Governor Hochul Announces Construction is Underway on 229-Unit Af...

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction is underway on QWest Towers, a $160 million affordable housing development that will create 229 homes across two newly constructed residential buildings in the city of Mount Vernon, Westchester County. Located adjacent to the Mount Vernon West Metro-North station, the transit-oriented development replaces vacant, dilapidated buildings with high-quality, energy-efficient affordable homes while supporting the continued revitalization of downtown Mount Vernon. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, HCR has created or preserved more than 4,500 homes in Westchester County. QWest Towers builds on this progress and is part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

"To combat the housing shortage impacting all New Yorkers, we need to build more housing - full stop," Governor Hochul said. "We continue to work closely with developers and municipalities to identify opportunities to bring modern, affordable homes to places like Mount Vernon. Our investment in QWest Towers will offer the development's residents the benefit of modern apartments in a transit-oriented neighborhood while also supporting the ongoing revitalization of the city."

QWest Towers consists of two mixed-use buildings that will include a combined 229 apartments affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The two buildings will include a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments designed to serve households of varying sizes. The development will include 12 units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and seven units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities. The development will also include approximately 3,300 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

Located within the Mount Vernon West Transit-Oriented Development Zone, QWest Towers will provide its residents with direct access to Metro-North rail service, connecting them to employment opportunities throughout Westchester County, New York City, and the Hudson Valley. The project replaces several vacant and dilapidated buildings advancing the city's long-term vision for higher-density mixed-use development surrounding the transit hub.

QWest Towers' residents will have access to a wide range of amenities, including rooftop recreation areas and community rooms. The development will also include two structured parking garages providing a combined 170 parking spaces for residents and commercial tenants.

QWest Towers is designed as an all-electric development and will meet Energy Star Multifamily New Construction and Enterprise Green Communities standards. Sustainability features include landscaped roofs, electric vehicle charging, Energy Star appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and low-emitting construction materials that improve indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption.

QWest Towers is being developed in partnership between Stagg Group, Simone Development Companies and Rev. Dr. L'Judie Matt-Simmons.

Financing for QWest Towers includes a mix of public and private sources, including Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) that are expected to generate more than $69 million in equity, $32.5 million in HCR subsidy loans and $5 million through Empire State Development's (ESD) Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund. Additional public funding includes more than $19 million from Westchester County through its Housing Flex Fund and New Homes Land Acquisition Program.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Governor Hochul has made expanding housing supply one of New York's highest priorities, and developments like QWest Towers demonstrate how strategic investment can deliver affordable homes in areas with significant housing shortages. By transforming underutilized properties in a transit-rich neighborhood into 229 modern, energy-efficient apartments, this project will expand housing opportunities, support economic growth and strengthen the future of Mount Vernon."

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "QWest Towers turns vacant, underutilized land next to Metro-North into nearly 230 new affordable homes. With new commercial space and direct transit access, this project will connect more people to jobs, bring new activity to the surrounding neighborhood and advance Mount Vernon's long-term revitalization. ESD is proud to support this transformation through our Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund, helping build a downtown ready for growth."

Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Dr. Marsha Gordon and Dr. Kristine Young said, "Expanding the supply of affordable housing is essential to the Mid-Hudson region's continued growth and competitiveness. QWest Towers responds to that need with a sustainable, transit-oriented development that will serve households of different sizes and incomes while supporting Mount Vernon's vision for a more vibrant and connected community. The MHREDC is proud to see this vision come to life, and we look forward to watching QWest Towers open its doors to new residents."

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, "Breaking ground on QWest Towers in Mount Vernon represents an important step forward in our commitment to creating more affordable housing opportunities for our residents. This project is about more than building 229 affordable homes - we are taking underutilized space and transforming it into a vibrant community asset that will provide safe, stable and affordable housing for Mount Vernon families. We know that housing affordability is essential to the strength and vitality of our neighborhoods, and we are proud to partner with Governor Kathy Hochul on housing developments that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents."

Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said, "Mount Vernon is proud to be a pro-housing community, and QWest Towers demonstrates what can happen when we pair bold local leadership with meaningful state investment. The $160 million investment in this development by Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Homes and Community Renewal is a significant investment in the future of Mount Vernon and in the working families who deserve quality, affordable homes in the communities where they work and raise their families. QWest Towers is workforce housing, transit-oriented development, and neighborhood reinvestment all coming together in one transformative project. We thank Governor Hochul and HCR for believing in Mount Vernon, investing in our city, and helping us advance a vision of revitalization that creates housing, expands opportunity, strengthens neighborhoods and builds a more vibrant and inclusive city for generations to come."

Simone Development Companies President Joseph Simone said, "As someone who grew up in Mount Vernon, seeing QWest Towers reach this milestone is incredibly meaningful. This project represents years of collaboration and a shared commitment to creating high-quality affordable workforce housing while helping transform the gateway to this city. We're proud to partner with Rev. Dr. L'Judie Matt-Simmons, Stagg Group and our public-sector partners to deliver a development that will serve residents and strengthen the Mount Vernon community for generations to come."

Stagg Group CEO Mark Stagg said, "QWest Towers demonstrates what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors work together toward a common goal. Through our partnership with Simone Development Companies, Rev. Dr. L'Judie Matt-Simmons, New York State, Westchester County and the City of Mount Vernon, we're not just building housing - we're helping write the next chapter for this community. We're proud of what this partnership has accomplished, and we're proud to be part of Mount Vernon's future."

Governor Hochul's Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York's housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes - for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. There are currently 450 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state, including the city of Mount Vernon.

As part of Governor Hochul's 2026 State of the State, the Governor proposed her "Let Them Build" agenda, a series of landmark reforms to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs. This initiative will spur a series of common-sense reforms to New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor's current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Close to 86,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Executive Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.