[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6339556,"mediaKeyId","2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a","parentId",2261108,"title","Mount Vernon building department reports backlog cut to seven and record permit revenue in 2024","audioSeconds",3381,"startMs",2503000,"endMs",5884000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a&start=2503&end=5884","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a/thumbnail_2503000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339556/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Mount-Vernon-building-department-reports-backlog-cut-to-seven-and-record-permit-revenue-in-2024","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339556-bd7f0f9e3a7f2a97ae59f168e18ae752/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181488&Signature=CKHZ~Bf5r7TOyT0QN6526hUL0jE~hmhqK4GA8C2EdnMmLG6u2QjAmzPkaIfApGPjec9iTzXpneVrui1n3ZOasKJF9py3fDkvdKAEjLKNn0zQb45wYsh5zcWwlnzbAzYU9VKMpGPRV8RaU2j~6LR3E-n6bRKsa4mXSsKwzHI19stwQz8mptG9L~oc0Q8dK4o3TTrWj8LD~uKLCPEHK63BTv6sS2yktdtWSZwaivRuXL3yxzZkcC-JEMA8E-x6ZcnVnRDq-pshBBIXUomhHvI-EJ2qdwkq-wXIkGYHwLv3Pv3Y99G-cJbND7-6GZghYsGzDFwSMC7gGYqeuRNdbrY3cQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Mount Vernon, NY","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","Mount Vernon Commissioner of Buildings Patrick Holder presented a year‑end operational report to the City Council summarizing the Building Department’s 2024 performance, staffing pressures and next steps for permitting and inspections.

Holder said the department cut a backlog of roughly 800 older applications (pre‑2021) to seven remaining legacy files and processed about 1,273 permits in 2024. He reported permit and fine revenue of about $3.95 million for the year, and noted the city expects to top $4 million as additional fees (e.g., elevator and absentee landlord fees) are collected.

Why it matters: the Building Department’s operational capacity affects housing starts, business permits, public‑safety inspections and owners seeking to close real estate transactions. The department described a rapid growth in application volume after launching the OpenGov permitting system late in 2022 — from around 70 to roughly 200 applications per month — and said that a state directive to add certain annual inspections increased the workload by an estimated 1,500 inspections.

Key metrics the department presented:
- Application intake: OpenGov now receives about 200 applications per month (up from ~70 historically). The department sampled applications and reported an average first response for applications without plans of about seven business days (10 business days is the target window communicated by staff). For applications submitted with plans, department review averaged around seven business days in‑house, but the department said design professionals took an average of about 98 days to respond to initial review comments in a sampled set. Holder cautioned that permit timelines are influenced by multiple parties (planning boards, consultants and design professionals), so total permit turnarounds vary widely.
- Permit issuance: For an ideal application, staff estimated permit issuance could take about 25 business days (clerks and plan consultants), while imperfect applications that need rework can take months.
- Inspections: The department reported completing 2,102 of 2,108 scheduled inspections in 2024 (this figure included both new inspections and older backlog items carried forward). Holder said many additional multiple‑dwelling and public‑assembly inspections had failed initial review in the department’s sample because those properties had not been inspected in many years.
- Backlog and records: Holder said the department is managing roughly 11,000 property folders and is deploying Laserfiche (records management) to better inventory open permits, certificates of occupancy and violations; the department is in early phases and expects clearer data as Laserfiche implementation continues.
- Staffing and productivity: The department reported three building inspectors and three housing inspectors on staff. Inspector productivity averaged approximately five inspections per inspector per week in 2024 (department said some inspections require hours of on‑site work and substantial report writing). Because the state added about 1,500 annual inspections, the department said the added workload would require substantial staff hours (the department estimated about eight staff hours per inspection when accounting for field time and paperwork) and in some areas has relied on outsourcing to consultants.
- Compliance and enforcement: Holder said the average time from violation issuance to dismissal improved in 2024, falling to about 61 days from roughly 111 days previously. In the initial rounds of multiple‑dwelling and public‑assembly inspections performed under the state directive, many properties did not pass initially – the department reported zero properties passing on the first inspection in a sampled set.
- Technology and service: The department said online query response averages about three days and encouraged constituents to use OpenGov to view application status. The office reported it will work to produce monthly, non‑random samples of application processing times and a process flow map showing who touches an application at each stage.

