City revises waterfront plan

Yonkers scales back buildings, adds more open public space

Yonkers city officials have revised plans to redevelop the Alexander Street waterfront corridor in ways that could ease concerns about the public and private project heard from city residents and property owners in the area.

Responding to some 500 public comments on the city’s initial master plan to transform the 1 ¼- mile-long industrial corridor into a high-density mixed-use neighborhood that would open the downtown riverfront to the public, Mayor Philip Amicone and planning officials and consultants have developed an alternative plan that would add more open public space – 17.5 acres, compared to 13 acres as initially proposed – and 10 public destination points, four more than originally proposed.

The number of planned housing units would remain at 3,752. To reduce the impact on views of the Hudson River and Palisades, an oft-voiced concern of residents and community groups, the number of high-rise buildings would be reduced from 18 to 12, with the tallest built on parcels nearest to the two Metro-North train stations at the northern and southern ends of the corridor.

With added street and building setback standards, the reconfigured project will create “a new urban transit village that visually connects to the adjoining neighborhoods and contains a mix of urban housing types,” Amicone said. “Like a well-conceived song, the waterfront village now has a beginning, middle and end – all different, all dynamic.”

The plan also would extend Alexander Street the entire length of the waterfront to improve public access and reduce traffic congestion. To further cut down on automobile traffic, planners want to add a bicycle path beside the riverfront walkway and offer trolley car or bus service or other light-rail transportation within the redeveloped area.

Parking on residential properties would be reduced by more than 900 spaces and parking garages would be reduced from four to seven levels as first proposed to two to three levels.

Planners also want to eliminate an 18-story residential tower proposed to be built over the Glenwood Power Plant while encouraging reuse of the vacant riverfront landmark. Amicone said the building, which some community and church leaders want demolished as a sordid gang hang-out, could be a major public destination as a restaurant, catering facility, museum or sports complex similar to that at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.    

The Yonkers Community Development Agency (CDA), headed by Amicone, is expected to act on the altered master plan at its Aug. 7 meeting before referring it to the City Council.

“I think it was a tremendous plan,” City Council President Chuck Lesnick said of the revised proposal. “I’m glad the CDA listened to the public comment” with a plan for fewer buildings and more open space.

“Another really important thing to me was that they committed to keep the Glenwood Power Plant for some sort of adaptive reuse.”

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