On July 21, 2022, construction was completed on a $64 million mixed-use affordable housing redevelopment in the city of White Plains, New York.
The Overture at Brookfield Commons is the second phase of redevelopment at the Winbrook Houses campus, a 450-unit public housing development constructed in 1949.
Mark Migliacci, Vice President of Chase Community Development Banking, said, “We’re pleased to support Trinity Financial and The White Plains Housing Authority (WPHA) with the development of the Overture at Brookfield Commons. It’s exciting to be part of a neighborhood revitalization and redevelopment of existing affordable housing that prioritizes current residents, while creating new affordable and workforce housing offering community facility space for tenants. At Chase, we’re committed to supporting projects like this that create safe, stable housing, which is a fundamental component of healthy, thriving neighborhoods.”
The newly-constructed building offers 129 affordable homes for new and existing residents.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The Overture at Brookfield Commons is a unique and innovative development that will help to revitalize the surrounding community and assure that White Plains residents will continue to have safe, sustainable and affordable housing options. This project was funded, in part, by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, which I continue to support in the State Senate. The whole community benefits when partnerships such as this one between Trinity Financial and the White Plains Housing Authority exist.”
The Overture at Brookfield Commons complements Governor Hochul’s sweeping plans to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable.
“The redevelopment of the Winbrook Houses will provide this property with a new purpose and restore the public housing development to its former glory,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado.
“The repurposed mixed-use development at Brookfield Commons in White Plains will provide 129 struggling new and existing families with affordable homes,” he added.
The developers are Trinity Financial and the White Plains Housing Authority.
Fabian Ramirez, senior director of Community Finance at Capital One, said, “Affordable housing construction and preservation are critical to addressing the housing shortage across the country, which is why Capital One is committed to financing a diverse range of affordable housing developments. The completion of the Overture at Brookfield Commons marks an exciting milestone in the Winbrook community as it provides needed housing options for community members and also offers amenities centered around the resident experience, including community facilities designed for families, outdoor space and local art.”
The Governor has introduced and successfully secured, in the 2022-23 State Budget, a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
Trinity Financial and the White Plains Housing Authority partnered to redevelop the 9.3-acre Winbrook Houses site in downtown White Plains. The plan is designed to break up a public housing ‘superblock’ by creating new streetscapes to encourage pedestrian traffic. Phase I of the project, The Prelude at Brookfield Commons, was completed in 2015 and includes 104 affordable apartments.
Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “In partnership with the White Plains Housing Authority, the city of White Plains, and Trinity Financial, we are transforming downtown White Plains by replacing the outdated Winbrook Houses with modern apartments and a pedestrian-friendly campus that will benefit the entire community. The Overture at Brookfield Commons provides 90 existing residents and 39 new families access to a comfortable and affordable home right in the heart of downtown. By financing the preservation and reinvention of our aging but vital public housing, we are ensuring that more New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable homes in thriving cities like White Plains.”
The Overture at Brookfield Commons consists of a nine-story building with 129 apartments, 2,000 square feet of community facility space and 77 at-grade parking spaces.
Denise Brooks-Jones, Acting Executive Director, White Plains Housing Authority, said, “The Overture at Brookfield Commons tangibly represents the commitment of the White Plains Housing Authority and the City of White Plains to provide quality housing and a welcoming place to live for all people of all incomes in the City. This project started with 450 units of traditional public housing, a track of land, and the promise of a bold vision to transform the Winbrook community without displacing a single family. We are succeeding and more importantly, we are keeping our promise to our families who are now living in newly constructed state of the art buildings. The continuation of our multi-phased transformative masterplan for the re-development of the Winbrook Houses campus brings to life the shared dream of our families, neighbors, and stakeholders. Our revitalization efforts were re-visioned in a partnership with Trinity Financial, our development consultants, Terese Walton and Brian Sweeney and is supported with funding from Federal, State, County, City, and private partners. When completed this project will provide over 700 units of critically needed affordable, workforce, and replacement housing in a bustling energetic downtown neighborhood near regional transit.”
There are 90 apartments for existing Winbrook residents. The remaining apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 90 percent of the Area Median Income.
Senator Chuck Schumer said, “Every Westchester resident deserves access to safe affordable housing, and I am proud that the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, that I fought hard to expand, has supplied the millions needed to convert these aging buildings into hundreds of affordable, energy-efficient homes. Today’s ribbon cutting of the Overture at Brookfield will offer 129 affordable homes for new and existing White Plains residents. I applaud Governor Hochul on the completion of phase two of this essential affordable housing development, and will keep fighting to get every dollar of federal support needed to lay the foundation for a brighter and more equitable future in the Hudson Valley.”
Amenities include a fitness room, children’s playroom, tenant lounge with terrace, high-speed internet, laundry rooms on each floor, and bike and package storage. All apartments include a dishwasher, microwave, and storage closet. The building offers a mix of one-, two-, three and four-bedroom apartments, including one apartment unit for the building superintendent.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO at NYSERDA, said, “With the completion of The Overture at Brookfield Commons, residents of White Plains now have access to clean affordable housing that incorporates high performance energy efficiency features for a comfortable and resilient living experience. This project and others like it are representative of Governor Hochul’s commitment to ensuring equity in the state’s clean energy investments as we work to reduce emissions from the state’s building stock to fight climate change and create healthier places to live and work.”
The building was designed to achieve Enterprise Green Communities designation for energy-efficiency and healthy environments and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Multifamily New Construction Program.
Thomas Brown, Vice President of Development for Trinity Financial, who oversees the company’s New York operations, said, “This project brings to life the vision we share with neighborhood stakeholders and the entire community for modernizing and preserving affordable housing in the city of White Plains. We’re proud to have closely worked with the White Plains Housing Authority, the Winbrook Tenants Association, our local elected officials and all of our community partners on this important housing initiative.”
The building will reduce its residents’ projected energy use by 15 percent and conserve water with low flow plumbing fixtures and a highly efficient heat pump for heating and cooling.
Assemblymember Chris Burdick said, “The Brookfield Commons is the exact type of project we need more of – revitalizing affordable housing with funds and coordination from different levels of government all working together. I’m thrilled with the completion of this phase of the development with today’s ribbon cutting for the Overture with its 129 units of affordable and workforce housing.”
The building also features two unique murals from local artist Piero Manrique: Custom Murals, Wall Art and Architectural Design for Interior Design who was sourced from Arts Westchester and selected by Trinity Financial.
Christoph Stump, Assistant Vice President for Design and Construction for Trinity Financial in New York, said, “The Overture at Brookfield Commons is a unique opportunity that preserves and modernizes an existing affordable housing resource while physically and economically reintegrating the site with the surrounding community. We are delivering high-quality apartment homes with first-rate amenities in a sustainable building envelope that ensures affordable housing for families and individuals at different economic tiers.”
State financing for the development included $15.3 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $26.3 million in equity and an additional $16.6 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
“This mixed-use affordable housing development is the latest example of our efforts to upgrade and modernize New York’s supply of public housing,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Protecting these vital assets is essential to helping ensure that everyone in our state has access to safe, affordable housing, leading to vibrant and inclusive communities.”
NYSERDA will provide $97,400 in support. The city of White Plains provided $1 million in financing from its Affordable Housing Assistance Fund.
Image courtesy of White Plains Housing Authority.