The developer calls it ‘affordable housing for seniors,’ [but] there is no guarantee or enforcement of that policy, [leading] many…to express skepticism.

By Mark Parolisi | The Yonkers Ledger

A proposed apartment building in northwest Yonkers faces community resistance as persistent issues like parking and affordability could derail the project at the upcoming City Council meeting on the necessary zoning change.

The proposal

The lot on 900 North Broadway sits on a busy corridor across from Untermyer Gardens and down the street from St. John’s Riverside Hospital and other medical buildings.

The currently undeveloped land was unlikely to remain so considering its location and access to the Greystone Metro North station and the Saw Mill River Parkway.

Originally zoned as “Planned Executive Park,” the owners seek a zone change to “MG,” defined as “apartment houses; low density.”

As such, a proposal for a four-story tall 60-unit apartment building came before the City of Yonkers for approval. The various floor plans consist of 6 studios, 46 one-bedrooms and eight two-bedroom apartments.

However, while a residential building of this size would typically require about 80 parking spaces, the proposal calls for ‘fewer than half of that.’

Lastly, while the developer presents this project as affordable housing for seniors, there is no guarantee or enforcement of that policy. This lack of a requirement led many, including former Yonkers City Council member Joan Gronowski, to express their skepticism.

‘I would want low-income housing or affordable housing, but this is market-rate. I believe the developers are taking advantage of what might be a loophole in the zoning statutes, in that there is no language to specify low income/affordable when applying the paltry one-half parking space per unit allowance.‘

Joan Gronowski

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