Downtown Revitalization Initiative Application

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE APPLICATION

BASIC INFORMATION Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Region: Mid‐Hudson Region

Municipality Name: The City of Yonkers Downtown Name: Yonkers Downtown County Name: Westchester County VISION FOR DOWNTOWN The City of Yonkers seeks Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds to build on the recent redevelopment momentum in our compact downtown by investing in local assets to attract jobs, private investment and continue to transform the distressed downtown area into a vibrant, diverse and economically active transit‐oriented hub. Yonkers will develop a Strategic Investment Plan which considers these crucial developments: the continuation of the Saw Mill River Daylighting through a Phase 4, the redevelopment of Chicken Island, a property that has been vacant for decades and is the gateway to the downtown, and finally the Yonkers Greenway, which is the repurposing of an abandoned rail line into a trail through downtown. These are vital pieces of Yonkers’ revitalization efforts that will be major catalysts in the City’s economic renaissance for years to come.

JUSTIFICATION

Yonkers still faces severe economic challenges & the DRI funding is sorely needed, despite its many successes & building of momentum. Downtown Yonkers urgently needs to create & sustain long‐term recovery of this distressed target area (see photos). According to the 2010 Census, there are 12 contiguous Census Tracts within the downtown & the surrounding neighborhoods where 25% or more of the population lives below the national poverty level. More than half the target area earns less than 30% of the area median income, which is $107,400 within Westchester County. These areas suffer from higher unemployment rates than the City, state and national average. As a result of the chronic distress, in 1974 the U.S. Dept. of HUD designated this area a Community Development Block Grant target area in order to focus annual allocations & spur revitalization. This area is also a federally designated Empowerment Zone & a former State Empire Zone, both of which were established to infuse tax relief and stimulate the local economy. A DRI award will help Yonkers plan & implement the continued revitalization efforts that are critical to this tenuous recovery.

Under the DRI, Yonkers will build upon recent public & private investments to create a truly vibrant, year‐round downtown that serves as the economic, civic, educational & cultural center of the community & the Mid‐Hudson region. Yonkers will create & collaboratively work w/ a Local Planning Committee to develop a downtown Strategic Investment Plan & implement key catalytic projects that advance Yonkers’ vision for revitalization. To this end, Yonkers has identified three transformative projects that will be ready for implementation within 1 – 2 yrs. with an infusion of DRI funds.

The gateway of Yonkers Downtown is a vacant property known as Chicken Island that has been used intermittently as a parking lot, & a site for street fairs. It is an unsightly & ill‐suited entrance to a growing, vibrant downtown. As a result, a new Urban Master Plan for Chicken Island has been created. DRI funding would help leverage this $425M mixed‐use development, which would include four market‐rate residential towers, & an affordable residential building, public parkland, athletic fields, retail, a new fire station & public parking. The Plan would be anchored by an Education Campus that would include three schools: pre‐K – 8th grades, a charter high school & potentially a two‐year college on the adjacent site of the former fire headquarters. 1

The Saw Mill River Daylighting Phases 1 & 2 has leveraged private/public investment in the hundreds of millions. Phase 3, scheduled to be completed this fall, will further spur economic development. Phase 4 will be another component of a much‐needed eye‐catching & amazing threshold to downtown & like the earlier phases will spur economic revitalization.

The Yonkers Greenway is a project that will convert an abandoned rail line into a 2.4 mile multi‐use recreational trail running thru the heart of the City’s densely populated, SW quadrant & downtown. This trail will produce a series of recreational, environmental, tourism & economic development benefits in a highly distressed area. The trail will connect Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx to the Yonkers rail station in the heart of the downtown Hudson Riverfront area. This will be a key part of the proposed 750‐mile Empire State Trail. The Greenway will provide low‐income area residents w/ both a much needed recreational outlet & access to a safe, flat trail to commute to work, school & shops in a very hilly city.

DOWNTOWN IDENTIFICATION

1) Boundaries of the proposed DRI area The Yonkers downtown is the urban center of the Mid‐Hudson region’s largest city & the State’s fourth largest city. The target area is the city’s central business district, known as Getty Square (see attached map). The DRI area will include the compact areas radiating approximately a 1/2 mi. from Getty Square & the nearby Yonkers train station. This area has historically been the heart of Yonkers, from its agricultural beginnings in colonial days to its industrial based economy spanning from the mid‐1800’s through the early 1900’s, & most recently as a retail hub thru the 1950’s. Today, six acres of prime downtown remains a paved municipal parking lot named “Chicken Island.” The DRI funds could be used to uncover the buried Saw Mill River at this location. After decades of decline & disinvestment, this area’s dramatic revitalization is leading the way for a resurgence throughout Yonkers. The Yonkers Downtown is bordered on the west by approximately 1 mile stretch of the Hudson River, on the north by the Ashburton Avenue arterial, on the east by New School St. & on the south by Prospect Street inland & the Domino Sugar Factory along the waterfront. The Metro North rail tracks bisect the area with limited vehicular access at Main St., Dock St., Wells Ave. & Ashburton Ave.

