That in turn has left county officials scratching their heads over what to do with the 97-acre riverfront site.
The riverfront site includes a walkway, a picnic area and a restored old fishing wharf.
Their riverfront site had been the subject of a second Kalikow demolition plan for an 86-floor tower, a scheme that was blocked in court.
Meanwhile, no firm plans for the future of the 97-acre riverfront site are in place, although re-use studies are under way.
The riverfront site has played several roles.
The chill was augmented by the dampness that pervaded the old fort on its riverfront site.
It is now negotiating with elected officials there who are eager to have the museum move to a riverfront site at the foot of Main Street.
They paid over $200,000 for a study that showed the water company site would be much less expensive than the riverfront site.
Irvington will receive $175,000 to check possible contamination on a riverfront site under consideration for a park.
If the esplanade idea were eventually abandoned, developers would gobble up its riverfront site and continue their assault on the river.