New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was in New Rochelle on Feb. 18 to announce $16 million in state funding awarded to advance New Rochelle’s LINC (Linking Innovation, Nature, and Community) Project, which had been jeopardized by federal funding cuts. The project was threatened with being shut down when the federal funding was rescinded. The state funding will allow the project to proceed.
The LINC Project is New Rochelle’s plan to transform into a linear park and neighborhood connector a section of Memorial Highway, which was originally built in the 1960s and was responsible for isolating a historically Black neighborhood. The project will change the existing six-lane highway into a local street and green corridor, connecting downtown, the train station, the public library, and Lincoln Avenue.
“Cuts by the Trump Administration threatened to derail this LINC Project for the New Rochelle community — and that’s why I’m stepping up to fill the gap and ensure that this vital plan can proceed,” Hochul said. “By transforming an outdated highway into green space, safe streets and vibrant public gathering places we are bringing communities together that were divided for generations. The City of New Rochelle is a prime example of what can be accomplished when we let municipalities build, build, build.”
New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert said, “This support advances a transformational effort that strengthens economic connection, supports working families, and ensures that as New Rochelle grows, we do so thoughtfully and in a way that benefits residents today and for generations to come. We are grateful for the state’s partnership and shared commitment to that vision.”
As part of her “Let Them Build” agenda, Hochul also toured Stella housing Phases I & II and highlighted the ongoing success of housing development of all types across New Rochelle including market-rate, mixed income and affordable developments. She noted that collaboration between the city, state, county, and other stakeholders has resulted in the creation of approximately 4,500 new housing units since 2020.
Hochul praised New Rochelle for its efforts in recent years that have resulted in new buildings that have attracted new people to the downtown.
“I’ve been saying this for four straight years,” Hochul said. “‘You build more supply, the prices will go down,’ right? Supply and demand Economics 101, which I didn’t even take a class, I just knew this without even taking the class, right? I didn’t even need to take a class. You build more supply, the prices go down. The average rent in this community has dropped by three-to-five percent. So look at the national trends or the statewide trends. The rents are going up exponentially. Nationwide is up about 31%. But It’s dropping here in New Rochelle because they had the ambition to keep building.”
A Pew study found that New Rochelle increased annual housing permits from 39 units in 2017 to 989 new units a year recently, which contributed to a decline in average rent growth from 12% in 2017-2020 to 7% in 2020-2023 at a time when rents nationwide have been rising at double digits.
Congressman George Latimer, whose New York 16th Congressional district covers part of the Bronx and Westchester, drew a contrast between what is happening in New Rochelle and what is happening in some other U.S. cities.
“You needed this money from the state because this federal administration and this leadership of both houses of Congress have abandoned America’s greatest needs,” Latimer said. “They’ve lost themselves in ideology. They’ve wrapped themselves in rhetoric. They’re prepared to do violence on the streets of a city as opposed to help build up a city which is exactly what you’re doing … in the City of New Rochelle.”
Latimer characterized Hochul’s visit to New Rochelle as a moment to be celebrated and one in which people can draw a sharp contrast between what’s happening in New Rochelle and what’s happening elsewhere.
“We offer the people of this country … two visions,” Latimer said. “Do you want this kind of a city where you’re breaking down barriers and bringing people together or do you want that kind of a city where you pepper spray people who come out to properly protest? That’s your choice, America. We’ve decided in New Rochelle, in Westchester County, in the state of New York, this is what we want to see.”