2) Description of catchment area As the Mid‐Hudson region’s largest city w/ a very compact, transit‐oriented & growing downtown, w/ thousands of new residents, a thriving mix of new restaurants & businesses & on‐going or planned development, Yonkers Downtown has become a vibrant, year‐round downtown district. The target area is a compact & walkable area within a 1/2 mi. from the rail station. The area is a shining example of transit‐oriented development as more than 1,000 new apartments have been built since the early 2000’s. These units vary from modern luxury waterfront units to renovated loft spaces w/ high ceilings to new affordable units. Nearly 1,500 more units are currently under construction and approximately 2,500 additional units are approved for construction or proposed. These new residents are helping to create an urban vitality. The growing vibrancy of the downtown is evident by the emerging art scene, tourism industry and nightlife. The City has embraced & promoted the arts. Yonkers has commissioned dozens of sculptures & murals that now line the downtown streets, buildings & esplanades. The City annually sponsors Yonkers Arts Weekend, a showcase of local artists, in various locations throughout the downtown & other parts of the City. Over the past 4 years the City has committed more than $1.5M on the Generation Yonkers or Gen Y advertising campaign aimed at drawing millennials to move to the City & businesses to relocate here. In 2016, the City began the Yonkers Tourism Alliance (YTA), bringing together a consortium of the tourism‐related businesses such as museums, cultural sites, family entertainment, hospitality, restaurants, business groups & the arts. In April 2017, the City held Yonkers Tourism Expo, which drew thousands from the region to explore the YTA members’ exhibits. The YTA continues to participate in expos to promote Yonkers assets & to draw visitors from the Hudson Valley region, the NYC metro area, & 2

beyond. Over the past decade dozens of restaurants & bars have opened in the downtown making it a vibrant nightspot. A DRI award will help Yonkers draw on these unique assets. The Yonkers train station provides convenient commuter rail service along Metro North’s Hudson Line within30 minutes to Grand Central Terminal & connecting to neighboring communities up to Poughkeepsie. The station also provides Amtrak service to Albany & Montreal. Lastly, the downtown is serviced by Westchester County’s Bee Line bus service that provides 20 different routes & express MTA commuter buses to Manhattan.

3) Past Investment, future investment potential.

Past Public Investments: Over the past 20 years Yonkers downtown has shown it can capitalize on private & public investments & will continue to catalyze future investments. More than $250M in public investments including $200M invested by the City of Yonkers has been crucial in creating this downtown revitalization. The first catalytic project was the $53M Riverfront library, a state‐of‐the‐art, multi‐purpose cultural space opened in September 2002 that continues to be an anchor institution. Metro North conducted a $43M restoration of the Yonkers station & platforms in 2004, including the construction of a new western entrance to accommodate the new waterfront residents. Subsequently, the City built a vehicular & pedestrian bridge immediately west of the station across the mouth of the Saw Mill River. Yonkers constructed a continuous Hudson esplanade that stretches nearly a mile long, providing public access & enjoyment of the River & views of the majestic Palisades. Yonkers also renovated the 1903 steel City Recreation Pier where large vessels can once again dock while adaptively reusing the second floor to house the very popular X2O restaurant. With the growth of the densely developed downtown, the City created two parking garages to accommodate more than 900 vehicles. Daylighting the Saw Mill River: In the summer of 2012, Yonkers completed its most exciting & catalytic public project by transforming Larkin Plaza, a 2‐acre urban plaza & municipal parking lot opposite the Yonkers train station, into an urban riverwalk. After many years of planning, the City finished the uncovering or “daylighting” of the Saw Mill River, which flowed in an underground concrete flume for nearly a century, making this into a very unique, water‐themed ecosystem with passive recreation along the edges of the exposed river. Since its completion, the daylighting has become a regional attraction, a shining example of green infrastructure & a catalyst for future growth in the City’s downtown waterfront area. This model project has spurred hundreds of millions of investment in a new wave of development & businesses coming to downtown. Building on the success of this nationally & internationally acclaimed project, the City completed the daylighting of a second phase of the River in 2016 on the adjacent block to create the Mill Street Courtyard, an exciting 20,000 sq. ft. piazza‐style area nestled within the central business district. Yonkers has acquired & demolished several parcels to make way for a third phase of the Daylighting at New Main Street that began construction in April 2017. This phase will be a dynamic gateway park for those entering the downtown from the regional parkways to the east. A key design feature will be a water wheel, a symbol of Yonkers colonial & industrial past, which will provide a demonstration of hydropower that will electrify LED lights in the project area. A potential capital investment that may be identified in the DRI Strategic Investment Plan is the continuation of the Daylighting in an adjacent Phase 4 cutting through the Chicken Island parking lot & the subject of a CFA 2018 proposal.

