Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow Receive Federal Funds for Municipal Improvements

The state has awarded $4.3 million in federal grants to 10 Westchester County communities to address housing, infrastructure and economic development needs.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Tuesday.

“This funding allows more than a dozen crucial development projects in Westchester to get off the ground, and ultimately improve the local communities,” he said.

The communities were previously prohibited from receiving Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development because the county was not in compliance with federal Fair Housing laws.

In February 2015, Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, and Rep. Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, brokered a deal to allow the communities to receive the funds.

Lowey said she was pleased the 10 communities will get the grants that will improve their residents’ quality of life.

“From senior center and housing rehabilitation to sidewalk and sewer repairs, these investments will provide vital infrastructure and service upgrades, while reducing the burden on local municipalities,” she said.

The grants that were awarded are as follows:

Town of Bedford

$421,050 to renovate a deteriorated church and finance four affordable one-bedroom units as part of a new twelve-unit development in the hamlet of Bedford Hills. The initial rents will be set at levels affordable to one person households whose incomes do not exceed 50 percent of the Westchester area median income.

Village of Elmsford

$255,300 to address accessibility issues at the Village’s Community and Senior Center, serving over 1,800 individuals. The proposed rehabilitation includes constructing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps with solid foundations, preventing the build-up of ice by improving roof drainage, constructing level front stairs and improving additional access to the building near the parking lot.

Town of Greenburgh

$247,220 to the town for the installation of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks in and around the existing public housing at 65 Secor Road. The complex currently has no sidewalks to connect the main street thoroughfare to facilities and services. The town seeks to eliminate the barriers that disconnect portions of the existing sidewalk infrastructure.

Town/Village of Mount Kisco

$200,000 to build a staircase and crosswalk across Preston Way to provide greater access to the shopping area and a more direct and safer route for pedestrians across an adjacent road. Currently, residents of the Mount Kisco Housing Authority must walk well out of their way to reach the supermarket and businesses in the area on foot. The project will benefit 1,055 individuals with low to moderate incomes.

$30,000 to purchase an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bus for seniors to meet the critical transportation needs of the village’s elderly population and provide access to vital Village services.

Village of Ossining

$295,845 to renovate residential structures owned by the Interfaith Council for Action to help improve the health, welfare and safety of the low income tenants.

City of Peekskill

$313,000 to renovate three multifamily homes and one single-family home, which house eight low to moderate income tenants.

$750,000 to replace three dilapidated and outdated pump stations with new, modern, above-ground pump stations which will ensure reliable consistent service to 23,080 residents, while eliminating health and safety hazards. Slightly more than 64 percent of these residents have low to moderate incomes.

Village of Port Chester

$106,745 to replace kitchen appliances and the bus that services the village’s Senior Community Center, which are at the end of their useful life. New appliances, equipment and bus services will allow the village to continue providing meals and transportation to approximately 1,300 seniors and individuals with low to moderate incomes.

$750,000 to inspect and repair deteriorated sewer mains throughout the village with Cured-In-Place piping. This project is Phase III of a multi-phase sewer rehabilitation program in the Village and will benefit 37,105 residents in the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, 54 percent of whom are individuals with low to moderate incomes.

Town of Rye

$398,326 to make a series of handicap accessibility improvements to Crawford Park. Work includes improvements to the community center (elevator, bathrooms, and ramp), accessible bathrooms in the outdoor pavilion, accessible playground and ‘sensory garden,’ and an accessible parking area and pathway. The project will benefit the approximately 9,600 residents who are either elderly and/or disabled.

Village of Sleepy Hollow

62,292 to purchase an accessible van to transport seniors to essential services and recreational events. This will benefit 1,263 people.

$340,925 to replace 47 dilapidated and unsafe streetlights on Beekman Avenue, the business district of the community, upgrading base footings, conduit, wiring, poles, and LED lights. The project will benefit the 9,560 Village residents, over 51 percent of whom have low to moderate incomes.

Village of Tarrytown

$203,400 to make improvements to the village’s Senior Center, including: heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems. The project will benefit the 297 members of the Tarrytown Senior Center, all of whom have low to moderate incomes.

Photo credit: HUD.gov.