People interested in participating in a lottery that will offer winners the opportunity to buy condominiums at the former site of Berkeley College in White Plains will be able to find out more about the project and lottery procedures during a workshop scheduled to take place Dec. 4 at the White Plains Public Library.
The conversion of the former Berkeley College building at 99 Church St. and the college’s former dormitory at 6 Cottage Place into residences has been spearheaded by WBP Development (Wilder Balter Partners) through Berkeley 99 Church Street LLC. The college moved from the buildings in 2021 in a consolidation of its White Plains and Manhattan campuses. The two buildings are on approximately an acre of land.
Both Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach are expected to attend the workshop and discuss how these projects expand homeownership opportunities for working families, seniors, and first-time buyers. Also scheduled to appear are representatives of WBP Development, Housing Action Council, and Westchester Residential Opportunities.
The planned 90-minute event, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., is expected to include details of what’s involved in applying to participate in the lotteries to be held in March that will determine who will have opportunities to buy the condos. Applications for the 6 Cottage Place lottery are due by Feb. 12 and applications for 99 Church St. are due by March 2. People submitting late applications will be added to a waiting list.
Together, the two developments will bring 108 new affordable condominium homes to market, including homes specially adapted for people with mobility impairments and for people with hearing or visual impairment.
“Access to homeownership is the cornerstone of a strong, stable community,” Jenkins said in advance of the workshop. “These new developments in downtown White Plains represent real progress toward our goal of making Westchester a place where people who work here—teachers, nurses, first responders, and young professionals—can also afford to live and build their futures.”
According to White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, “This is exactly the kind of housing we need more of in White Plains. WBP Development and its partners are helping ensure that the opportunity to own a home in White Plains is open to everyone, from young professionals building their careers to seniors looking to downsize and stay near friends and family.”
The condos at 6 Cottage Place have prices starting in the low $200,000s while the ones at 99 Church St. begin in the low $300,000s.
Westchester Residential Opportunities has a page on its website affordablewestchester.org with information on registering for the workshop at the White Plains Public Library as well as an online workshops scheduled for Dec. 12 and Jan. 7.