Past Private Investments: These extensive public investments have catalyzed more than $1 billion in private investments, which include the construction of 1,000 new apartments & w/ it thousands of new downtown residents that contribute to the local economy. Paramount among these was Collins Enterprises constructing the Hudson Park Apartments along the waterfront w/ Phase 1 (266 units w/ 1st floor retail & restaurants) that opened in 2003 & Phase 2 (294 units) that opened in 2008. Inland at 66 Main St., Metro Partners constructed 177 units in a 10‐ story structure w/ 1st floor retail. This development firm also renovated the former Trolley Barn into 40 loft apartments w/ high ceilings & service retail. L&M Partners constructed 102 units of affordable housing at 49 North Broadway, while renovating the adjacent row of historic buildings at 44‐54 Warburton Avenue into 10 more units & 7 storefronts w/ the assistance of an ESD grant. Other developments included the Library Lofts (former library adaptively reused for 22 units & retail), the Philipsburgh Building (28 renovated units) & 45 Hudson St. (24 units).

On‐Going Investment: Transit‐oriented development is continuing w/ four major residential developments currently under construction & several others approved for construction or being proposed, thereby continuing to transform the downtown. Collins Enterprises has been constructing its $85M third & final phase of Hudson Park Apartments, a 230,000 sq. ft. 23‐story building w/ 222 additional units. At the southern end of the Hudson esplanade, Mill Creek Development is investing $115M to create 600,000 sq. ft. of residential space within324 units at Modera Waterfront Apartments anticipated for completion in summer 2018. At the I‐Park complex adjacent to the Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 1, owners National Resources recently completed the 100 UNO micro units atop an existing loft building, which created smaller more affordable spaces targeted to millennials. They are now proposing to create an additional 200 micro units. Several high tech & innovative companies have been attracted to relocate at the I‐Park complex. Mere steps from the Yonkers station & along the southern edge of the Saw Mill River Daylighting Park, RXR has demolished several buildings & is currently constructing a $165M 440‐unit SOYO Exalta project consisting of a 25‐story & a 17‐story tower w/ 40,000 sq. ft. of 1st floor retail & restaurants. Avalon Bay is repurposing vacant properties & industrial buildings along the northern waterfront to create 529 units of housing. Immediately adjacent to this, Extell Development has approvals to build 1,300 waterfront units. South of the train station at Teutonia Hall, a former German opera hall, Metro Partners propose to build a 360 unit, 24‐story tower estimated at $150M.

With the introduction of more units & thousands of new residents, there has been & will continue to be a greater demand to create more service retail, restaurants & other businesses.

Future Investment: Chicken Island Site Development: The key piece of the downtown revitalization effort is the vacant Chicken Island parking lot located immediately east of City Hall. This 6 acre parcel is underutilized & ready for redevelopment. Yonkers DRI proposal focuses on making this property a major catalyst for job growth & community revitalization. To this end, the City has been reviewing proposals from development teams over the past several months on how to redevelop this crucial part of the downtown. Yonkers vision is to create a mega‐project with a mix of uses that will rejuvenate the area & create jobs for area residents. Yonkers’ goal is to further the revitalization of downtown through thoughtful urban planning & development in a way that enhances the city’s GDP & provides a reasonable risk‐adjusted return for all stakeholders. Our public‐ private partnership will build an inspirational urban environment through great design & architecture with the following components: a new K‐8 Public School, new 9‐12 Charter School, four‐phased, market rate residential towers, one affordable residential building, new public parking, rehabilitation of the municipal parking garage, new public parkland, new athletic fields, new retail & a new fire station. This multi‐phased $425 million project will create 1.2M SF of development & is estimated to create 1,800 construction jobs & 216 permanent jobs in the education and retail sector. At the NE corner of the Chicken Island property, the City will soon begin the construction of a new 4‐bay fire headquarters. Immediately across School St. the former fire headquarters will be demolished and discussions have begun to locate an extension of Westchester Community College on the site. This $18 million public investment and potential for a college will further complement the adjacent Chicken Island mixed‐use redevelopment plan. The City is currently constructing the Phase 3 of the Saw Mill River Daylighting on the adjacent property & is proposing a Phase 4 on a portion of the parking lot. As w/ the first two Daylighting Phases, this new river‐themed park will spur development & be a major complement to the mega‐project that is envisioned for the adjacent Chicken Island property. Leveraging REDC and Other State Funds: NYS funding through previous CFA rounds & other grant programs have been a vital part of the 20 yr. revitalization efforts in Yonkers downtown. A DRI award will help Yonkers continue the economic recovery by leveraging several REDC awards for publicly & privately funded projects in the target area. In total, the State awarded the City $46M through various programs, which have directly led to the construction of key projects valued at $145M, or a leverage ratio of more than $2 dollars for every $1 of State funds. These grant awards helped leverage $35M in Yonkers local funds & a mix of Federal & private funds accounting for the balance of $64M. In regards to privately funded projects, a total of $35.9M in recent State grant awards have led directly to (or are spurring) approximately $400M in private investment, a leverage ratio > $10 for every $1 of State assistance. These

investments have indirectly led to hundreds of millions more in private investment now under construction & new businesses moving or expanding in the target area. A DRI award will help the City continue to catalyze a robust level of economic development & sustained growth in this economically distressed downtown. The DRI funds will directly help complete two public projects (SMR Daylighting Phase 4 & Yonkers Greenway) valued at a total of $20M & will directly leverage the private investment of a $425M Chicken Island redevelopment. Therefore, every $1 of DRI grant funds will leverage a total $45 in private and local investment.

