Mid-Hudson REDC and The Community Builders, Inc. Break Ground at Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights in Yonkers
The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (MHREDC) and The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) today announced the start of construction at Schoolhouse Terrace Apartments in the City of Yonkers. The 121-unit mixed-income housing development is breaking ground on the strength of $29.6 million in awards received as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Council initiative. Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights will transform the site of the blighted and long-abandoned Public School 6, which was demolished as part of this project. Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights will offer apartments for seniors and families of all incomes and has the potential to create more than 350 construction jobs and five permanent jobs with a total project cost of $62.9 million.
(Pictured from Left to Right) Michael Sabatino, 3rd District Councilmember; Wilson Terrero, 2nd District City Councilmember, Christopher A. Johnson, 1st District Councilmember; Jesse Batus, The Community Builders, Inc. Project Manager; Sue McCann, The Community Builders, Inc. Director of Development; Bart Mitchell, The Community Builders, Inc. President and CEO; New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano; Mirza Orriols, Housing and Urban Development Acting Regional Administrator; Darryl C. Towns, New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner and CEO; Joseph Suldiner, Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers Executive Director and Chuck Lesnick, Yonkers City Council President.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council is working with The Community Builders and local partners to replace a long-abandoned property with an attractive, high-quality development that will provide affordable homes and spur economic activity,” said Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). “This is an important revitalization project that will help Yonkers thrive. Congratulations to TCB, Mayor Spano, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, HUD, and all of our state and private partners on reaching this milestone today.”
Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights will feature a 70-unit building for families earning less than 30 percent of the area median income (AMI) to less than 60 percent of AMI. A second building on the site will have 50 units for seniors earning less than 50 percent of AMI. The new buildings will sit atop two underground parking garages with 134 spaces to accommodate resident needs. An additional 2,400 square feet of community space are also included in the development. The development will meet both U.S. Green Building Council LEED® and NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program standards.
“The Community Builders is proud to transform the old Public School 6 site into beautiful mixed-income housing,” said Bart Mitchell, president and CEO of The Community Builders, Inc. “The Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights development will be a platform for opportunity for residents and a terrific addition to the neighborhood.”
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, “Today we are transforming what stood for years as a symbol of neglect and deterioration into a symbol of hope and new opportunity, providing quality, environmentally sustainable, affordable housing for Yonkers families, seniors and newcomers to our city.”
In 2011, Governor Cuomo redefined the State’s approach to economic development by establishing 10 Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) across the State. The REDC and Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process have transformed economic development in New York State, creating a statewide framework for bottom-up regional economic growth.
As part of the first round process, Schoolhouse Terrace was awarded $29.6 million from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
Funding partners include New York State Homes and Community Renewal, City of Yonkers, TCB, MHACY, RBC Capital Markets, M&T Bank, The Bank of New York Mellon, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“HUD is proud to be part of a local vision that seeks to transform an untapped and neglected area into a mixed-income development rich with hope and opportunity,” said Acting Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols. “We are also pleased to be part of a very unique public-private partnership that was passionate about creating safe and affordable housing. Collaboration, cooperation and strong partnerships are the essence of vibrant communities, and that’s why I would like to congratulate all of our partners for their commitment and contribution in bringing to fruition Schoolhouse Terrace at Croton Heights.”
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s transformative approach to State investment and economic development. The Councils are public-private partnerships composed of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. As a result of the first two rounds of awards, $1.5 billion in resources have been awarded to support more than 1,400 regionally significant economic development and community revitalization projects that are creating or helping to retain an estimated 75,000 jobs across the Empire State and generating investments to grow the economy.
