Sept. 26, 2007

The New Rochelle Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation held a  ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the first phase on the Town Houses at West End, one of the largest affordable housing developments that Westchester County has helped finance.

County Executive Andy Spano, Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan and County Legislator Vito Pinto, as well as  New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson were among those who participated in the ceremony,  which marks the completion of 25 new single-family town houses. An additional 102 units of affordable senior hosing is currently under construction. The development is located on First Street between Union Avenue and Jones Street in New Rochelle. 

“I am proud that Westchester County helped make this happen,” said Spano. “The housing is visually and physically integrated into the community and the senior housing with lifestyle services will be one of Westchester’s first affordable ‘green’ buildings.”

The $10 million town home development and $30 million senior residence project were made possible with a variety of funding sources. Westchester County provided $4.8 million for land acquisition through the New Homes Land Acquisition program, as well as $3 million in Housing Implementation Funds for infrastructure improvements. Other funding sources included federal HOME Funds and a HUD Special Grant from the City of New Rochelle, funds from the refinancing of two senior buildings within the NRNRC’s portfolio, and low-income housing tax credits.

“I am delighted to see the West End project coming to completion as it's another example of a good government partnership to provide adequate housing for working families," said Pinto, whose legislative district includes parts of New Rochelle.  

Ryan said, "Many middle-income families and senior citizens find it difficult to afford housing. This development is an important step toward our goal of providing both of these groups with more housing options." 

Commented Bramson, “New Rochelle is committed to providing affordable housing opportunities to working and middle class families. This development will make the dream of homeownership possible for more of our neighbors and help ensure that our city remains vibrant, diverse, and inclusive."

The town houses were available to first-time homeowners with household incomes at or below 80 percent of the county Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this is $77,200. They paid between $225,000 and $240,000 for the units. The housing remains labeled “affordable” for 40 years, which means its resale remains restricted to income-eligible applicants.  

Once completed early next year, the senior residents will be rented to seniors at or below 60 percent of county AMI. For a single-person household, this is $40,560;  for a family of two, this is $46,320.

A planned Phase II of the project will add 12 town houses and 40 units in a mixed-income building for seniors.
 
For further information about availability of the senior housing or the second-phase housing, call the developer at (914) 633-7092. 

For more on housing progams in the county, click here.

 The development will stabilize the neighborhood by:

 

• removing obsolete buildings and reducing blight
• bringing quality housing to the area
• providing home ownership opportunities
• keeping families in the community
• encouraging new economic activity
• creating jobs
  

For the senior housing, a number of “green” elements have been incorporated. These include a geothermal system to recover energy from the heating and cooling systems and energy lighting, including dimming when areas are not in use.