What is the plan for Renaissance Briarcliff Manor?
Rose Enterprises Group, an affiliate of Rose Equities, is under contract to purchase the 37-acre former Pace University campus, with the goal of transforming the long-vacant property into a new neighborhood of homes and open space within walking distance of downtown Briarcliff Manor. The proposal responds directly to the planning goals identified in the Village’s Downtown Adjacent Zoning Study (May 2025), which recommended creating a new Planned Unit Development district at this location.
The Study found that 235 Elm Road is uniquely suited for a neighborhood that can:
Expand housing diversity by offering townhomes and single-family homes that meet the needs of seniors, young families, and empty nesters.
Support downtown revitalization by locating new residents within walking distance (0.7 miles) of shops, restaurants, and community amenities.
Preserve open space by clustering homes and maintaining wooded buffers, landscaped setbacks, and a new public walking trail system.
Reduce impacts compared to prior uses since traffic, water, demand, and school enrollment would all be lower than the former campus operations and more dense alternatives.
Consistent with the Study’s preferred “PUD-2 scenario”, our plan would replace the ten deteriorated campus buildings with a carefully designed neighborhood, including approximately 110 townhomes and five single-family homes along Tuttle Road. The community will feature attractive architecture, thoughtful site planning, and significant open space.
The former Pace campus has been vacant and deteriorating for nearly a decade, generating no tax revenue and contributing little to the Village’s vitality. By contrast, it previously accommodated about 700 resident students and 400 commuters—demonstrating that the site’s infrastructure can readily support a new residential neighborhood.
The Downtown Adjacent Zoning Study identified 235 Elm as one of the few large, contiguous parcels within walking distance (0.7 miles) of the Village center, making it a prime candidate for redevelopment that strengthens downtown while relieving pressure on traditional single-family neighborhoods elsewhere in Briarcliff.
Our plan is a model of infill development – building in already developed and disturbed areas rather than expanding into greenfields. By clustering homes and preserving wooded buffers, wetlands, and new public trails, the project both respects local environmental conditions and advances the Village’s planning goal of balancing housing growth with open space preservation. This approach efficiently uses existing utilities—such as water and sewer—while reducing impacts compared to the former institutional use.
What makes 235 Elm such a good site for new homes?
The former campus offers a rare opportunity to create a thoughtfully planned neighborhood that balances new housing with meaningful open space. Consistent with the Downtown Adjacent Zoning Study, the plan preserves significant natural features, including steep slopes and wetlands, while clustering homes to maintain broad landscaped buffers along Elm and Tuttle Roads.
The design sets aside publicly accessible open space, including a neighborhood green along Elm Road and a walking trail that connects to Tuttle Road. In addition, the community will include shared amenities such as a pool and clubhouse for residents. Overall, roughly 30 percent of the site will remain open space, ensuring that the new homes are integrated with the Village’s existing landscape and community character.
What else does the plan entail?
Yes. As part of the project, we will install new sidewalks along a portion of Elm Road and make improvements to stormwater management and utility systems. These upgrades advance the Village’s Comprehensive Plan goals for open space preservation and downtown revitalization. Just as importantly, they will enhance pedestrian connectivity, allowing residents to walk safely and directly to downtown shops, services, and community amenities.
Will the plan require new infrastructure?
Any redevelopment of the site will undergo a full traffic and mobility impact analysis as part of the Village’s review process, including identification of mitigation measures where appropriate. The former campus previously accommodated a daily population of roughly 1,100 students and staff.
Importantly, the Downtown Adjacent Zoning Study shows that residential use of the property would generate far fewer trips than the prior campus operations, which produced more than 170 morning and 200 evening peak-hour trips when Pace was active.
By comparison, the proposed neighborhood is expected to generate approximately 56 morning and 67 evening peak-hour trips, less than half the traffic previously associated with the site. In addition, the plan provides ample onsite parking and internal circulation to reduce external impacts on surrounding streets.
Will Renaissance Briarcliff Manor increase traffic?
What impact will the plan have on water and sanitary systems?
We are preparing detailed engineering plans for water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems to ensure full compliance with all Village standards. Preliminary studies indicate that the sanitary system is in generally good condition, with only minor repairs anticipated for certain stormwater drainage structures.
Based on the proposed unit count and bedroom mix, the project is expected to generate an average daily water demand of approximately 61,160 gallons. This is consistent with estimates in the Downtown Adjacent Zoning Study and significantly lower than both denser alternatives and the demand from the former Pace campus. All findings will be confirmed through the Village’s environmental review and approval process.
The project has been carefully designed to minimize visual impacts. Homes are clustered away from the street frontages, and existing trees and new landscaping will provide substantial screening from Elm Road, Tuttle Road, and nearby properties. In addition, a formal visual impact analysis will be prepared as part of the environmental review, ensuring that the design respects neighborhood character and addresses community concerns.
Will the buildings block neighbors’ views?
All exterior lighting will comply with Village standards. Prior to the issuance of any building permits are issued, we will prepare a detailed lighting plan, including a photometric study, to show fixture locations, types, and illumination levels. The plan will be developed by a qualified lighting design firm and will include performance measures to prevent glare or spillover into neighboring areas, ensuring all lighting remains safe, appropriate, and consistent with Village standards.
What about additional excess lighting?
CONTACT
info@RenaissanceBriarcliffManor.com
