Community Update

Reasons to avoid Bedford Plaza (50, 60 & 70 Barker Street) in Mount Kisco:

Sexually Violent Offender: According to the New York State Criminal Justice Services, there is a Sexually Violent Offender that lives in 60 Barker. In my personal experience, the offender enjoys sitting by the pool in the summer drinking a large jug of ice tea and listening to headphones while snarling at the other swimmers.

Sponsor & Corporate Owned Units: According to the Audited Financial Statements of the Co-op, the sponsor owns 10 units. Why can this be bad for residents of Bedford Plaza? Original sponsors need no board approval for their rental tenants, pay no fees for subletting and can sell their units to whomever they want. If you're a holder of unsold shares, you can put anyone, even a registered sex offender, in an apartment without board approval and without even being subject to any fees. In addition to the 10 sponsor owned units, there are several units owned by a not-for-profit organization that helps developmentally disabled folks to live in groups. The developmentally disabled folks as well as the staff that care for them are a very visible presence in Bedford Plaza.

Building in general: The three buildings were built in the late 1960s early 1970s. It appears that the developers built these buildings the cheapest way possible. The walls are not insulated so you can hear every disturbing sound coming from your neighbors unit. One of my friends had the pleasure of living next to one of the units owned by the not-for-profit organization and often complained that the developmentally disabled folks enjoyed karaoke late into the night. In addition, the heating system is such that residents don’t have any control of how much heat comes from the radiators. I’ve heard a neighbor refer to it as ‘project heat.’ In the Winter, your apartment may become ice cold and then the heat will kick in and you will roast. Then you will open the window to prevent the onset of heat stroke. Soon the heat will turn off and you’ll begin to freeze again. Lastly, the apartments share common kitchen/bathroom exhaust. This means that there is an exhaust fan on the roof and a vent in each unit’s kitchen & bathroom. This is a cheap way to provide ventilation in bathrooms & kitchens with no windows. It’s also a terrific way to share smells with your neighbors.

Parking: The complex was built when most families shared one car. Needless to say, parking is scarce; both in the lot and on the street. There is no visitor parking.

Difficulty in renting and/or selling: To sell or rent your unit, you’ll need board approval (unless you’re a sponsor). In general, the managing agent and board of directors are extremely slow in facilitating these transactions. If you’re trying to sell or rent out your unit, and you’re lucky enough to find someone that is willing to take the place off your hands, you can find yourself waiting upwards of three months just to be informed that the application has been denied and to have to start the process over. The board of directors and managing agent tend to be much more expeditious, when their notifying you that you’re in violation of one of the ‘house rules’.

Location, location, and location: Bedford Plaza is about a 10-minute walk to the train station. It’s also a 2-minute walk from the Mount Kisco Housing Authority (aka the projects).

JH