Yorktown Approves New Retail Development
In the latest example of the rapidly expanding business and economic revival in Yorktown, one of the community’s most prominent local stores has been given the go-ahead for a new home that will incorporate the downtown’s first “green roof,” as well as numerous environmental protections.
Atlantic Appliance, a fixture in the town’s business community for 45 years, received a green light from the Yorktown Planning Board for the construction of a two-story, 25,720-square-foot building that will include retail, office and warehouse space on an approximately five-acre lot at 2010 Maple Hill St. The future store’s neighbors will include the Yorktown Post Office and Sunshine Starts pre-school.
“We are thrilled that a local business has chosen to reinvest and expand in our community,” said Supervisor Matt Slater. “As Yorktown emerges from the pandemic shutdown, we are determined to make our community a business-friendly choice for local companies and newcomers. Our commitment to revitalizing Yorktown includes pre-application meetings with business owners, expedited permit processes and an on-going modernization of land uses to meet the needs of 21st-century businesses, consumers and residents.”
The Atlantic Appliance project is the latest recent private-sector investment in Yorktown.
In May Nestle Waters opened a distribution center at 3775 Crompond Road, bringing about 60 jobs and ending a longtime vacancy at the former Verizon building. Last month the Yorktown Planning Board approved the renovation of a former TD Bank at 1961 Commerce St. that will become a home improvement showroom for CST Kitchens & Baths, which is relocating from its current location in the Roma Building at 2020 Saw Mill River Road.
Currently located at 50 Triangle Center in Yorktown, Atlantic Appliance has about 30 employees and it has served northern Westchester and southern Putnam counties since 1975. Owner Joey Vukaj said that Atlantic Appliance has outgrown its current location.
“The new store is going to be bigger and much nicer,” said Vukaj, who was determined to stay local. “I thought it would be sacrilegious to move Atlantic Appliance from Yorktown. This is where it came to life and I love Yorktown. It would be like the Yankees moving out of the Bronx.”
Vukaj said that he hopes to open his Yorktown new store by Labor Day in 2021. As part of Atlantic Appliance’s growth, Vukaj also expects to open a satellite store in Mount Kisco later this year.
The new Yorktown location includes a tree-preservation plan in accordance with the town’s tree ordinance. The developer agreed to planting 107 new trees as part of the site landscaping and wetland buffer. In addition, 122 shrubs will be planted and invasive phragmites—also known as common reeds—will be removed from areas where they have overwhelmed woodlands. The plan includes deer fencing that will be maintained for three years to protect the new trees and shrubs.
Environmental considerations include a green roof on part of the building that will help reduce storm water runoff. The green roof will be the first of its kind in downtown Yorktown. Other environmental measures consist of a storm water treatment plan in the back of the site that will protect a stream and wetland.
