A report prepared by the Urban Land Institute New York (ULI) for the City of Peekskill makes a number of recommendations for developing the city’s southern waterfront area. The report was prepared by a ULI Technical Assistance Panel. Panel members toured city-owned properties, reviewed briefing materials, and met with neighborhood residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders, city staff and elected officials to gain an understanding of both current conditions and community priorities.
Key recommendations by the panel include: relocating Department of Public Works operations to allow for development of mixed-use, mixed-income housing on three city-owned parcels at the Louisa Street and Lower South Street intersection; reimagining the Peekskill Baseball Stadium as a more flexible, multiuse civic and recreational space; and improving pedestrian circulation and connected open spaces throughout the district.
“Adding sidewalks on Lower South Street and internal sidewalks at all site access points will support the walkability of the development and improve connectivity with the surrounding neighborhoods,” the report said.
The report also calls for making certain improvements to infrastructure such as rail lines and aging streets. It suggests expanding housing diversity and affordability by making regulations more flexible and making public investments.
The report looked at privately owned properties in the area and suggested rezoning to allow additional height and density.
“The sites in the study area should be rezoned to allow for a mix of uses to begin to activate the intersection and bridge the surrounding residential neighborhoods and light industrial uses,” the report said.
The report suggested that both short-term furnished rentals and extended-stay hotels could support local businesses that have visiting employees who need intermediate housing.
“The Technical Assistance Panel process provides a clear roadmap and vision for what is possible along Peekskill’s southern waterfront,” the city’s Director of Planning Carol J. Samnol told Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal. “We see significant opportunity for both public and private investment to build on the excitement and energy already present in the city and create a cohesive, vibrant district. We will take the panel’s recommendations into the city’s comprehensive planning process, and we are already actively seeking grant support to advance the panel’s recommendations.”
The report said that it’s important to establish a clear identity for the district to be developed along with a planning framework.
“Branding and placemaking in the district can elevate the positive features of the area and shape a narrative that supports or inspires further private investment,” the report said.
Peekskill’s Mayor Vivian C. McKenzie, commented, “The ULI New York Technical Assistance Panel report provides Peekskill with a clear, market-informed framework, shaped by many of the region’s leading experts, that will help us continue our community-oriented, long-term growth strategy. We look forward to working with our public and private partners to advance the report’s recommendations.”
The Technical Assistance Panel’s chairman Peter Liebowitz, a senior vice president at planning and engineering firm WSP said, “Peekskill has all the right ingredients for successful reinvestment, including strategic public assets, strong leadership, and a growing regional profile. We were honored to help craft a framework that reflects a long-term vision and provides a practical path forward, pairing early action on city-owned sites with clear district branding and targeted infrastructure investments to support both housing growth and job creation.”
The Peekskill Technical Assistance Panel was made possible through a grant provided by the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing.
