Politics & Government

John Verni Declares Candidacy for County BOL, 7th District

John Verni and his family in front of the once vacant and dilapidated Mamaroneck train station that he and his brother bought from the MTA and restored. Contributed photo

Local attorney, businessman and community leader John Verni who redeveloped the Mamaroneck train station, has announced his bid to represent the Sound Shore in the County Legislature.  

Verni seeks to replace the seat being vacated by Judy Myers who is not seeking re-election for the 7th District seat representing the communities of Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Rye and parts of New Rochelle and Harrison. 

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Verni and his brother Christopher recently restored the vacant Mamaroneck train station, originally built in 1888, into a restaurant and office space. “We bought the building from the MTA, invested our own private dollars to renovate the building, and turned it into an asset for the community," said Verni in a release.

The former train station is now home to the popular Club Car restaurant and a new second level has been repurposed into two office suites, one of which is the real estate offices of the Verni brothers.  

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“The building had been off the tax rolls when it was owned by the MTA.  The property is now generating property taxes to the local community, over 50 jobs for local residents, and brings life to the train station and the Columbus Park area of the Village of Mamaroneck," said Verni in a release. "We also included several green building features into the project such as reclaimed lumber, radiant heat flooring, and green roofing on the train tunnels to help protect the environment.”  The project was recognized with a Westchester Municipal Planning Federation award for outstanding adaptive reuse.

In addition to redeveloping the train station, Mr. Verni is an attorney with the White Plains law firm of Kent Hazzard specializing in land use and real estate.  Prior to his work at Kent Hazzard, John Verni was a Westchester County prosecutor serving 6 years as an Assistant District Attorney.  

Mr. Verni is also a past president of Habitat of Humanity of Westchester, chairman of the Board of the Iona Preparatory School, board member and training officer of the New Rochelle Youth Court, board member of Pelham Community Rowing, and a former board member of The Picture House, a restored movie house in Pelham.

“I also believe that I can help the County navigate through the difficult issues it faces in complying with the HUD Settlement. As a local land use attorney, I understand local zoning laws and have appeared before many planning and zoning boards.  As a former President of Habitat of Humanity, I also understand affordable housing," said Verni in a prepared statement. 

Also, in the release, Verni expressed concern that "HUD is overstepping the spirit and letter of the Settlement and is trying to control Westchester from Washington.”

Verni presently lives in the New Rochelle part of the 7th District with his wife, Karina Gomez Verni, and their four children.  According to the release, the Vernis recently purchased a house on Orienta Point in Mamaroneck and will be moving there in the fall after the historic home built in 1900 is restored.  Verni's brother, Christopher, is a former Village of Larchmont Trustee, and his parents, Vito and Mary, live in Harrison.


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