Solar permits and legislative timing: Council members raised the recent solar permitting local law, which requires permit review in ten days. Department staff said many solar submissions involve structural and fire‑safety issues (roofs of older homes, adjacent buildings, and unusual electrification scenarios) and that solar reviews have recently averaged about 15 days because of those safety concerns and the volume of applications; the department suggested a council–staff conversation to align statutory timelines with operational realities.

Outsourcing and finance: Holder explained the department is using outside consultants to meet inspection obligations; the city retains a portion of fees (department indicated Mount Vernon receives about 30% of the fee and consultants receive the remainder under current arrangements). Holder also described that 2024 revenue represented the department’s highest year on record and attributed part of this to improved processes and developer engagement.

Council requests and next steps: council members asked the department to provide the next report with non‑random monthly samples (e.g., all applications received during a calendar month), a process tree mapping who touches an application and when, and clearer breakdowns for permits that do or do not require land‑use board approvals. Holder said staff will produce these items, continue Laserfiche rollout, and pursue targeted outsourcing to close inspection gaps.

Direct quotes included Commissioner Patrick Holder: \"Prior to when I came in in 2021, we had about 800 applications backlogged. As of this January, we're down to 7 backlogs going back from 2019.\" He also told council \"we've now added in 2024 about 1,500 inspections in addition to what we were doing before,\" describing the added workload and the need for outside support.

No formal votes or ordinance actions occurred at the council discussion; the session was a departmental performance report and council asked for more detailed, month‑based metrics at the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mount Vernon City Council Legislative Work Session | January 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Patrick Holder, Mount Vernon Commissioner of Buildings, told council the department reduced a legacy backlog from roughly 800 to seven applications and recorded nearly $3.95 million in permit and fine revenue in 2024.","taxTitle","Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York","taxId",12530,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6339560,"Developer proposes 10‑story King Square mixed‑income housing at 222 East Third Street",1866,194000,2060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a&start=194&end=2060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6339560/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Developer-proposes-10story-King-Square-mixedincome-housing-at-222-East-Third-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339560-86f0d28a160535bb89ddce5e5cdec7ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181488&Signature=aQgXWvX6K4lJVxATwtq9Ybs8DPV~5EebLkVM0h6Q3SaY31o2cB75VnHcnzY-6iVPj4JcLF9fV7ax8Zdj6updBrUsDl8NPt1eXACozr6M5G8z6U~NB-po9j4v6aXijYqVA45fBYrAaY8Z189F~~EynXulDIjwCJBD-XlsIzpp02WDLqGkLSv95n8ZSajOw3z3jGUfrulCuv90q2ALXJeXyfSskUaLFA8obknLkTTdw2jJBT2rLO4CWs6aouH4p8pZOmITIquMLRBGn2pedfcvBQ2mga4AW635loRxdaWSWsCWUSLgHvLuOXiDbMceZmY7P50M3lvV-eRMHq3CW~X~8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mastermind representatives presented a conceptual plan to the Mount Vernon City Council for a roughly 10‑story, mixed‑income apartment building called King Square at 222 East Third Street.

The project team, represented by Ron Shulman of Best Development Group and Radame Perez, principal of Mastermind, described an approximately 225–226 unit building with ground‑floor retail, below‑grade parking and community space. Shulman said the design would include green building measures, onsite retail and a mix of unit sizes and incomes.

