Beach club vs condos: Zoning fight builds on New Rochelle's Davenport Neck
New Rochelle officials say an entity, including The Surf Club, submitted a petition seeking a zoning amendment to allow a 64-unit condominium project to be built.
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A well-known New Rochelle beach club could be demolished to make way for housing.
The Davenport Neck area is known for its beautiful beach clubs.
"With the waterfront too, it's a real asset," says parkkeeper Anthony Ravitch.
However, that "asset" could change in the future.
Adam Salgado, the city's commissioner of development, says officials are considering a petition from The Surf Club that would allow changes to the area's zoning.
"There was a petition that was submitted in May of 2025 seeking a zoning amendment to allow a 64-unit condominium project to be built on Davenport Neck," Salgado says.
Salgado says the request prompted the city to reexamine zoning across the entire peninsula.
"About 10 years ago, there was another condominium project built at the end of Davenport Neck... that has done very well," Salgado says. "We thought, having received this petition, that this might be an opportunity for us to take a look at the zoning overall."
Councilmember Albert Tarantino says many residents have already made their opinion clear.
"What came back very clear is that the community is opposed to any more zoning changes on Davenport Neck," Tarantino says.
Resident Andrea Boyar says people across the city are feeling development fatigue.
"People are just very leery because of how many new buildings have gone up," Boyar says.
For now, Salgado stresses that they are not demolishing at beach clubs.
"There's no property acquisition being contemplated. This is purely a petition to amend the zoning," Salgado says.
Salgado says a recommendation could come as soon as this summer.
