Governor Hochul Announces Construction Has Begun on $44 Million Housing Development for Seniors in Yonkers

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction has begun on a $44 million development that will create 60 energy efficient and affordable homes for seniors in South Yonkers. Known as La Mora Senior Apartments, the development replaces a blighted property with a sustainable building with modern features.

"This project will help to ensure that seniors in Yonkers have a safe, comfortable place to live in the vibrant community they call home," Governor Hochul said. "As part of my administration's $25 billion housing plan, the State will continue to dedicate the resources necessary to create quality homes where older New Yorkers can live with dignity and peace of mind."

La Mora Senior Apartments are part of Governor Hochul's sweeping plans to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the FY 2023 State Budget, the Governor introduced and successfully secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

Located in the Hollow neighborhood of South Yonkers, the development will be constructed on a long-vacant parcel acquired by the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Yonkers. The four-story building will consist of 57 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments. All 60 apartments will be affordable to residents aged 62 and older with incomes at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income.

La Mora Senior Apartments is designed to be highly energy-efficient and meets the criteria for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's New Construction - Housing Program, Energy Star, Enterprise Green Communities, and Passive House Institute certifications. All apartments will include low-flow plumbing fixtures, Energy Star appliances, individual high-efficiency electric heat and cooling, and LED lighting. The building will have a high-efficiency envelope, dual-pane insulated windows, and a central hot water heating and distribution system. An emergency generator will ensure that the building systems remain operable in the event of a blackout.

Residents will have access to services provided the Yonkers Office for the Aging, including case management, home-delivered meals, assistance with entitlement programs, transportation, health awareness programs, access to nutrition centers, recreation and exercise programs, and supermarket and pharmacy delivery coordination. Services will be funded by the Office for the Aging and the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services.

The immediate surrounding neighborhood includes multiple public parks and a golf course, and the development will be near St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. Residents will also be able to enjoy on-site indoor and outdoor common areas.

La Mora Senior Apartments is being co-developed by MHACY and the Mulford Corporation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable development corporation formed by MHACY in 2004.

State financing for La Mora Senior Apartments includes $17 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $17.7 million in equity, and $9.1 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. NYSERDA will provide $240,000. Westchester County is providing $3.4 million from the Housing Implementation Fund and the city of Yonkers is providing $650,000 in HOME funds. MHACY provided a $2.6 million loan.

In the last five years, HCR has invested over $331 million to create and preserve nearly 2,400 affordable homes in Yonkers. This includes Landy Court, which now provides 80 affordable apartments, including 48 with supportive services near Downtown Yonkers, and 172 Warburton at the Ridgeway, which created 85 new apartments.

Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "La Mora Senior Apartments continues our investment in expanding the supply of quality affordable homes in Yonkers, with over 2,400 new homes created over the last five years. Our latest investment will enhance quality of life for over 60 seniors, while finally making use of a long-vacant property in Yonkers' Hollow neighborhood. With a green design and senior-friendly amenities, future residents will be able to live and thrive in the community they call home. Thank you to our partners at the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Yonkers, the Mulford Corporation, the city of Yonkers and Westchester County for helping to make this new development a reality."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "NYSERDA is pleased to see construction begin on La Mora Senior Apartments, which upon completion, will provide access to all-electric affordable housing to low-income seniors in Yonkers that is healthy, resilient and energy efficient for enhanced comfort and an enjoyable living experience. Projects like this support Governor Hochul's commitment to achieving two million climate friendly homes while ensuring our most vulnerable New Yorkers benefit from clean energy investments."

Representative Jamaal Bowman said, "Finding affordable housing is one of the biggest obstacles that seniors in my district face. Many seniors in Yonkers have fixed incomes that often do not provide them much flexibility in an ever changing and expensive rental housing market. These units being made available to over 60 of our neighbors right here in Yonkers will provide my constituents with a climate resilient, accessible, and permanently affordable community to age in place. I am proud to support this effort and committed to making housing more accessible and affordable for all."

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "When completed, La Mora Senior Apartments will help assure that more low-income seniors in Yonkers will have safe, sustainable, low-cost housing options and much needed services while also revitalizing the surrounding Yonkers Hollow neighborhood. I am pleased to lead the State Senate that is focused on ways to create more affordable housing and affordability for New Yorkers here and across the state,"

Assemblymember Nader Sayegh said, "Yonkers Seniors deserve access to affordable housing which is why I have consistently voted in favor of increased State financial support for projects like the La Mora Senior Apartments. 60 brand new, energy efficient apartments for Seniors is good news for Yonkers and I applaud the work of New York Homes and Community Renewal, The Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Yonkers, developer The Mulford Corporation and the partner organizations and firms working to make this groundbreaking a reality."

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, "One of the proudest accomplishments of my administration has been working towards creating affordable housing opportunities for our residents throughout Westchester, especially for our seniors. The La Mora Senior Apartments in Yonkers will help us address a critical need we have, and help our seniors feel like they can make a home in our County. We are thankful to Governor Kathy Hochul and our partners at New York State Homes and Community Renewal for bringing this project to fruition, and we hope to return for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that will have a long-lasting impact on the Yonkers community."

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, "Thanks to New York State and private investors who came together to assist the City of Yonkers in improving the lives of all our residents as we continue to revitalize our neighborhoods. As we see housing rising along the riverfront, it is also important that we provide the same quality housing across the city, especially for our seniors who have done so much for our community.''

Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers President and CEO Wilson Kimball said, "The La Mora Senior Apartments is an example of what can be done nationally to incorporate sustainable features into affordable housing. Our seniors must be protected from the ravages of climate change such as flooding in areas that are still suffering from past redlining practices that have impacted urban neighborhoods. Design features like passive house and on-site emergency power generation are important for the environment as well as the safety of our senior residents.''