A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the beginning of construction in the sixth and final phase of the project to redevelop the former Cottage Place Gardens public housing complex in Yonkers. The Yonkers Housing Authority along with the Mulford Corporation and The Community Builders is developing Willow at The Ridgeway, an eight-story building with 92 apartments at 23 Bishop W.J. Walls Place.
The Cottage Place Gardens public housing development dates from 1945. The Business Journal reported in March that work had begun on demolishing the last of the original structures to make way for the final new building, Willow at The Ridgeway.
At the Yonkers groundbreaking, from left: Joan Deierlein, Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners; Denise Egiziaco, board vice chair; Jesse Batus, The Community Builders, Inc.; Linda Malave, Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council; Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy; City Council Member Deana Norman; Ken Jenkins; State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Mike Spano; County Legislator Shanae Williams; City Council Member John Rubbo; and Ross Karp, downstate development director, of HCR.
The unit mix includes 85 one-bedroom units averaging 550 square feet in size and seven two-bedroom units averaging 800 square feet. All of the apartments will be priced as affordable housing. There will be 31 units reserved for households at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), 29 units reserved for households at or below 50% AMI, and 32 units reserved for households at or below 60% AMI. All apartments will be designed for an aging population and reserved for seniors referred from the Yonkers Housing Authority Section 8 waitlist.
Gov. Kathy Hochul took note of the groundbreaking and said, “The people of Yonkers are acutely aware that New York desperately needs more affordable, energy-efficient housing. As we break ground on Willow at The Ridgeway, we are once again demonstrating that we’re willing to do what it takes to boost the supply of quality homes, to transform vacant properties, and to create opportunities for seniors to age in place or relocate to be part of this city’s bright future.”
The new building is designed to be highly energy efficient and includes a rooftop solar array. The apartments will be equipped with Energy Star appliances.
The cost of building Willow at The Ridgeway has been estimated as $81 million. State financing for the development comes from Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) State and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs that will generate nearly $30 million in equity and $10 million in subsidy from HCR. The development also is due to receive more than $500,000 through the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and, when completed, would be eligible for $12.7 million in state tax credits. Westchester County is providing $7 million in Housing Flex Funds and the city of Yonkers is providing $1 million in HOME funding.
According to Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano the groundbreaking “continues the ongoing and remarkable transformation of our city’s affordable housing. The Willow at Ridgeway will provide our city’s seniors with housing that is both attractively designed as well as energy efficient with outstanding amenities.”
Yonkers Housing Authority President and CEO Wilson Kimball said, “We are very pleased with the financial support this incredible project has received at every level of government. The Willow at Ridgeway will let our senior population age in place in an environment that is affordable and transit-oriented.”
Amenities for residents will include free internet, laundry rooms on each floor, a community room, gym, and a resident terrace on the seventh floor with seating and a solar canopy.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins described the development as being “all about creating opportunity and ensuring our seniors can age with dignity in safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable homes.”