City of Yonkers CFA Initiatives: The following were City projects aided by the REDC via the CFA process.

Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 2 at Mill Street— a continuation of the acclaimed uncovering of this Hudson River tributary w/ a 20K sq. ft. urban courtyard including two exposed sections of river—CFA 2012 EFC Green Innovation Grant $921,425 (TDC‐$9.1M including $1.5M City property sale, $700K from ESD Acquisition Grant & $4M of City funds completed June 2016). Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 3 at New Main Street—1.25 acre gateway park at Nepperhan Ave. arterial‐‐CFA 2013 EFC Green Innovation Grant $1,076,977 & CFA 2014 ESD Regional Capital $2.50M (also awarded non‐CFA 2013 ESD Urban Initiatives for property acquisition $8M & 2014 DEC Water Quality Grant $2M (TDC‐$17.3M including $4.4Mof City funds‐‐began April 2017) Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 4 at Chicken Island Lot*—adjacent to Phase 3 gateway park‐‐CFA 2016 DEC Water Quality $2.4M (TDC $13.6M ‐ seeking additional CFA 2018 funding‐‐anticipated start 2019) *Potential DRI Investment Ashburton Avenue Redesign—Rehab of major east‐west arterial‐‐CFA 2014 ESD Regional Capital $1.5M (TDC $15M including $7.2M Federal & $6.4M City funds‐‐began June 2016) Downtown TOD Riverwalks—Rehab several area streets & sites‐‐CFA 2015 ESD Regional Capital $400,000 (TDC‐ $2.3M‐‐anticipated start autumn 2018) Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden—Funded first of five sculptures depicting colonial‐era slaves‐‐CFA 2015 NYSCA $90,000 (TDC $800K—seeking additional CFA ’18 funds to complete).

Non‐CFA Grants: Other State grants helped fund other essential City or public‐private projects in the downtown including:

Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 1 at Larkin Plaza—Nationally acclaimed 2‐acre river‐themed park near rail station w/ many ecological & economic benefits—2010 DEC Water Quality $2M, 2010 EFC Green Innovation $750K & portion of ESD Urban Initiatives $10M (TDC $23M including $13.7M of City funds completed Sept. 2012) Former Main Street Library Rehabilitation—Adaptive reuse of library into retail & 22 apartments—2009 ESD Restore NY $5.4M (TDC $10.2M including $4.8M private funds completed 2012) Philipse Manor Historic District Rehabilitation—Rehab of 14 vacant units, 7 storefronts & adjacent new development of 102 affordable housing units—2009 ESD Restore NY $3.5M (TDC $40M including $1.5M of City HUD Funds, $5M private funds & adjacent $30M private development— completed2016). Wheeler Block Rehabilitation—Rehab of vacant units in historic tri‐partite building into 12 affordable units & 6 rehabbed storefronts—2017 Restore NY $2M (TDC $4.4M including $200K of City HUD funds & $2.2M of private funds‐‐anticipated start 2019) Yonkers Greenway*—Converting an abandoned rail line into a 2.2 mile trail through distressed SW Yonkers ultimately thru downtown—2017 NYS DOT Transportation Alternatives Program $3.3M (TDC $6M including $1M + City funds, CFA 2014 NYS Parks $394K to community partner Groundwork Hudson Valley for design, other foundation grants awarded to GHV & City seeking a $500K NYS Parks Grant from CFA 2017—anticipated start 2018) *Potential DRI investment.

Private Partner Initiatives: The DRI funds will complement the REDC awards to the following private entities in the downtown target area.

Schoolhouse Terrace Apartments—Construction of 120 affordable units as first phase of public housing redevelopment at Cottage Place Gardens (CPG) site‐‐CFA 2011 ESD Tax Credits $29M to The Community Builders (TDC $56M including $1M City HUD Funds‐‐completed 2014). This led to a $24M second phase of the Cottage Place redevelopment that created 51 additional affordable units. The $42M, 70 –unit CPG 3rd phase has recently begun construction. A 2018 Restore NY $2.5M grant award will help build the $53M, 85‐unit 4th phase and $40M, 81‐unit 5th phase. Rising Development Phase 1 Rehab of 15 & 35 Main St. & 2 Mill St. into retail & apartments) CFA 2013 ESD Regional Capital $2M (TDC $10M ‐‐anticipated completion June 2018)

RXR/Rising Development Phase 2—Construction of retail, offices and 440 housing units adjacent to Daylighting Phase 1‐‐CFA 2015 ESD Regional Capital $1M (TDC $165M privately financed—began Aug. 2016)

4) Recent or impending job growth.

