White Plains, NY -- The Westchester County Board of Legislators on Monday unanimously approved a plan that will bring 76 new units of affordable rental housing to New Rochelle.
Under the plan, the county will acquire the land at 14 LeCount Place where developer Wilder Balter Partners is planning a 27-story, 379-unit development, 76 units of which will be affordable housing for people making around half the area median income.
Among the affordable units will be 17 studios, 42 one-bedrooms and 17 two-bedrooms, with rents ranging from $1,000 to $1,540 a month.
The county will pay $4.18 million for the land and put another $1.5 million into the expansion of sewer capacity the area.
Legislator Damon Maher (D - Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe) said, “This is exactly the kind of development the county needs. The site is centrally located – across the street from the New Roc City entertainment complex and within walking distance of trains and buses. And the plan goes above and beyond New Rochelle city requirements, with more affordable units than required and with those units being available to people of lower incomes than is required.”
Maher also noted that the affordable units are not separate but part of the overall development, which also will include parking, a pool, a fitness center and other amenities.
Maher said, “In supporting developments like this one, which don’t separate affordable housing from market-rate housing, we don’t just help make Westchester a more affordable place to live, we also ensure dignity, respect and equity for all residents, regardless of income.”
Legislator Terry Clements (D – New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor) said, “Expanding affordable housing is one of the most important things we can do to make Westchester more livable and sustainable. This location is ideal, with easy access to transportation, shopping, and entertainment. I’m excited to be able to support developments like this one, so residents of all incomes can continue to call Westchester home.”
The development at 14 LeCount Place was just one of three affordable housing developments approved by the Board Monday night.
The Board also unanimously approved a long-in-the-works plan to transform vacant buildings at the Knollwood Road entrance to the Westchester Community College campus in Greenburgh into 74 units of affordable housing for seniors.
In addition, the Board signed off on a long-discussed development in Harrison that adds seven units of affordable housing in a development on Halstead Avenue near the Metro North train station.
Earlier this year, the Board approved Mount Hope Plaza, a 56-unit development of affordable housing for seniors at Lake Street in White Plains.
Board Chair Ben Boykin (D – White Plains, Harrison, Scarsdale) said, “Affordable housing for Westchester residents is a top priority for this Board. As Chairman, I’m proud that we’ve approved more than 200 units of affordable housing already this year, including not only this new development in New Rochelle, but also finally moving forward the developments in Harrison, Greenburgh and White Plains. Affordable housing we create today will benefit the people of Westchester for decades to come.”
