Cuddy & Feder LLP is proud to be at the forefront of Beacon’s ongoing development and revitalization efforts. With a deep commitment to the City’s growth, our attorneys have an established record of providing strategic legal guidance on land use, zoning, and development to projects that foster successful and sustainable development and enhance the City’s vibrant community character. We are experienced in navigating the complex approval processes, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, and offering tailored solutions that support the City’s evolving goals and objectives.
Edgewater Beacon / 246 Market Rate Units + Workforce Housing Units
Cuddy & Feder played a pivotal role in helping Scenic Beacon Developments, LLC, bring the Edgewater project to life – a transformative $50 million multifamily residential development in the City of Beacon overlooking the Hudson River with direct access to Metro-North’s Beacon Train Station. Our team worked alongside developer Rodney Weber from the property’s acquisition through securing critical land use and development approvals, and ultimately closing the construction financing to break ground. The 246-unit waterfront project, which includes 25 affordable workforce housing units, is the largest residential rental development in Beacon in decades and will be a key component in addressing the area’s growing housing needs.
416 + 420 Main Street / Restaurant + Co-Working + Artist Live/Work
Cuddy & Feder obtained Site Plan, Subdivision, and Certificate of Appropriateness approvals from the Planning Board and Special Permit approval from the City Council to construct a four-story mixed-use building fronting on Main Street and one-story artist live/work building at the rear of the property. The mixed-used building will comprise a restaurant on the first floor with commercial office space on the second and third floors, and a penthouse apartment. The project will also include a downtown park with public access.
410 Fishkill Avenue / Carvana Dealership
Cuddy & Feder worked together with both the landlord and tenant to obtain Site Plan and Special Permit Approvals to bring Carvana to Beacon. This project involved the repurposing of the former Healey Brothers Hyundai car dealership for Carvana’s new curbside pickup service. The proposed use faced unique challenges tailored to Carana’s unique operations, including siting loading operations near a State Highway, proximity to Metro-North rail lines and residential properties, recent City infrastructure improvements projects; and lighting, landscaping and pedestrian-oriented goals intended for the stretch of Fishkill Avenue that is the subject of several active planning efforts by the City.
7 + 25 Creek Drive / 54 Multifamily Units + Office Mixed-Use
As part of a public-private partnership, Cuddy & Feder worked with developer Weber Projects, LLC, to secure approvals from Beacon’s City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals to construct two (2) new mixed-use buildings that are now home to 54 multifamily residential units and the headquarters of DocuWare Corporation’s U.S. Headquarters, which properties have immediate access to Beacon’s Main Street and central business district. As part of the public-private partnership with the City, the developer constructed a public park and greenway trail connections located along the Fishkill Creek. Cuddy & Feder assisted the developer from the initial Request for Proposals (RFP) process pertaining to the City’s former Department of Public Works property; through to the closing and the review of environmental considerations for the properties; as well as in connection with negotiations for access and licensing agreements with MTA Metro-North Railroad; and through the construction and permanent financing processes and residential and commercial lease negotiations involving both new buildings.
1113 Wolcott Avenue – Former Reformed Dutch Church / Adaptive Reuse for Hotel + Event Space
Cuddy & Feder secured Site Plan, Special Use Permit, Certificate of Appropriateness and Waterfront Consistency approvals on behalf of Prophecy Theater, LLC, for the former Reformed Dutch Church site located steps from Beacon’s Main Street and Metro-North’s Beacon Train Station. These approvals allow the adaptive re-use of the site for a 30-room hotel, café, and conference center/event space, supported by 33 onsite parking spaces. During the entitlement process, Cuddy & Feder successfully argued for and received a determination from the City’s Building Inspector that the proposed café and conference center/event space constitute accessory uses to the proposed hotel. Cuddy & Feder also obtained a determination from the Building Inspector that the onsite parking was zoning-compliant pursuant to the City’s historic parking exemptions. Concurrently with these efforts, Cuddy & Feder, assisted by a team of consultants, navigated the Planning Board’s robust environmental review and public hearing process on the application, and ultimately secured final approvals after the Planning Board determined that the project will not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts.
393 + 397 Fishkill Avenue / Multifamily Residential + Office
For this mixed-use development, Cuddy & Feder secured approvals for a three-story building that includes 12 residential units, with one below-market-rate workforce housing unit and commercial office space. The success of the project also helped catalyze new planning efforts by the City in and along the Fishkill Avenue corridor (NYS Route 52), which state highway connects the City of Beacon via the Town of Fishkill to Interstate 84 and communities in northern Dutchess County.
536 Main Street / Warp & Weft Retail + Office
Cuddy & Feder obtained Site Plan and Certificate of Appropriateness approvals for the construction of a three-story commercial building on a vacant parcel in downtown Beacon right across from The Roundhouse at the Fishkill Overlook Falls (AKA the Beacon Falls). The new building will host a showroom on the first floor and supportive office space on the second and third floors for Warp & Weft, a New York City-based custom and designer rug curation business. The approved space provides reference to the historic character of Beacon’s Main Street in a minimalistic, modern way through artful façade designs that will enhance visitors’ views and experiences of Warp & Weft’s high-quality, internationally sourced rugs. Cuddy & Feder attorneys oversaw and facilitated the Planning Board’s comprehensive review of the proposal, which included obtaining the Board’s unanimous support for a parking waiver given the amount of available public parking in the immediate surrounding area and the limited parking demand associated with the proposal.
About Cuddy & Feder LLP
Cuddy & Feder LLP proudly serves clients in the areas of real estate; public and private finance (including tax-exempt and taxable bond financing); litigation; land use, zoning & development; telecommunications; cannabis law; energy & environmental; non-profit organizations; and trusts, estates & elder law. For over 50 years, we have established ourselves as the leading law firm serving a vast region that includes Westchester, New York City, Connecticut and the Hudson River Valley. Our foundation is local, and we enjoy enduring relationships with leaders, institutions and decision-makers in the communities we serve.