Vibrant Tech Environment: The revitalization efforts have spurred key tech companies to relocate to downtown Yonkers, creating hundreds of professional & creative jobs. In 2013, the City took a major step forward as hi‐tech giant, IAC Search & Applications, moved its headquarters to downtown Yonkers. The parent company of Ask.com, creator of Tinder & a host of other companies & web applications moved 185 young talented workers to I‐Park, a 750,000 sq. ft. office & innovation park immediately north of the Yonkers Metro North rail station & the Saw Mill River Daylighting Park. Biotech & research company, Contrafect, relocated to the I‐Park complex in 2010 & has now grown to over 100 employees. The Energy Project, an innovative company focused on how to improve employee productivity, recently moved to the downtown.

The DRI Strategic Investment Plan will include strategies to retain & attract new hi‐tech & biotech companies. With convenient transit options & significant private investment, there is potential for further growth that will be sustainable in the long term. The 750,000 sq. ft. I‐Park complex, which was the former Otis Elevator complex where the modern elevator was invented & built, will continue to attract & sustain tech companies & other office‐type jobs. I‐Park’s largest tenant & local employer is the Kawasaki Rail Car, which assembles & installs HVAC systems in trains, including a recent contract for new MTA subway cars.

Many restaurants, bars & service retail establishments have opened in the downtown & will continue to as more residents, workers & visitors come to the area. With the addition of 1,000 new apartments, an additional 1,500 currently under construction & more than 1,800 more approved, there is an influx of intellectual capital moving to the downtown from which companies can draw.

Hollywood on the Hudson: Hollywood has taken notice of Yonkers as an affordable, convenient, & beautiful City in which to film its movies and TV shows resulting in new jobs, a boost to the local economy & a potential for future growth. With its interesting architecture, close proximity to New York City & an inviting Mayor’s Film Office, Yonkers has become a hot spot for feature films, television series, commercials & print photography. Hundreds of productions have either been filmed on two Yonkers stage sets or on location throughout the City including 150 shoots in 2015. Since 2012, the film industry has created more than $1M in economic activity. Some noteworthy shows that have been produced on‐location include NBC’s hit show The Blacklist starring James Spader, Law & Order, Seven Seconds, Dead Boss, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire & Bar Rescue featuring the makeover of a downtown bar. More than 30 feature films have been produced in Yonkers including A Beautiful Mind, Catch Me if You Can, Still Alice, Breakable You, Big Daddy & Mona Lisa Smile. Most recently Martin Scorsese filmed The Irishman starring Robert DiNiro, & Al Pacino. Photo shoots for print ads have included Martha Stewart Living, Vogue & GQ. Television commercials include BMW, Samsung & Sprint. Throughout history Yonkers has been home to dozens of international entertainers from Art Carney to Sid Caesar, Ella Fitzgerald, Steven Tyler & Mary J. Blige. Independent film making has begun to flourish in Yonkers w/ the upcoming sixth annual YoFi Film Festival held at the downtown Riverfront library that brings renowned filmmakers & thousands of attendees to the City. A celebrity cinematographer, Steven Romano, has just purchased a 10,000 sq. ft. building, where a former banana warehouse once stood, to open a production studio. He plans to use the space for television & movie production as well as commercials. As the film industry continues to grow in Yonkers, so too will the rise in the downtown economy.

5) Attractiveness of physical environment.

Attractiveness and Livability: The emergence of the arts is a key factor in downtown’s attractiveness & livability, not

only for residents, but for artists, young professionals & creative individuals as evidenced by:

• Yonkers Arts Weekend, an arts festival celebrating Yonkers art, culture & music. This year, its fifth, featured free admission to the Hudson River Museum & Downtown galleries, & the 15th annual YoHo Open Studio event. The weekend was anchored by the conversion of a vacant 50K sq. ft. building into a dynamic art show featuring local, regional & international artists. • The former Waterfront Jail was purchased by noted architect, Maya Lin & her famous husband, art collector Daniel Wolf to house his extensive collection & serve for semi‐public programming. • For the past six years, Yonkers has collaborated on the YoFi Fest, a weekend long film festival garnering regional & national attention • Yonkers commissioned world renowned muralist, Nick Walker to produce seven murals throughout downtown. • Since 1992, Yonkers has sponsored Riverfest, a free day‐long festival of music, art, multi‐culturalism & environmental awareness spread throughout the downtown waterfront.

Mixed‐use Spaces: RXR & Hudson Meridian’s $200M development includes two mixed‐use towers, one 17‐story & the other 25‐story tower, known as Larkin Plaza, on Main St. It includes 439 units of studios, one & two‐bedroom luxury apartments w/ retail on the ground level, & the other tower contains 170 units. It is one of five active residential construction projects within a five‐block radius. Varied Housing Types: Yonkers’ downtown area is a statewide model of transit‐oriented development as more than 1,000 new apartments have been built since the early 2000’s. These units have varied both in type & affordability including modern luxury waterfront units, renovated loft spaces with high ceilings, newly subsidized affordable units, micro‐units targeted to millennials & restored historic walk‐up buildings. The existing housing stock consists of nearly 3,000 affordable or publically assisted units within or near the Downtown target area as well as many walk‐up two family & multi‐family homes.

