MacQuesten Companies Purchases Mount Vernon West Train Station

MOUNT VERNON—In a deal the development firm says reaffirms and expands its investment in the economic revival of the City of Mount Vernon, the MacQuesten Companies reported recently it had purchased the Mount Vernon West station on Metro-North’s Harlem Line.

While the station’s platforms are owned by Metro-North, the station building has been privately owned since it was sold in 1959 by the original owner, the New York Central Railroad. MacQuesten bought the property from Davenis Realty Inc. for $3 million. The closing was July 14.

MacQuesten is nearing completion on The Modern, an 11-story, 81-unit affordable housing complex located at 130 Mount Vernon Avenue–just a block from the Mount Vernon West station. In 2015, MacQuesten purchased a former gas station site next to the train station where it expects to build a residential tower. The city is currently considering a zone change from industrial to residential for that area, company officials noted.

Mount Vernon West is the closest station in Westchester County to Grand Central Terminal, a 22-minute ride and just 13.1 miles. The station has a number of commercial tenants including a Chase Bank and several small businesses.

The City of Mount Vernon is eager to transform the area from industrial uses to residential and retail development. A reimagined Metro-North station will serve as the focal point for a renaissance of a large surrounding area, the company states in the press announcement of the station purchase.

“This is an underutilized property that cries out for revitalization,” said Rella Fogliano, president of the MacQuesten Companies. “The key to revitalizing and reimagining our urban areas is capitalizing on the mass transit opportunities that are already in place. I can’t think of a more strategically well-placed station than Mount Vernon West.”

She pointed out that when it opened, Mount Vernon West was considered a gem among the suburban stations north of Grand Central. It was designed by architects Warren & Wetmore, who also designed the now demolished White Plains station and the Yonkers station on the Hudson Line that has been fully renovated by Metro-North.

“Over the years, the area around Mount Vernon West became industrialized, and as time went on, the station suffered from a combination of factors, including insufficient maintenance and decreased ridership,” Fogliano explained. “But with today’s emphasis on mass transit-oriented development, we see a bright future for this location. Reimagining Mount Vernon West is part of a comprehensive approach to the revival of this area, and we are proud to be leading the way.”

Joseph Apicella, MacQuesten’s managing director of development, said the company will be exploring a range of options for the station from renovation to demolition, adding that thorough environmental and historical reviews will be conducted.

“This is an exciting time for Westchester’s cities, and Mount Vernon is very much a part of the revitalization and renewal trend that has been rapidly accelerating for the last several years,” Apicella said. “Having two train lines providing quick access in and out of Manhattan gives it a huge advantage.”

John Jordan
Editor, Real Estate In-Depth