By Dan Murphy
A proposed redevelopment plan along the Yonkers riverfront got a much needed boost last week when members of the Yonkers Black Clergy held a press conference to announce their support for a redevelopment project for the Glenwood Power Plant, in northwest Yonkers.
Clergy members representing some of Yonkers’ largest faith churches hannounced their support for the historic redevelopment projects of The Plant, a community-oriented and mission-driven real estate development company seeking to undertake the rehabilitation of two historic buildings in Yonkers, NY. The PowerPlant, formerly the Glenwood Power Station, and The Manor, formerly the W.B. Thompson Mansion, have sat vacant or underutilized for decades.
The Plant is planning to reinvigorate and redevelop both assets into a home for climate solutions that promotes programming to address the climate crisis. By working with local partners, The Plant will be able to produce precedent-setting levels of sustainability, affordability, mobility, food security, economic and social opportunity in Yonkers. The Plant promises to bring hundreds of high-quality jobs through construction and operations of both buildings, focusing hiring practices on the local community first and foremost, and engaging an “open-hire” policy. The Plant will also provide job training and development programs, climate education opportunities to youths and adults, and real solutions to fight food security concerns in Yonkers through on-site greenhouses and local partnerships.
The meticulous rehabilitation of The PowerPlant and The Manor will be centered on historic preservation coupled with sustainable innovation for buildings and the restoration of the ecology of the Hudson River. The PowerPlant will be transformed into a community amenity and premier office and event space for convenings, workshops, public art and gatherings that engage entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, artists, youth and government. To support the future uses of the PowerPlant, The Plant is planning to build a parking deck with a rooftop public park at JFK Marina. The new public park will provide a unique and innovative community asset to further activate the waterfront area. The Manor will be transformed into a complementary event space for individuals, corporations, and nonprofits engaged with climate and social justice solutions.
Support within the local community for the ambitious redevelopment of these beloved community assets is growing. Elder Dr. Jim Bostic, Th.D is the Executive Director of the Nepperhan Community Center, Inc. (NCC), where he provides the overall vision and leadership for the organization and is in charge of the overall daily operations. Born and raised in Yonkers, Dr. Bostic has served as a fixture of the Yonkers community, providing invaluable leadership in service of youth, their families, people who are in need, and the cause of racial equality. Dr. Bostic, along with Dr. James Hassell Pastor of Kingdom Christian Cultural Center, Rev. Frank Coleman Pastor of Messiah Baptist Church and President of the Yonkers NAACP, Elder Randy Canon Pastor of Faith Outreach Ministries, Rev. James Booker Pastor of Bethany AME, praise The Plant’s focus on elevating the local community through every step of the development process, a consideration that is increasingly rare among real estate developers. Dr. Bostic, said that the redevelopment of this historic landmark in Yonkers in long overdue, and will bring meaningful and long lasting amenities for our community.
A online petition with over 1,2000 signatures has been circulated, titled
Join The Plant to #BuildthePlantBuildtheFuture
We support The Plant Development and the historic adaptive-reuse of The Glenwood Power Plant into the future Home for Climate Solutions.
We support The Plant’s vision to establish a home for climate solutions in Yonkers where by new green jobs will be created; youth and students will be engaged in public educational programs focused on environmental justice, inclusion and equity; and where in partnership with local Groundwork Hudson Valley, two Plant greenhouses will provide free and fresh organic produce to the community.
We support building a one-tier parking deck with a sustainable roof park at JFK Marina and Park above the existing asphalt parking lot.
We support building the parking deck at JFK Marina and Park above the existing asphalt parking lot which will contribute over two acres of elevated new park land preserving vistas and water access at JFK Marina and Park.
We the undersigned, steadfastly support The Plant, the parking deck and the innovative green roof park at JFK Marina and Park which will allow us to bring a positive public benefit to support the Glenwood area and Hudson River experience.
The support comes after several residents and community groups have stepped forward to oppose parts of the project, specifically the proposed parking garage at the JFK Marina. A petition opposing the project has also been circulated online and has over 1300 signatures.
We, the undersigned friends and residents of Yonkers support our community’s parks. Yonkers is New York’s fastest growing city. Current and future residents need expanded parkland – not parking structures for real estate ventures. We demand that the City respect our community by requiring all parking for the proposed Glenwood Power Plant development be placed on the project’s site – as would be required of any other development. We further demand that our elected officials work with all of the community to develop a fair and just plan for access to the Power Plant site that does not violate Trevor Park or JFK Marina. The taxpayers and voters are the key to our City’s success – not developers! Sponsored by Friends of Trevor Park, Hudson River Community Association,River Communities Coalition of Yonkers and Yonkers Committee for Smart Development,” states the petition.
Preserving JFK Park and opposition to the planned parking garage there is the current sticking point for a majority of the City Council. Other Yonkers residents are trying to find a compromise so that the project can be built without building the parking garage at JFK Marina. The developer would have to find an alternative location for parking for their proposed Power Plant.
