Governor Hochul Announces Completion of 76-Unit Affordable Mixed-...
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of The St. Clair, a 76-unit affordable, mixed-use development in Yonkers. The $60 million project is located in the city’s downtown corridor and combines multi-family residential apartments with street-level retail, dining and commercial uses. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 4,600 affordable homes in Westchester County. The St. Clair continues this effort and is part of the Governor’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“The city of Yonkers is thriving and the increased supply of affordable apartments with easy access to public transit, jobs and services is a big reason why,” Governor Hochul said. “With the 76 new homes that The St. Clair brings to the city, the building’s residents will have all they need right at their front door. This development demonstrates how public and private investment can generate economic activity and add to the vibrancy of our downtown areas across the state.”
The St. Clair builds on the State’s efforts to expand housing opportunities near transit hubs and commuter railroad lines. It is a short walk to the MTA Metro-North train station and the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System. The development is also within walking distance to the city’s waterfront boardwalk, parks, restaurants, pharmacies and a library.
Developed by MacQuesten Development, the ten-story building includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments designed to serve households of varying sizes. Apartments are available for households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Four apartments are fully-accessible and adapted for residents with mobility disabilities, and two apartments are fully-accessible and adapted for residents with sensory disabilities.
The St. Clair is an all-electric development and includes features that improve energy efficiency, lower energy costs and reduce water consumption.
Additional building amenities include a fitness room, a co-working space, an indoor recreation room, and an outdoor courtyard. There is more than 2,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space, a portion of which is already occupied by a restaurant. by
The property was previously a hotel and then a commercial dry-cleaning business, which had been vacant since 2017 after it was demolished.
Financing for The St. Clair included a mix of public and private sources, such as Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that generated more than $25 million in equity, and more than $10 million in HCR subsidy. The development was also supported by $418,000 from the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The project received $1.9 million through the County of Westchester’s New Homes Land Acquisition Program and $1.1 million from the City of Yonkers’ HOME program.
The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and may be eligible for $9 million in performance based tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “From a vacant eyesore to a modern, ten-story building filled with 76 affordable apartments, The St. Clair will help bring lasting, beneficial change to the heart of Yonkers. As a Pro-Housing Community, the State is working with Mayor Mike Spano and Yonkers to create new housing opportunities, support small businesses, and strengthen the vibrant downtown through projects like this one. We thank Governor Hochul, MacQuesten Development and our state and local government partners for making this important development a reality.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program remains a critical tool that supports community revitalization, helping clean up environmental pollution and support sustainable development across the state. The St. Clair project in Yonkers is the latest example of how this successful cleanup program overseen by DEC is helping advance Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to increase affordable housing statewide while protecting public health and the environment.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is proud to support affordable, mixed-use housing at The St. Clair in Yonkers. By incorporating energy efficient technologies, clean heating and cooling and convenient access to public transportation, this development will help residents manage their energy costs while enjoying healthy living spaces and the benefits of being connected to their vibrant community.”
Senator Charles Schumer said, “Every family in Yonkers deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit I’ve fought tirelessly to preserve and expand has delivered millions to build 76 new apartments at The St. Clair in downtown Yonkers near the Metro-North station. High housing costs are a key driver of inflation, so we must build more housing for working people to bring down those high prices. I commend Governor Hochul for investing in creating and preserving affordable housing statewide, and I will continue working to secure the federal resources needed to support these efforts and the New Yorkers who depend on them.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Safe and accessible housing should be a right, not a privilege, for all New Yorkers. This $60 million investment will strengthen our community in Yonkers by providing affordable housing close to public transit and other services that we all rely on. I will continue fighting for more federal resources to create the affordable, supportive housing that our state needs.”
Representative George Latimer said, “I commend Governor Hochul for making possible 76 new affordable housing units in downtown Yonkers. By connecting residents directly to public transit, local businesses, and a vibrant downtown, this development enhances community livability and strengthens our local economy. This is how we build strong, inclusive and welcoming communities for all.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I’m proud to have helped secure the state funding that made The St. Clair possible and to see this investment come to life in my district. These 76 affordable units will give more families the opportunity to live in downtown Yonkers, close to public transportation, local businesses, and essential services. By expanding affordable housing while supporting energy-efficient, transit-oriented development, we are strengthening our community and helping build a more sustainable future for Yonkers. I thank Governor Hochul, MacQuesten Development and our state and local partners for their commitment to expanding affordable housing opportunities in Yonkers and across New York State.”
Assemblymember Gary Pretlow said, “The opening of The St. Clair represents another important investment in the continued growth and revitalization of downtown Yonkers. By creating new housing opportunities within walking distance of Metro-North and local bus service, this development connects residents to jobs, businesses, and opportunities throughout our region. I am pleased to see state resources supporting projects that expand our housing supply while creating vibrant, transit-accessible communities where residents can live, work and thrive.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “Westchester County was proud to invest $1.9 million in New Homes Land Acquisition Funding to support this $60 million, 76-unit mixed-use development in downtown Yonkers. The St. Clair, developed by MacQuesten Development, reflects our commitment to expanding access to quality housing while strengthening vibrant, connected communities. Its convenient location is just a short walk from the Metro-North Railroad station and the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System, making it easier for residents to access public transportation, employment and other essential services. This development will contribute to a more pedestrian-friendly downtown, and expand housing opportunities for Westchester County residents.”
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, “The opening of St. Clair marks another exciting step in the revitalization of the downtown waterfront in Yonkers, adding 76 new quality, affordable homes just steps from Metro-North and Bee-Line bus service. MacQuesten's development combines housing with retail and dining, creating a more vibrant, walkable downtown. We’re grateful to our partners at New York State, DEC and NYSERDA for helping bring this affordable, sustainable, transit-oriented to life in Yonkers.”
MacQuesten Development CEO Rella Fogliano said, “The St. Clair will fulfill a critical need for affordable housing to families living in downtown Yonkers near its beautiful waterfront. MacQuesten Development is proud to help create a unique community of 76 Studio and One-to-Three-Bedroom apartments. We are grateful to our government partners at the state, county and local levels for their support. The retail spaces on the ground floor also create small business opportunities in a city that embraces entrepreneurial development.”
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary state funding. There are currently more than 460 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state, including the city of Yonkers.
As part of FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her “Let Them Build” agenda. “Let Them Build” also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.
The FY27 Enacted Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The FY27 Enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.
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