Renovation Complete For White Plains Senior Affordable Housing

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A $36 million rehabilitation of an affordable housing development for seniors in White Plains has been completed.

The renovations at the Mitchell-Lama complex — called Kingsley House — upgraded apartment amenities and will improve the building's safety, promote energy efficiency and enhance the quality of life for 163 senior households.

In making the announcement Thursday that the renovation was finished, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state's investment in Kingsley House ensures that seniors on fixed incomes can remain comfortably housed in White Plains.

"As rising costs and inflation continue to drive a nationwide affordability crisis," she said, "my administration is committed to preserving affordable housing in communities like Westchester County to ensure that all New Yorkers have a safe, stable place to call home."

Kingsley House was built in 1968 under the New York State Mitchell-Lama Program, which provides housing to low- and moderate-income residents across the state.

New York works with owners as they near the end of affordability requirements to provide low-cost financing tools that help maintain and improve the developments while also extending their affordability, according to a spokesperson.

Located at 41 Barker Ave. in White Plains, Kingsley House has 163 apartments for seniors age 62 and older. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income. The 12-story building has 33 studios, 115 one bedrooms, 15 two-bedrooms and one superintendent unit. There is also one commercial space that is currently vacant.

All apartments underwent substantial renovations including installing new cabinets, sinks, flooring and updated bathrooms.

Improvements to the building's common areas included new finishes in the library and community room, installation of security cameras, elevator modernization, balcony and facade repairs, a new roof and a wheelchair-accessible entryway.

The renovation included numerous energy-efficiency improvements.

Kingsley House is within 1 mile of several shopping malls, supermarkets, a pharmacy, public parks, a library and entertainment venues.

State financing for the project included $13.9 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $10.5 million in equity and $2.4 million in subsidy from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach said the Kingsley House has served as an important affordable senior building in our city for many years.

"The completion of this rehabilitation project preserves essential low- and moderate-income housing for seniors providing them with quality, energy-efficient housing," he said.