Affordability: Downtown Yonkers is competitive on housing affordability. According to Zillow, the median Yonkers’ home price is $452,000 ($200 per square foot) compared with neighboring Westchester County municipalities of New Rochelle $656,000 ($226 per square foot), Hastings‐on‐Hudson $745,000 ($343 per square foot), & White Plains $570,000 ($286 per square foot. Mass Transit: The downtown is served well by mass transit. The Yonkers train station provides convenient commuter rail service along Metro North’s Hudson Line within 30 minutes to Grand Central Terminal & it connects to neighboring communities northbound up to Poughkeepsie. The station also provides Amtrak service to Albany & Montreal. The downtown is serviced by 20 different routes of Westchester County’s Bee Line bus service & express MTA commuter buses to Manhattan.

Walkability and Bikeability: The downtown waterfront is a compact area that is made very walkable by crosswalks at each intersection. The target area’s topography, unlike much of Yonkers, is fairly flat, which makes it bikeable as well. On May 21, 2018, Mayor Mike Spano launched a new bike sharing program, at no cost to the City, in which 1,000 Lime Bikes were placed throughout the City. This dockless bike program, first of its kind in the NY metro area, was an instant success as 10,000 trips were recorded within the first week of operation. This gives accessibility to another mode of transportation which is reasonably priced for those, young or old, who don’t own or cannot afford to purchase a bike. Besides being another method of traveling, there are numerous health benefits that address issues of obesity, lack of exercise, & other health‐ related matters.

There are interpretive plaques & maps along the Saw Mill Riverwalk, which orient visitors to explore the downtown categorized by art installations, historic landmarks & recreation assets. The mile‐long Hudson Esplanade is conducive to taking in the peacefulness of the River & the majestic Palisades on the western bank. In SW Yonkers an

abandoned 2.4 mile rail line is being designed into a bike & multi‐use trail known as Yonkers Greenway. It will run from Yonkers/Bronx border north passing several bus routes & through the downtown target area leading ultimately to the Yonkers train station. This could potentially be a DRI investment to fill a gap in the project’s financing.

Healthy and Affordable Food Markets: Shop Fair is the most recent addition to the food markets in the area, which will offer numerous healthy food options. It joins the ShopRite supermarket as well as mom & pop grocery stores. A local church in the center of the target area holds the oldest farmers’ market in Westchester offering fresh breads, an assortment of produce, & merchandise.

Public Parks & Gathering Spaces: The Saw Mill River Daylighting Phases 1 & 2 at Van der Donck Park & Mill Street Courtyard respectively are beautiful places in which to gather for residents, local employees & visitors from the Mid‐Hudson region, the New York metropolitan area & beyond. These first two phases have received national & international acclaim for its ecological, recreational, & economic benefits. The sculptures, murals & mosaics that are dispersed at both Phases, the natural flow of the River & the seating throughout allows one to enjoy nature in the midst of a thriving downtown. Phase 3 is scheduled for completion in the fall & will feature stadium seating, a pedestrian bridge & a water wheel. Once full funding is in place, the final fourth phase is anticipated to begin in 2019. This multi‐phase project has been a jewel in the crown of the downtown for residents, businesses & visitors.

Community Assets: The Downtown is blessed with many indoor & outdoor points of interests. As discussed above, there are dozens of new sculptures & murals as well as older monuments to explore. The Riverfront Library has an art gallery, Yonkers History Room, a tech center, free movies & a host of activities & special events for children & families. The Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District hosts an annual summer concert series at the amphitheater adjacent to the City Pier as well as several other events throughout the year. The 1682 Philipse Manor Hall is a state run historic site that interprets Yonkers past colonial life. With the growth of more restaurants & bars, downtown Yonkers has a burgeoning nightlife. There is a mile of Hudson River esplanade & three segments of the Saw Mill Riverwalk. The Science Barge, run by local environmental organization, Groundwork Hudson Valley, is an educational site visited by thousands of visitors annually that demonstrates wind & solar energy to power a hydroponic greenhouse. The Center for the Urban River at Beczak, run by Sarah Lawrence College, provides educational programs focused on the ecosystem of the Hudson River.

Wi‐Fi and Internet Access: Wi‐Fi is free throughout the entire downtown making it an inviting place to live, work or visit. The Riverfront Library has created a new tech center that allows residents to use computers & connect to the internet.

6) Quality of Life Policies.

Zoning: In 2010 & 2011, Yonkers created key zoning amendments in the downtown that fostered more transit‐ oriented development leading to improved livability & quality of life. These zoning revisions increased the permitted height & density of buildings, spurring the latest wave of development described above. The amendments eliminated the requirement of parking for developments within ¼ mi. of a transit stop, thereby reducing reliance on cars & improving urban design. Lastly, the revisions required that buildings be built w/o a setback & first floors must remain for retail or office use, which fosters a vibrant street life.

