From left, Moderator Kevin Plunkett of Simone Development Companies; BOMA Westchester President Robert McNamara of GHP Office Realty; White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch; New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert and Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) recently hosted the mayors of Westchester County’s three largest cities — Yonkers, New Rochelle, and White Plains—for a comprehensive economic update. Mayors Mike Spano, Yadira Ramos-Herbert, and Justin Brasch shared a unified vision of aggressive revitalization, highlighting over 23,000 combined new housing units and a commitment to urban safety and sustainability.
Yonkers: A Model for Urban Success
Mayor Mike Spano detailed the ongoing transformation of Yonkers, backed by $5 billion in revitalization projects. With a 90% high school graduation rate and a ranking as the 39th happiest city in America, Yonkers has authorized 12,000 new housing units, 22% of which are designated as affordable. Spano also highlighted the city’s burgeoning film industry and the strategic “Medical Mile” partnership between St. John’s and Montefiore.
New Rochelle: Infrastructure and Innovation
Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert emphasized New Rochelle’s proactive approach to density, with 11,000 housing units authorized and a focus on reaching 20% affordability. Key initiatives include the $2.25 million tenant improvement program and “The Link” project—a transformational waterfront and stormwater mitigation effort slated to break ground in Q4.
White Plains: Sustainable Commercial Leadership
Mayor Justin Brash noted that White Plains continues to command a 39% share of the county’s commercial leasing. Brash advocated for adaptive reuse of aging structures into affordable condos and emphasized a “pro-business, pro-safety” environment. He specifically called for state support to increase affordable housing requirements in major projects, such as the Galleria redevelopment, from 12% to 25%.
A Call for State and Federal Partnership
While celebrating record growth, all three mayors stressed that addressing municipal pension liabilities and rising healthcare costs requires innovative fiscal tools, such as pension-splitting. The leaders concluded with a collective call for increased state and federal intervention to ensure Westchester remains affordable for the workforce driving its economic engine.
The annual event, which was held on March 12 at 360 Hamilton Avenue in White Plains, was moderated by Kevin Plunkett, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Simone Development Companies.
BOMA Westchester is the county’s leading professional organization dedicated to meeting the needs of building owners, property managers and allied professionals and tradespeople. BOMA Westchester is an affiliate of BOMA International — the oldest and largest association of the office building industry, with over 100 federated associations in the United States and around the world. The 17,000-plus members of BOMA International own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and abroad.
