The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) has held its Mayor’s Roundtable and lunch in White Plains during which the mayors of White Plains, New Rochelle and Yonkers explored the outlook for Westchester County’s cities.
Mayors Mike Spano of Yonkers, Yadira Ramos-Herbert of New Rochelle and Justin Brasch of White Plains shared a common view that cities need to be aggressive in their revitalization programs and doing that that has gone a long way toward the creation of more than 23,000 new housing units in their cities.
Spano detailed how Yonkers has been transformed under his administration and pointed to $5 billion in projects that have rehabilitated the city. He talked about the city’s 90% high school graduation rate and its growth to become the third largest city in New York state. He noted that Yonkers has authorized 12,000 new housing units, 22% of which are designated as affordable. Spano also highlighted the city’s burgeoning film industry and the strategic “Medical Mile” partnership between St. John’s Hospital and the Montefiore Health System.
Yadira Ramos-Herbert emphasized New Rochelle’s proactive approach to density, with 11,000 housing units authorized and a focus on having 20% of them priced as affordable units. Key initiatives include a $2.25 million Retail Tenant Improvement Program that provides up to $250,000 grants to business applicants in the downtown for making physical improvements and other expenses associated with expanding business activity in the city. She also mentioned “The Link” project, which is described as a transformational waterfront and stormwater mitigation effort slated to break ground in the fourth quarter of this year.
Brash noted that White Plains continues to command a 39% share of the county’s commercial leasing. Brash advocated for adaptive reuse of aging structures into affordable condos and emphasized a “pro-business, pro-safety” environment. He specifically called for state funding support to increased affordable housing units in major projects, such as the Galleria redevelopment that is undergoing review by the city, from 12% to 25%.
While celebrating record growth, all three mayors stressed that their cities are facing the high costs of municipal pension liabilities and health care. They said that increased state and federal help is needed so that the county can remain affordable for the workforce driving its economic engine.
The event was moderated by Kevin Plunkett, director of strategic initiatives at Simone Development Companies.
