Toll Brothers Proposes Townhouse Development

Toll Brothers is proposing to build a 136-unit, age-restricted townhouse development at the Field Home property.

Toll Brothers’ officials made a preliminary presentation to the Town Board on Tuesday about their vision for the 50-acre property off Catherine Street that is under contract for purchase. Toll Brothers’ renderings depicted three- and four-unit townhomes clustered around a community club house and an outdoor swimming pool. The homes will be sold to active adults 55 and older at market rate, and after construction the property will be controlled by a homeowners’ association.

“Toll Brothers has been interested in bringing a high-quality residential product to Yorktown for a number of years,” David Cooper of Zarin & Steinmetz told the Town Board.

The Town previously approved a proposal for a 108-unit complex at the site with the option to expand by 30 or 40 units. The builder behind that proposal only completed an adjacent 96-bed nursing home, which was also approved as part of that development.

The property contains the former Catherine Field Home, originally founded by an Episcopal nun in 1887 as a home for older women. The building is significantly dilapidated, but Toll Brothers stated that it is committed to preserving the façade and front third of the structure as agreed under a previously approved development proposal for the property. Currently the building is used by local nonprofit groups.

“The initial plan to save the front part of the building was a smart plan,” said Councilwoman Alice Roker.

Councilman Ed Lachterman said that he has been in the Field Home recently and he observed it to be in “a very high state of disrepair.”

Toll Brothers representatives stated that they will seek a rezoning of the property to accommodate their plan, but no applications have been submitted to the Town.

Supervisor Matt Slater said Toll Brothers’ presentation is evidence of Yorktown’s increasing attractiveness to developers and home seekers.

“The Town should be very proud that Toll Brothers is looking to do something in the Town of Yorktown, but obviously we’re going to take the correct steps in the process and make sure that everything is done in accordance with all the requirements. We look forward to hearing from you on those next steps,” said Supervisor Slater at the end of Toll Brothers’ presentation.