The presentation matters because the site is in a highly visible area adjacent to a small park and an underpass; the developer said the project would add significant housing and would require coordination on zoning, parking and potential public‑infrastructure issues. The meeting produced detailed questions from council members about parking ratios, unit sizes, financing and whether the project could be built “as of right” under the city’s MX‑1 zoning.

According to the developer, the building would be roughly 10 stories with about 226 apartments and a mix of studios, one‑, two‑ and three‑bedrooms. The team provided these preliminary unit size averages: studio about 460–461 sq. ft.; one‑bedroom about 625 sq. ft.; two‑bedroom about 800 sq. ft.; and three‑bedroom about 925 sq. ft. The proposed unit distribution the team described was 17 studios, 83 one‑bedrooms, 108 two‑bedrooms and 18 three‑bedrooms. The developer said those figures are preliminary and subject to market testing and design revision.

On affordability, the applicant said the building is intended to be mixed income, targeting a range of AMIs (area median incomes) roughly from about 50% to 90% of AMI. The developers presented an income band they said corresponds approximately to household incomes from about $55,000 to $150,000 and estimated rents across the bands from roughly the low $1,000s up to the mid‑$3,000s depending on unit size and market demand.

Parking and site plan: architect Keith Seibel (Newman Design) told the council the project would provide two levels of parking beneath the building, totaling 148 spaces (81 in a cellar level and 67 on a first floor of the garage). Earlier in the presentation the applicant estimated roughly 150 spaces; the architect later confirmed 148.

Zoning and approvals: planning staff and council members discussed whether the proposal could be built “as of right” in the MX‑1 zone. City staff said MX‑1 allows projects up to 12 stories at the site, but the developer said MX‑1 density would produce far fewer units (the developer estimated about 176 units under a strict MX‑1 application). The applicant said it would therefore likely seek approvals or variances beyond what the MX‑1 standard yields, including potential relaxations of parking requirements.

Environmental and site history: the presenter said a Phase I environmental review has been completed and that no further environmental investigation is currently required beyond that phase. The team told council it has owned the property since May 2007 and plans to memorialize the former structure that once occupied the site (the developer referred to that structure and the site’s railroad‑stop history) in the new building’s lobby.

Design, amenities and sustainability: the team described green building measures they plan to pursue, including Enterprise Green Communities criteria, insulated low‑E windows, high‑efficiency HVAC, Energy Star appliances, solar panels and electric‑vehicle charging stations. The proposed program includes about 3,800 square feet of ground‑floor retail, a community room for residents on the second floor and rooftop/open space over the parking structure intended for residents.

Financing and public incentives: the developer said financing would rely on a mix of tax credits, bonds, subsidies (state and county programs were mentioned), and developer equity. The applicant indicated it expects to request a long‑term pilot/tax‑abatement arrangement aligned with mortgage financing (they said a pilot “commensurate” with a 30‑ to 35‑year mortgage would be sought). Council members discussed the option of funding the present value of a pilot up front as one way to align city and developer interests.

Council concerns: several council members pressed the applicant for more detail. Councilman Thompson said the unit sizes felt small, “these are like shoe boxes,” and asked whether floor plans and elevator counts could be provided; the applicant confirmed there would be three elevators. Council members also raised a nearby bridge/underpass and an open tunnel adjacent to the site; the developer said the building would not excavate or otherwise “touch” the tunnel and that any bridge repairs in the area were separate public works actions that could affect construction timing. Council members asked the applicant to meet with the Planning Department and the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and to return with more detailed plans.

No votes or commitments were made at the meeting; city staff summarized the conversation as an informal concept presentation and said the next steps are further consultation with the Planning Department and concurrent discussions with the IDA and other agencies as needed.

Quotes from the presentation included Radame Perez, principal of Mastermind: \"It's about creating opportunity. It's about addressing housing shortages.\" Ron Shulman, representing Mastermind, summarized the concept: \"What we propose here is a 10 story building, which would be approximately 225 apartments.\" Councilman Thompson said of unit sizes, \"these are like shoe boxes.\"","Mastermind (represented by Best Development Group) presented a conceptual plan for “King Square,” an approximately 10‑story, roughly 226‑unit mixed‑income building at 222 East Third Street in Mount Vernon. Council members asked about parking, unit sizes, zoning (MX‑1) limits and a nearby bridge/tunnel; no votes were taken.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6339551,"Mount Vernon Youth Bureau to take 27 students on HBCU college tour under federally funded Ready for Life program",532,6458000,6990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a&start=6458&end=6990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2261108-9c8574dd3fb15f48d7e7104b57e7083a/thumbnail_6458000.jpg","/articles/6339551/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Mount-Vernon-Youth-Bureau-to-take-27-students-on-HBCU-college-tour-under-federally-funded-Ready-for-Life-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339551-2d712c3c958c37ceb9b18ed3595210b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181488&Signature=A2yZRmByu5xyO14PhdSwfKdnEB-3ZQeC~zJkWLj30C2NaEkPfYRdA3bX2TGT3iruPbOx3DN49LAWJXXEkuR---wN-8gBfC658qn7-rjGpjqBsHyDDsmFyH-1O2SpYRXuJ8kAENjaQkTjPoGrRWOCbzx3iuUzCMOYMmXAXg9meTEuw~8ZT3XzAjD4u6VdBEkWLo4T9hyShELranpGRZRw7L3pwf1nrRpyMKlyAtWKGEsej66ninu8MtrHVvk5ccrmI2Ht4H3lciQGnWdGFSrOXgeuiK9f~IwrdtBFALs~ALBJo59-ZUUqVX34~bjRvpohsuqrU2uZhViV5Z5uLXVlhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Debbie Burrell Butler, executive director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, briefed the City Council on an upcoming HBCU college tour for local high school students funded through the federally supported Ready for Life program.

Burrell Butler said this is the program’s fifth year and that the bureau has taken 95 youth on college tours year‑to‑date when including an upcoming winter‑break trip that will bring 27 additional students. She told the council the trips are fully funded by the Ready for Life grant and that the city will not incur direct costs for student participation.

The planned winter break itinerary (dates listed on the council agenda) includes visits to Bennett College, Hampton University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T. Burrell Butler said the program covers transportation, hotel lodging and meals and that the bureau aims to expose students to campus life, admissions officials and program staff so students can better evaluate college options.

Burrell Butler framed the program as an exposure, education and empowerment initiative. She said students who participate sometimes apply to and ultimately enroll at colleges they visited on these tours. The presentation also noted that chaperones accompany each trip; for the winter trip Burrell Butler said there will be seven chaperones for the 27 students.

Council members praised the program and several expressed interest in observing or chaperoning future trips; Burrell Butler said the bureau would consider council participation on future tours. The presentation was informational and the agenda included an item authorizing eight staff and 27 youth to attend the February college tour; no vote occurred during the portion of the meeting in the provided transcript.

Direct quote: \"It cost the city $0,\" Burrell Butler said, describing the grant coverage for the college tour. She added that the tours give students a chance to \"see and meet and greet\" campus administrators and that some students have never stayed in a hotel before, which she said makes the experience meaningful.

The bureau requested the council item authorizing travel be scheduled and Burrell Butler thanked council for continued support of youth programming.","Executive Director Debbie Burrell Butler told council the Youth Bureau will take 27 students (and eight staff/chaperones) on a grant‑funded HBCU college tour visiting Bennett, Hampton, Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T; the program is part of the federally funded Ready for Life grant and costs to the city are covered by the grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mount Vernon building department reports backlog cut to seven and record permit revenue in 2024

Developer proposes 10‑story King Square mixed‑income housing at 222 East Third Street

Mount Vernon Youth Bureau to take 27 students on HBCU college tour under federally funded Ready for Life program