Dobbs Ferry looking for affordable housing developer

The Village of Dobbs Ferry wants to find a developer to build affordable housing on village-owned property in the village’s downtown area. The village says it has identified three parcels that it believes could be developed in an effort to “fulfill policies and recommendations in the 2010 Vision Plan and to address the needs of current Village residents and those residents and visitors in the future.”

The redevelopment would require construction of 100% affordable housing. Dobbs Ferry has prepared a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking interest in such a project from developers.

One of the pieces of land the village wants to consider for redevelopment currently is used for the Palisade/Cedar Street Parking Lot. It has approximately 66 public parking spaces and covers about 25,000 square feet. The village envisions that the redevelopment of this parcel could include retention of public parking. It says that ideally this would be within a parking structure on the ground level or below grade, and residential multi-family dwelling units would be built above. The village says that any parking structure fronting either Palisade Street or Cedar Street must be designed to minimize visual, noise and lighting impacts on surrounding properties and streets. Streetscape improvements and amenities, including lighting, seating, sidewalks and landscaping, would b expected and would need to be funded by the developer.

Also to be considered for affordable housing would be two vacant Cedar Street parcels. These two smaller vacant parcels are the site of former buildings on the north side of Cedar Street, between the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail and Broadway/Route 9. Dobbs Ferry envisions that these two parcels could be redeveloped with mixed-use buildings with commercial or public uses on the first floor and basement levels, with residential dwelling units on the upper floors.

Dobbs Ferry wants to review proposals that provide quality affordable housing for families, seniors and the disabled, and include affordable housing units. It also says projects should strengthens the mixed-use nature of the downtown and increase foot traffic within the downtown. The village wants projects that employ architectural designs that are in character with the neighborhood and 2010 Downtown District Design Guidelines and consider enhancing the streetscapes and the pedestrian experience. It also says that projects need to be sustainable and energy efficient to the greatest extent possible including green energy solutions such as solar, geothermal, or passive house design. Dobbs Ferry set a March 22 deadline for RFQ submissions.