Barrett, O’Callaghan, and Bauman of RM Friedland sell 99 Church St.

White Plains, NY RM Friedland (RMF) participated in the sale of 99 Church St., along with the adjacent 6 Cottage Pl. on behalf of Berkeley College. Originally part of Berkeley College’s downtown campus, these properties were placed on the market after the college consolidated its operations to NYC and New Jersey in 2021. Recognized for its central location, versatile structures — a 110,000 s/f four-story office building at 99 Church St. and a 55-unit, six-story dormitory at 6 Cottage Pl. — and nearly one acre, the sales team at RMF deemed the site an ideal candidate for adaptive reuse and redevelopment.

John Barrett, Chris O’Callaghan, and Carmen Bauman of RMF exclusively represented the seller, Berkeley College, and identified the buyer, Wilder Balter Partners. The buyer’s attorney was Kenneth Jurist, Esq. from Cuddy & Feder, LLP. The seller’s attorney was Ann Carlson from DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP.

Initially envisioned as a mixed-use project incorporating both rental and for-sale units, the redevelopment strategy was later refined to convert the entire property into for-sale condominiums by the developer, Wilder Balter Partners.

Under the final plan, both properties, 99 Church St. and 6 Cottage Pl., will undergo a gut renovation and be transformed into 68 condo units, and 40 condo units respectively, of varying styles and sizes. Enhancements to the project also include expanded parking facilities and façade improvements. The improvements are “designed to bolster financial feasibility and meet the community’s housing needs in an adaptive re-use of well-located properties” said John Barrett, RM Friedland’s co-managing director of investment sales who, along with Chris O’Callaghan and Carmen Bauman, represented the seller.

The redevelopment has garnered significant public and investment support. The city of White Plains has contributed approximately $4.7 million in grant funding, and Westchester County has allocated $10 million through the newly signed Land Acquisition Act to support WBP Development LLC’s efforts to transform a historic campus into an affordable homeownership opportunity for first-time buyers. These strategic investments advance key goals of adaptive reuse and community revitalization in downtown. The project, near multiple public transportation options, not only repurposes a former office and dormitory building into housing but also addresses the critical need for increased homeownership options in the community. 

“The variance in converting 99 Church St. to affordable housing is exactly what is needed to address a market need,” said Chris O’Callaghan, managing director of RM Friedland, “Berkley College continues their legacy of being a great corporate citizen of the community and Balter Development’s transformation will tie the knot on a fantastic development for the City of White Plains”