill the space, and the lease is out for execution, Berger said last week. He would not name the grocer because the lease hasn't been signed.

The concept of building luxury apartments, hotel, and a retail center in one location evolved over the years, Berger recalled.

"It was not originally our thoughts to do this. It came through the evolution process back and forth with the village," he said. "At the same time, it became very interesting to us to create a square that's self sustained."

For example, parents can drop off their children at the daycare center, go shopping, have lunch with friends, and pick up the children without moving their cars.

Or, hotel guests who came for a business meeting at the office complex across the parkway can work out at the gym, have dinner at one of the restaurants and get some snacks for their hotel rooms from the supermarket.

Village divided

The project has been in the making for nearly a decade. Its heated review process polarized the village of about 11,000 people as well as its neighbors.

Opponents criticized the project, arguing that development of this magnitude would worsen the area traffic and environment.

Advocates, including Dobbs Ferry village Mayor Hartley Connett, welcomed the development as a major economic boost not only for the village but for the region.

"There's certainly an increase in property tax (revenue). But it will also bring new jobs, businesses, tourism and significant improvements to the surrounding area that need to be made," Connett told The Journal News when the project cleared major hurdles in the approval process in July 2013. "We strongly believe that it's a good project, not just for Dobbs Ferry, but for the entire region."

Connett, who is serving his fourth two-year term, did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Opponents haven't softened in their criticism of the plan, said Krista Errickson, who lives in the nearby Walden Wood townhouse community off Ogden Avenue.

"The number one concern is traffic," she said.

Berger, however, said the development addressed the issue adequately by making improvements, such as adding more lanes at the center's entrance and extending the parkway's stacking lane.

"We fixed all of the traffic problems that existed, and we’ve more than adequately addressed the traffic that we generate," he said.

Errickson said she was not impressed by the mix of tenants at Rivertowns Square, although she would love the idea of having a supermarket.

Asked which supermarket chain she would hope for, she said, "DeCicco's would be great."

Twitter: @LohudAkiko