Going Green: Yonkers has become a leader in sustainability initiatives. Yonkers Green City initiatives have included energy upgrades at a dozen municipal buildings, including a comprehensive window replacement at City Hall, a replacement of 12K street lamps w/ LED fixtures & a citywide water meter upgrade program. Yonkers adopted a Green Building Code, which fosters a more sustainable & healthy form of development being adopted by the newest downtown developments. The City has drafted a Climate Action Plan, which analyzes and contemplates a series of other sustainability measures. Yonkers was designated a Climate Smart Community by NYSERDA.

Affordable Housing: From the 1940’s ‐ 1980’s approximately 3K affordable or publically‐assisted housing units were constructed in or near the downtown target area. This led to a landmark desegregation case that required Yonkers to build low and moderate income housing in the other three quadrants of the City. Yonkers has complied w/ this & built all the court ordered units. In 2013, the City has passed a new Affordable Housing Ordinance, which requires all newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated multifamily housing developments to include affordable housing units, which must be varied in size and type.

7) Public Support.

There is widespread & substantial community support for the downtown revitalization efforts that have been on‐ going & will continue to progress. Yonkers received support letters from the Senator Andrea Stewart‐Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer, Yonkers IDA, Sarah Lawrence College, Groundwork Hudson Valley, Yonkers Downtown Waterfront BID and the Thursday Lunch Club, a consortium of organization and civic leaders and residents that meet weekly to advocate for the downtown. Yonkers has a strong network of community‐based organizations, business organizations, environmental organizations, civic groups & stakeholders that have been steadfastly supportive of the downtown resurgence. 16 years ago Yonkers established the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District that works to market & improve the area for the property owners & businesses. The City also has an active Industrial Development Agency, which works regularly with the City to provide incentives for development. The City of Yonkers, led by its Department of Planning & Development (DPD), will spearhead the DRI Local Planning Committee. The DPD has a long‐standing, working relationship w/ many of these organizations & community leaders & will invite them to be an integral part of the Committee. Through a highly collaborative process, the Committee will work w/ State representatives to produce a Strategic Investment Plan that will help the growth, vibrancy, & economic resiliency of Yonkers. A DRI award would bring us to the pinnacle of achieving an unsurpassed downtown.

8) Project List to Demonstrate Readiness:

The City is considering three catalytic projects to include in the Strategic Investment Plan that are ready for implementation within the next year or two.

1) Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 4: One project that has proven to spur development is the continuation of the Saw Mill River Daylighting through a fourth phase. Adjacent to the third segment that is under construction & scheduled for completion in the fall; this riverwalk section will transform a portion of the Chicken Island parking lot into a dynamic, gateway park along Nepperhan Avenue, the major east‐west arterial entering downtown. Yonkers intends to begin design on this segment in fall 2018. The DRI will help fill a funding gap & will undoubtedly spur the private development of the remainder of the Chicken Island site into a mix of retail & housing while creating vital jobs.

2) Chicken Island Redevelopment: Potential developers are presently being considered to redevelop the 6 acre municipal parking lot, known as Chicken Island, adjacent to Daylighting Phase 3 & future Phase 4. One highly regarded development team has created a phased Urban Master Plan for Chicken Island w/ a goal to benefit existing residents & attract new ones by developing a four‐phased, market–rate residential towers & one affordable residential building anchored by a new K‐8 public school & a 9‐12 Charter high school, public parkland, athletic fields, retail, a new fire station, & public parking. DRI funds will help leverage this $425 million development & the estimated 1,800 construction & 216 permanent jobs it will create. The project will create housing for nearly 2,000 new residents with an estimated annual retail spending power of between $27M & $29M. 3) Yonkers Greenway: The third key project is the Yonkers Greenway, a 2.4 mile multi‐use trail currently being designed to run in southwest Yonkers ultimately through the downtown target area. This will traverse several distressed neighborhoods between Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx & the Yonkers train station. The trail will be a crucial placemaking & community revitalization project that will undoubtedly transform the economically distressed neighborhoods it runs through. The Greenway will create a much needed recreational path, improve quality of life & user’s physical & mental health. The trail will be a safe, flat alternative means of commutation. This improved access to business & commercial areas will help retain current & attract new residents. The path 9

will spur tourism, increasing sales at area restaurants & shops. Portions of the Greenway have already been designed. DRI funds will provide the gap funding to help complete the design & construct the downtown portions of the trail.

9) Administrative Capacity

The City of Yonkers is the ideal fit to manage & implement the DRI & Strategic Investment Plan. The City, led by its Department of Planning & Development (DPD), has extensive experience & a proven track record in administering Federal & State grants, in engaging community residents through neighborhood planning efforts, in managing collaborative efforts such as the LPC involving multiple city agencies & community partners & in fostering significant revitalization efforts to transform distressed neighborhoods.

