Last August, Con Edison cut off gas service to the Yonkers Housing Authority’s eight-building Palisade Towers housing complex due to leaks in gas pipes serving the buildings. That knocked out cooking gas and hot water for the 415 apartments. The Housing Authority quickly brought in portable boilers to restore the hot water and provided electric appliances for cooking. Now, Westchester County has come forward with a $4.6 million grant to help pay for repairs and upgrades at the public housing facility.
The Housing Authority has determined that the cost of repairing the gas lines is prohibitive and as a result decided to switch to electricity instead of using gas, including replacing gas stoves in apartment kitchens with electric ovens.
“We thank Westchester County for these funds which will go toward upgrading infrastructure at Palisade Towers,’’ Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said during a news conference held at the complex. “Additional funding is needed to carry out the work and we are hopeful that the state and federal governments will assist us because the lack of affordable housing nationwide is a serious problem so maintaining what we have is critical.’’
Spano said that the “deep pockets of the state and federal governments” will have to make investments in housing.
“We’re going to do what we can,” Spano said. “At the same time we’re going to continue to advocate at the federal and state level for additional funding so that we can fix what really is wrong here.”
County Executive Ken Jenkins explained, “Through our Landlord Tenant Assistance Program, we contribute to this collaborative effort to make critical upgrades and improve living conditions for the families here. This project reflects our shared commitment to preserving affordable housing and supporting the wellbeing of residents across Westchester County.”
Jenkins said that heat pumps would be installed at Palisade Towers and the electrical service would be upgraded to support the new systems.
The funding is administered through the county’s planning department using the Public Housing Authorities Improvement program, which is designed to support capital improvements to affordable housing.
Wilson Kimball, CEO of the Yonkers Housing Authority, emphasized that doing all of the modernization needed at Palisade Towers will cost more than the $4.6 million from the county.
“We thank residents for their patience as we work through this process.” Kimball said. “It is critical that the state and federal governments step up to complete the work.’’
Originally known as the William A. Schlobohm Houses, the complex on Schroeder Street was renamed Palisade Towers in 2019 after a renovation that included new façades, windows and new elevators, along with new kitchen appliances, countertops and upgraded bathrooms. The Housing Authority had been seeking additional funding for infrastructure repairs when Con Ed had to shut off the gas.
