Downtown Yonkers Comprehensive Plan

Downtown Yonkers, located on the Hudson River in lower Westchester, just north of New York City, was once a thriving area. As with many cities in the Northeast, the loss of manufacturing and the rise of regional shopping centers sapped much of the city’s vitality. There are several isolated re-development projects underway in and around the downtown area. The Capstone team was asked to fashion a comprehensive plan to knit together existing plans and projects and transform the downtown into a vibrant center attractive to business, prospective residents and visitors, while avoiding displacement of the existing population, which is largely low-income and culturally diverse. The team developed a 4-point plan covering economic development, housing, infrastructure and culture. The plan seeks to capitalize on the City’s location on the Hudson and its proximity to Manhattan, transportation infrastructure, the diverse culture of the population, and an engaging topography and architectural interest. It respects the existing community’s needs while allowing the City to adapt to a changing marketplace and residential composition.