June 21, 2005

 

COUNTY BOARD PASSES LEGISLATION TO AID YONKERS IN CONSTRUCTION OF 17 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS

--- Approval of County funds for Sprain Lakes Estates takes place almost eight years after development was first introduced, resolves last remnant of “Rory O’Moore” controversy ---

Spurred on by County Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-I-WF, Yonkers), the County Board of Legislators voted (15-1) last night to approve $850,000 in bonds for the Sprain Lake Estates Affordable Housing Development, a project in Yonkers on East Grassy Sprain Road that will yield 17 affordable housing units of a total of 34 single family homes to be built on the site. The funds will be used for infrastructure improvements on the four acre site, including the construction of sewer and water lines, road and curbs, storm drainage, landscaping and engineering. The Board’s action finally puts to rest the last vestige of the “Rory O’Moore” controversy, so named after the former parkland where the development is sited.

“This is an important milestone for Yonkers,” said County Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-I-WF, Yonkers). “This particular project has been on a long roller coaster ride and tonight’s vote is long overdue. This project is great for Yonkers and it’s heartening that the County is demonstrating such strong support for its largest City’s revitalization.”

Stewart-Cousins pointed out that if the County did not come up with these funds, Yonkers residents would have had to foot the bill for the infrastructure costs associated with the building of affordable housing. “This is the County’s opportunity to support the people of Yonkers financially as the last of the court-ordered housing is built,” Stewart-Cousins noted, “The County derives great benefits from Yonkers and I’m glad the County is giving something back.”

County Legislator José Alvarado (D-I-WF, Yonkers), member of the Board’s Housing Committee, said, “As I have supported every affordable housing project since I came to elected offices, I am delighted to support this one for my municipality, the City of Yonkers. I am glad to have worked jointly with Legislator Stewart-Cousins in bringing the project and bond act forward and getting the needed funds to Yonkers.”

The Sprain Lakes Estates development site was originally identified as one of a series of projects to further housing integration in Yonkers under the federal housing desegragation order known as the 1986 Housing Remedy Order.

The Board’s action accords with the terms of the Housing Implementation Fund, a County initiative that promotes affordable housing in municipalities by paying for a significant share of necessary infrastructure costs. By sparing a developer these costs, the resulting units can be offered at reduced rates. The County funds will pay for about half the total cost of necessary infrastructure improvements.

The 17 affordable units will have a mix of affordability levels. Five of the homes will be sold to families at or below 50% of the County’s median income; eight, to families between 51% to 80% of median income; and four, to families between 81%-100% of median income. The rest of the homes will be offered at market rate.