Message from the Chairwoman and Executive Director

We are proud to issue our 21/22 Annual Report, which details the activities and accomplishments of the White Plains Business Improvement District.

If a phrase best captures this point in time for our downtown, it would be New Places, New Faces. Let’s start with places. The residential development boom changing the skyline of our downtown continues, with the construction of 5,000 new units, on top of the 1,738 units built since 2015. Cumulatively, these projects could bring an additional 10,000 – 12,000 residents to White Plains, a great majority of them who will live, and most definitely utilize, our downtown. This fall, The Mitchell, a two-tower mixed-use development and one of the first of these exciting next wave additions, held their ribbon cutting in the heart of Mamaroneck Avenue, giving us an exciting taste of what’s to come. A groundbreaking ceremony occurred at the site of the former White Plains Mall in December, heralding the start of a development process that will result in four multifamily buildings, 860 rental apartments, dining, retail and other commercial spaces, as well as underground parking. The Galleria White Plains is also slated to cease business as of this spring to prepare for redevelopment, with new residences and amenity-based retail to follow.

One could be forgiven for losing track of all of these details, so we have prepared an extra special spread in this year’s annual report mapping the developments, complete with easy-access QR codes linking to recent press on many of these projects for further perspective. In that same spread you’ll find featured a number of new businesses that opened in the 21/22 calendar year. Our hot retail market has kept our ribbon-cutting skills sharp!

As for the “new faces” we mentioned? In addition to the incoming wave of new residents and business owners that we are prepared to welcome, please meet Jennifer Furioli, our new Executive Director, whose immediate past experience includes running the Jamaica Center BID in Queens, with prior positions at the Downtown New Rochelle BID, Lincoln Square BID (Manhattan) and New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, the government entity overseeing the City of New York’s portfolio of BIDs. Jennifer has replaced Brittany Brandwein, who departed this fall after a long tenure with this organization (first serving as the BID’s Director of Events and Business Promotions from 2013 -2019, before becoming the Executive Director in 2019.) We thank Brittany for her contribution to downtown White Plains. Our longstanding Board and new Executive Director look forward to continuing to serve downtown with both care and creativity.

If YOU are a new face to the downtown (or simply a longstanding constituent that would like to reconnect) please reach out! While change is inevitable, we remain consistent in our commitment to building community in this dynamic business district and neighborhood, and wish to welcome and engage you.

JENNIFER FURIOLI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR