Willow at The Ridgeway Groundbreaking a Historic Milestone 15 Years in the Making

In a historic milestone that was 15 years in the making, officials from Yonkers, New York State, Westchester County, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the NYS Homes and Community Renewal on Wednesday joined with the Mulford Corporation, The Community Builders (TCB) and BCW Member Yonkers Housing Authority to celebrate the groundbreaking for Willow at The Ridgeway. It is the sixth and final phase of the transformative redevelopment of the former Cottage Place Gardens public housing complex into a mixed-income community of choice.

“Today’s historic groundbreaking continues the ongoing and remarkable transformation of our city’s affordable housing.  Willow at The Ridgeway will provide our city’s seniors with housing that is both attractively designed as well as energy efficient with outstanding amenities. Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to make this day a reality,” said Mayor Mike Spano.

Located at 23 Bishop W.J. Walls Place, Willow at The Ridgeway will replace three vacant public housing buildings with a new 8-story, all-electric, 100% affordable building with 92 units for seniors. The unit mix includes 85 one-bedroom units and seven two-bedroom units, with average unit sizes of 550 and 800 square feet, respectively. Thirty-one units are reserved for households at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), 29 units are reserved for households at or below 50% AMI, and 32 units are 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.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Through critical funding and support secured in part by the State Legislature, Willow at The Ridgeway is turning once-vacant sites into modern, affordable, energy efficient homes for seniors. This development will provide Yonkers’ seniors with the affordable housing they need to age in place with dignity, in the community they know and love. It is also a model for how we can continue to create affordable housing for our communities—through sustained partnership, public investment, and a shared commitment to meeting the needs of New Yorkers.”

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester County was proud to support Willow at The Ridgeway, a transformational project that represents the best of what can happen when government, housing leaders and community partners work together. This project was all about creating opportunity and ensuring our seniors can age with dignity in safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable homes.”

“We are very pleased with the financial support this incredible project has   received at every level of government. Willow at The Ridgeway will let our senior population age in place in an environment that is affordable and transit-oriented,” said Wilson Kimball, President & CEO of the Yonkers Housing Authority.

Jesse Batus, Senior Vice President of Development for New York and New Jersey at The Community Builders, Inc., said, “Willow at The Ridgeway reflects what’s possible when strong public partners collaborate with mission driven non-profit organizations like TCB to commit to bold, long-term investment in communities.“