Lohud.com published a nice story today about the workforce housing that just opened up in Ardsley and interviewed some of the residents. The process- turning town owned foreclosed property into affordable housing took a long time.
The property was once the site of a restaurant called the water wheel. there was a fire on December 22, 1992. After the fire the property owner did not pay taxes. Although the property is located in the village of Ardsley the town collects school and county taxes for village residents. We are required by law to pay the school and county taxes whether we collect the taxes or not. However- if taxes are not paid the town is authorized to foreclose on the property.
We took ownership of the waterwheel property. Unincorporated Greenburgh was exempt from the desegregation agreement that the county of Westchester signed with the federal government requiring the construction of 750 low income apartments. We had met the federal requirements. However- many of the villages within Greenburgh had to comply with the federal housing stipulation.
The village of Ardsley asked the town to sell the waterwheel property to an affordable housing developer which we did in 2013 for $1.21 million dollars 22 units would be built. 5 for volunteer firefighters, municipal workers and 17 to comply with the federal housing settlement. Former Mayor Jay Leon of Ardsley & volunteer firefighters worked very hard persuading Ardsley residents that this was the right thing to do and deserves a lot of credit reaching consensus in the village to build the housing.
There were lots of bumps along the way. But, the housing is now built and occupied! And the new residents will have a great quality of life--thanks to this terrific opportunity. The new development is attractive, within walking distance to local restaurants, shops and bus routes. I am thrilled that the town played a positive role in this new development. And hope to personally welcome all the new residents to our community.
PAUL FEINER
http://www.lohud.com/story/marketplace/real-estate/2017/05/26/housing-program-benefits-working-people/100663168/
from a daily voice article in 2013 -town sold property
http://greenburgh.dailyvoice.com/real-estate/greenburgh-finalizes-waterwheel-property-sale-for-12m/571121/
