Irvington Residents React to Mercy College Deis

IRVINGTON, N.Y. – Local residents shared their concerns about the proposed Mercy College construction at the Irvington Planning Board meeting Wednesday night.  The board held a public hearing to discuss the Mercy College Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed project in the village. 

“This institution is out of character with the surrounding community,” Irvington resident Danny Rubin said.  He added that the draft environmental impact statement “can never fully comprehend how the quality of life will be affected in the surrounding neighborhood.”

The proposed project includes the construction of three separate buildings of approximately 18,000 square feet for faculty office space.  There would also be a 2,000 square foot addition to an existing building that would be used for meeting space with associated parking areas and drives.  The conversion of approximately 5,000 square feet of office space in Mercy Hall to dormitory space would also be part of the project.  The project would be connected to public water and sewer as well, according to the village website. 

Some residents were not happy with the extra construction proposed by the school altogether.

“We have been a good neighbor and looked the other way and now you want to demolish the green buffer zone between your overcrowded institution and our neighborhoods,” Irvington resident Lorie Cowen Levy said.

Rubin said he believes the school is already too close to the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Last year a Mercy student walked into my home by accident,” he said.  “He thought it was a part of campus.”

Mercy College has 25 acres of property in Dobbs Ferry and 31 acres in Irvington. The public hearing only touched on the proposed project on the Irvington side.

Local residents can view the draft environmental impact statement online at Village Hall or the Irvington Public Library.

Written comments on the proposed project may be dropped off at the Irvington Building Department or emailed to fcostello@irvingtonny.gov until 10 days following the closing of the public hearing.

Irvington resident Linda Leavey said “something’s got to give” because the school uses so much of the village’s services such as police and the volunteer fire department.

“This is not a good neighbor,” she said.  “I think this is a terrible thing that’s going to happen to our community.”

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