With the Rye City Council election around the corner on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, MyRye.com is publishing a series of issue focused articles highlighting the views of our candidates running for mayor and for city council.Today we are highlighting the views of the three mayoral candidates in regards to two of the biggest development projects that are underway: the development plan for the former United Hospital site just over the Rye City line in Port Chester and the Thruway property along the Boston Post Road purchased by Rye Country Day School.
These projects present a potential traffic cauldron at the already busy Rye – Port Chester town line with the Whole Foods and Target shopping center and the swirl of Boston Post Road / Interstate 287 and Interstate 95. The Rye Park neighborhood showed up in force to the Rye City Council meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 to express concerns over both projects with special attention to traffic and safety impacts in an expansive discussion that lasted over an hour.
Read our full candidate interviews on MyRye.com (links below).
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What are your current views on the development plan for the former United Hospital site (Bedrock – Rose) just over the Rye City line in Port Chester? And what should the City be doing to represent its interests?
Bill Henderson (GOP): The City is in the process of settling a lawsuit with Port Chester over its zoning laws. I prefer an approach that involves our City working with our neighbors rather than suing them. Traffic is going to be a big issue with the United Hospital site. The City will have an opportunity for input on New York State’s DOT study of the traffic impact on the Post Road, including the 287 and 95 on / off ramps. We are, of course, concerned about traffic on the Post Road and the impact on the adjacent Rye neighborhoods.
Rick McCabe (Ind.): It’s obviously a huge project that will affect Rye residents and the city overall. The mayor, council and professional staff should stay deeply engaged with leadership in Port Chester and other municipalities to monitor and react to the impact of the project throughout its development.
Josh Nathan (Dem): At the moment, the core concern is impact on traffic and safety in the nearby Rye neighborhoods. We also need to consider the impact on our downtown business district, parking, and train station. In addition, the project and its impact need to be considered in the context of Rye Country Day School’s development of the Thruway property.
What we must be doing:
- Meet with residents in the nearby neighborhoods to listen to current concerns and share information as the project keeps evolving.
- Have open communications with Port Chester to protect Rye’s interests. We have been engaged in litigation with Port Chester over the site’s development, which impacts having a more cooperative relationship concerning this matter.
- Communicate with County officials and make sure we have a seat at the table when it comes to any services the County might provide, such as bus service, and be sure it works for Rye or doesn’t negatively impact Rye.
What are your current views on the plan to develop the Thruway property along the Boston Post Road purchased by Rye Country Day School? And what should the City be doing to represent its interests?
Bill Henderson (GOP): Rye Country Day is another great Rye institution. We are currently just learning of these plans. The size and scope seem to be quite significant. There is some question of how the former Thruway property’s deed language requiring 29% public use of the fields east of the Boston Post Road will be realized by the development. Perhaps the permitting process might provide a good opportunity for more clarity around this issue.
Rick McCabe (Ind.): I’m happy that this property will become a dedicated sports complex and I trust the City’s process for review and approval. The true benefit to all of Rye will only be realized in the amount of usable time we can secure for our community sports programs. The mayor, council and professional staff should stay deeply engaged with Rye Country Day School through all phases of this process.
Josh Nathan (Dem): The addition of capacity by using what has been a dead space between highways is very promising; both for Rye Country Day School and for the Rye community given the School’s commitment to making space available for local community athletics. In seeing this through to a win for all, it’s paramount that (i) we address neighborhood impact, specifically with regard to traffic, preserving safety and quality of life, (ii) review the project in the context of the development of the adjacent former United Hospital site, and (iii) that we work out a fair arrangement for the public’s use of that space. The City’s recreation department will be an important stakeholder. As Mayor, my job will be to actively foster communication and transparency throughout our process so that we are sure our community is able to make the most of this opportunity in keeping with the investment of RCDS and the needs of the neighborhood and its residents.
Read all our candidate interviews:GOP Slate – Henderson / All in for Rye
- Q&A with Mayoral Candidate Bill Henderson
- Q&A with City Council Candidate James Fee
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Robin Thrush Jovanovich
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Maria Tufvesson Shuck
Independent Rick McCabe / McCabe for Mayor:
Democratic Slate – Nathan, Anderson, Kesavan & Ward for Rye:
- Q&A with Mayoral Candidate Josh Nathan
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Marion Anderson
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Amy Kesavan
- Q&A with City Council Candidate James Ward
