Our Work in Yonkers

What's at Stake?

• Introduction
• What's at Stake
• The Threat
• Our Vision
• Timeline

New York's fourth-largest city, Yonkers possesses nearly two miles of Hudson River waterfront sitting directly across from the Palisades, one of the Hudson River's most impressive natural features. This sheer curtain of rock provides a stunning focal point for many residents living atop the city's myriad hills.

The majestic Palisades cliffs form Yonkers' "natural skyline."Photo: Nick Zungoli

Industry dominated this shoreline for most of the 20th century, but by the mid-1980s it was virtually abandoned and unsightly, contaminated with decades' worth of waste. Recognizing its potential for revitalizing the city, officials began encouraging development along the river. Adding to the site's appeal for developers are the proximity of Yonkers' Metro-North/Amtrak station and the city's downtown shopping district. A new commuter ferry service also connects the city to lower Manhattan.

A substantial number of acres on or adjacent to the waterfront are available for development -- plenty of space for an economically vibrant mix of residential and commercial uses as well as generous amounts of public parkland offering river access to many neighborhoods cut off from the Hudson since the 19th century. Yonkers could desperately use more open space; in a study conducted by Scenic Hudson of 15 comparably sized cities in New York and New England, it ranked 13th in per capita parkland acreage.

Few cities are presented with such an exciting possibility to transform themselves.

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