FASNY Opposition Signs Stolen From Local Lawns

Those on both sides of the debate, over whether the French-American School of New York (FASNY) should build its campus at the former  site, are puzzled over the weekend theft of lawn signs opposing the project.

Terence Guerriere, president of the Gedney Association—which opposes the development and represents the Gedney Farms neighborhood where the site is—said about 30 of the signs were stolen from lawns on Ridgeway and surrounding streets between Friday night and Saturday morning.

“We have no idea who took these signs,” said Guerriere. “We’re not pointing fingers. A lot of people were affected, so it occurred to me that this was more than just a prank. We’ve had signs taken before during political campaigns—its just part of that territory.” 

The signs were found tossed onto the former country club site, where FASNY has applied to build a day care through twelfth grade campus on the 129-acre site. 

White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong said police were notified on Saturday by a Hathaway Lane resident that several "Stop FASNY Now," signs were stolen off the homeowner’s lawn.

“We have security people who are on site 24-7 and found the signs thrown on the property and immediately notified police,” said FASNY spokesperson Geoff Thompson. “As regarding who would have done this, we have no idea.”

Guerriere said residents were concerned about having individuals walk onto their property in the middle of the night. Chong said the signs were returned to their owners and that no other reports or indications of property damage were found.

“We are investigating this as a mischief complaint and will have the patrol units keep extra vigil out and about the area,” said Chong. “We will also be reviewing any video available to us in the area.”

Gedney Farms' president said that the neighborhood association would continue its opposition of the project, which he says just isn’t a good fit for a residential neighborhood.

Some White Plains residents feel the project would overwhelm the neighborhood would traffic; impact flooding and other environmentally sensitive issues on the site; reduce city property values; and would drain money from the tax base. Gedney Farms recently got in a shipment of about 100 new signs and will continue ordering new signs and car magnets as people ask for them through the association’s website.

“With regard to the petition, there’s no surprise there,” said Thompson. “The residents actively opposed the project from the moment we event considered buying the property. At the same time we’re working on a variety of issues and matters that we think are a value to the entire city.”

FASNY says its campus will bring revenue into the city; will install better drainage and storm water mechanisms than was previously on the site; will create mechanisms to mitigate traffic and will pay for traffic or infrastructure improvements the City of White Plains deems necessary; and will dedicated part of the property as public open space. 

Thompson said the school is focusing on its committee that is brainstorming possible ideas for the Gedney Preserve, a 60-acre swath of the land dedicated as public open space, such as an educational nature center or agriculture site. FASNY has a petition of its own in support of the preserve on their website.

In the meantime Gedney Association is looking ahead to FASNY’s submission of its in the spring—as well as the City’s rezoning efforts that would turn certain areas, as well as the former country club site, into a . 

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