For years, “Lake Caldor” was the sad, often-flooded parking lot of a mostly abandoned shopping center in the heart of our community.
Remember when your cart would roll down the aisle of Food Emporium on its own because the floors were unbalanced? That was before it was shuttered for 15 years.
The Yorktown Green Shopping Center was a reminder that our downtown needed more than a facelift; it needed a fundamental spark. That is why the Town Board adopted an overlay zoning district in 2021 for the Yorktown Heights and Lake Osceola business hamlets.
Our goals were to encourage the intelligent redevelopment of outdated properties, expand permitted land uses and create visually harmonious streetscapes.
This idea was developed with industry experts and deemed a model by the Business Council of Westchester. I am proud to state that the Town Board is realizing its vision for smart growth.
The new zoning ordinance was a powerful message to investors: Yorktown is open for business, and we are interested in creating a modern, walkable community with new housing options for people of all ages. This deliberate action was the sparkplug for revitalization.
Today, Yorktown Green, once a ghost town, is almost full. Further cementing strong investor confidence is the ongoing $10 million renovation of the Triangle Shopping Center. The excitement about the redevelopment of these two pillars of our commercial core is electric.
Residents are enjoying the dividends of our zoning decision in the form of a diverse array of new dining options, highlighting our town’s burgeoning appeal to restaurateurs. We've seen the welcome return of Miraggio and new, vibrant openings like Paris Baguette, Mr. Chick and Ms. DimSum, and Don Pablo Authentic Mexican Cuisine and Tequila, among others. This burst of economic energy means more jobs, more convenient options for residents, and a stronger tax base for all of us.
The overlay zoning is crucial in addressing our housing stock and vital infrastructure. It allowed for the construction of the Underhill Farm residences, which encouraged the developer to rescue and repurpose a historic mansion on the property that faced condemnation. Similarly, the redevelopment of that property included a pledge by the developer to fix the outdated and unsafe intersection at Underhill Avenue and Route 118. Work on this vital intersection next to Town Hall is ongoing and it is a massive improvement for safety and traffic flow.
The economic development stimulated by the overlay zoning district created positive financial ripple effects that helped Yorktown complete $3.4 million in park improvements. This year, we cut ribbons on new pickleball courts at Granite Knolls, a new playground at Blackberry Woods, and a new parking lot and pavement at Downing Park. These are tangible, generational improvements made possible by a healthy, growing economy.
The investment we’ve seen in 2025—from renovated shopping centers and vibrant restaurants to new housing and park improvements—could not have been possible if the Town Board had not taken bold steps forward to jumpstart our local economy. Yorktown now has momentum, and all boats are rising.
Looking ahead, we will break ground on the long awaited Downing Drive streetscape project, which will improve lighting, pedestrian accessibility and safety for cyclists. It will also connect the North County Trail to the heart of the Heights Hamlet.
We are continuing to move Yorktown forward thanks to bold leadership that has a clear vision for the future.
Ed Lachterman is the Yorktown Town Supervisor and is running for re-election.
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