HUD Celebrates Yonkers Public Housing

(L-R): Todd Gomez, Senior VP and Regional Executive for Community Development Banking Group Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Richard Richman, Chairman The Richman Group; Chuck Lesnick, Yonkers City Council President; Mirza Orriols, Acting Regional Administrator for NY/NJ Regional HUD; Joseph Shuldiner, Executive Director Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority; Rob P. Astorino, Westchester County Executive; Micheal Sabatini, Council Member 3rd District; Sadie McKeown, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Community Preservation Corporation; Kristen Miller, President The Richman Group Development Corporation (holding scissors); Gregory Watson, Assistant Commissioner for Regional Affairs NYS Homes and Community Renewal; Susan Gerry, Deputy Mayor City of Yonkers; Wilson Terrero Majority Leader 2nd District; Barry Krinsky Director Citi Community Capital.

Acting Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols visited Yonkers to join City, State and local officials at the ribbon cutting for Grant Park and Park Terrace at Croton Heights, two new public housing developments that were built to replace the historic Mulford Gardens public housing complex and the Ashburton Avenue corridor. Ms. Orriols was joined by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Yonkers Deputy Mayor Susan Gerry, Executive Director of the Yonkers Housing Authority Joseph Shuldiner, and a host of lenders, business and community leaders.

"HUD has no higher mission than improving people's lives and strengthening neighborhoods and the Grant Park and Park Terrace developments do both," said Mirza Orriols, Deputy Regional Administrator. "Turning around a blighted, distressed area is no easy accomplishment in an economy with a fragile housing market. That is why this public/private partnership deserves high praise in renewing affordable housing in Yonkers. I wish to congratulate the Mayor of Yonkers, the Westchester County Executive, the Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority, the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, and the many private partners that made today possible. HUD is very proud to be a partner in this extraordinary collaboration that will serve as a clean, green, and environmentally-sound development for hundreds of residents."

Located at 110 Ashburton Avenue, the four-story Park Terrace at Croton Heights contains 49 one-bedroom apartments for Yonkers seniors with incomes no higher than 50% of the area median income. The building features underground parking, elevator access, a community room, computer center, and on-site laundry. Park Terrace has attained LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Energy Star Certifications. This comes with great efforts from the development, design and construction teams by incorporating a range of green building strategies for sustainability, energy use, lighting, water, materials and air quality. Residents benefit from eco-friendly surroundings and reduced energy costs.

The adjacent Grant Park at Croton Heights offers 100 one, two and three bedroom apartments spread across four buildings. Grant Park residents can earn up to 60% of the area median income. The apartment complex includes a community clubhouse, fitness center, computer center, and on-site management office.

"The Authority is very appreciative that our federal, state and local partners have continued to support the efforts of the developer, Landex/Richman, and ourselves through the next phase of this effort to redevelop the Ashburton corridor and at the same time provide new affordable units to 149 low-income Yonkers' households" said Shuldiner.

Funding was provided by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOPE VI program, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the New York State Housing Finance Agency, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi, the Community Preservation Corporation, the Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation and Westchester County.

Grant Park is the first phase of a planned 240 unit affordable housing community on the former Mulford Gardens site.

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