Yonkers DPD has administered more than $250M in Federal & State grants predominantly from annual HUD allocations of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for the past 43 years & HOME Rehabilitation funds for over 20 years. These funds have helped Yonkers revitalize distressed communities & successfully leverage several billions of dollars in public‐private partnerships & social service programs provided by a myriad of community‐based organizations. Over the decades, DPD has built & fostered strong long‐standing working relationships with these organizations & service providers, which will continue to be strengthened during this DRI process as evidenced by the support letters the City has received. DPD has utilized the HOME funds to foster the creation of affordable housing opportunities or rehabilitate existing housing citywide, which has resulted in a similar working relationship with many affordable housing providers. These organizations & community leaders will be invited to continue these collaborative relationships and be an integral part of the Local Planning Committee (LPC). Through a highly collaborative process, the LPC will work with State agencies to produce an actionable Strategic Investment Plan that finalizes downtown’s renaissance.

10) Other

The resurgence of Yonkers downtown waterfront has been & needs to continue to be a partnership among all levels of government & the private sector. New York State has generously awarded many grants through various departments including the Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the Environmental Facilities Corp., New York State Council on the Arts, the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery & the Empire State Development. The Federal government has also been a pivotal partner through its Department of Transportation, National Endowment for the Arts & most importantly through Housing & Urban Development’s annual allocations of Community Development Block Grant & HOME Investment Funds. The City of Yonkers has demonstrated its capacity to foster successful economic development & has invested approximately $200M in capital & operating funds to bring many of these vital projects to fruition. Lastly, a healthy mix of developers have come to Yonkers with their vision & capital, taken calculated risks, collaborated w/ financial institutions & brought these projects to fruition.

Despite all these revitalization efforts, Yonkers is a big city w/ many economic needs & urban challenges. The target area includes a low income, economically disadvantaged population w/ some of the poorest Census Tracts in New York State. Downtown Yonkers vitally needs to create & sustain long‐term recovery. With a DRI award, the REDC will help build on the momentum of economic development in the Yonkers Downtown. The City, in collaboration with its community & State partners, will complete the Strategic Investment Plan & ultimately implement the various revitalization strategies that will shape the success of the Mid‐Hudson’s largest city as a premiere regional destination to live, work & play. The DRI award is essential for Yonkers to affect a sustainable long‐term economic recovery that will transform the City’s downtown and positively impact the Mid‐Hudson region for decades to come.

Chicken Island Master Plan

Phase 1 Phase 2

Phase 3 Phase 4

Phase 5

The Saw Mill River Daylighting and Chicken Island Daylighting Phase 1

Aerial photo of Daylighting Phase 2 at Mill Street Courtyard completed June 2016 with one of two exposed River sections shown. The nationally acclaimed Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 1 at Larkin Plaza known as Van Der Donck Park completed Sept. 2012 with the 440 unit RXR/SOYO Exalta project it spurred under construction in the background.

Daylighting Phase 3

A rendering of the Daylighting Phase 3 project at New Main Street with the signature water wheel design feature, a symbol of Yonkers industrial and Colonial past that will provide electricity to LED lights within the project area.

Daylighting Phase 4 The portion of the Chicken Island parking lot that The Daylighting Phase 3 project at New Main Street anticipated for would be transformed into completion fall 2018 with the proposed Phase 4 site and the the Saw Mill River Nepperhan Avenue arterial in the background. Daylighting Phase 4 and the balance of the 6 acre property proposed for a Chicken Island Redevelopment major $425 million mixed use development.

The Chicken Island parking lot adjacent to the Daylighting Phase 3 (foreground) and future Phase 4 (right) will be transformed into a major economic generator with more than 1.2 million SF of residential, educational, retail and recreational space. In the background is the former fire headquarters proposed for demo and repurposing as well as the grassy area where the new 4‐bay fire headquarters will begin construction June 2018.

Economically Distressed Downtown

Many vacant and deteriorated buildings such as this one exist Other structures are ordered Other examples of shuttered stores and a deteriorated, throughout the downtown target area. off limits such as this one. unsightly building.

Many storefronts are vacant and remain so for many years, which hinders street vitality and creates urban blight.

A predominance of dollar stores in downtown is characteristic of a low‐income area with a lack A 2016 building fire led to the demolition of several structures in the heart of of diverse retail choices. the Getty Square business district, which resulted in this vacant weed‐filled lot and exposed dilapidated rear walls with no plans for redevelopment.

Leveraging Private and Public Investments

The 324‐unit Mill Creek Development nearing completion at the The waterfront amphitheater and an environmental education boat southern end of the Hudson River esplanade and target area. docked at the 1903 City Recreation Pier due to be partially rehabbed in fall 2018.

The Yonkers Greenway currently being designed will convert an abandoned rail line into a 2.4 mile trail that will run through and revitalize southwest Yonkers including the downtown target area, which would be considered for DRI funds. The $16 million rehabilitation of the entire 1.1 mile Ashburton Avenue, the major east‐west arterial on the northern edge of downtown that will improve traffic flow and ultimately spur the sustained growth of the target area. Aided by a CFA 2014 REDC award of $1.5 million.

Construction of the 222‐unit Hudson Park Apartments Phase 3 by Collins The recently completed 100‐unit UNO Micro apartments within the I‐Park Enterprises along the Hudson River esplanade with the completed Phase 2 in complex that was spurred by the adjacent Daylighting Phase 1. 15 the foreground (See map for all key sites and projects).