Governor Hochul Announces $16 Million for New Rochelle’s LINC Revitalization Plan, and Highlights Housing Affordability Progress as Part of Her “Let Them Build” Agenda

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $16 million in State funding awarded to advance New Rochelle's LINC (Linking Innovation, Nature, and Community) Project. Today's announcement fills a funding gap that threatened to derail the LINC Project when the federal government rescinded necessary funding. Now that New York State has committed the $16 million needed to fill the gap, this vital project can proceed. LINC will deliver a connection between the downtown area, the train station, the library and Lincoln Avenue to support local residents and businesses as the city continues its surge of economic growth and development.

As part of her "Let Them Build" agenda, Governor Hochul also toured Stella housing Phases I & II today and highlighted the ongoing success of housing development of all types across New Rochelle including market-rate, mixed income and affordable developments, where collaboration between the city, state, county, and other stakeholders has resulted in the creation of approximately 4,500 new homes since 2020. To continue this progress and increase affordability in communities across New York, Governor Hochul also continued to highlight her "Let Them Build" proposal - a series of landmark reforms to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her 2026 State of the State.

"Cuts by the Trump Administration threatened to derail this LINC Project for the New Rochelle community - and that's why I'm stepping up to fill the gap and ensure that this vital plan can proceed," Governor Hochul said. "By transforming an outdated highway into green space, safe streets and vibrant public gathering places we are bringing communities together that were divided for generations. The City of New Rochelle is a prime example of what can be accomplished when we let municipalities build, build, build."

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "For decades, Memorial Highway divided Lincoln Avenue from downtown New Rochelle, limiting opportunity and weakening a once thriving Black community. The LINC project will reconnect these neighborhoods, create vibrant public space, and help correct longstanding inequities. I was proud to help launch this effort through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and with $16 million in new funding, we are closer than ever to making it a reality. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued partnership to a safer, more equitable New York."

State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, "Investments like this show what good government can look like: strengthening the places that connect our community and making sure progress benefits the people who already call New Rochelle home. Governor Hochul's $16 million commitment to the LINC Project will improve connections between our neighborhoods while creating greener, more welcoming public spaces. New Rochelle's housing progress shows that we can expand options and ease pressure on rents, but it also reinforces a simple truth: growth works best when it is paired with the right infrastructure, open space, and attention to neighborhood character."

Assemblymember Steve Otis said, "The LINC is New Rochelle's most transformational project in generations, a plan designed by the vision of the public to serve community enjoyment, spirit, and needs. Governor Hochul recognized what this plan means to the people of New Rochelle and how the dream of a new history for the city resonates in our community. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for finding the funding we have sought to make New Rochelle's vision a reality."

Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, "The LINC Project will turn what was for too long a barrier to community connection into a useful public space that brings people together. I'm also thrilled to see New Rochelle continuing to lead the way in building new housing of all types. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her leadership and support in making this investment possible. What's happening in New Rochelle shows what's possible when the state and the city work together to invest in community-centered development."

The LINC Project is New Rochelle's plan to transform a section of Memorial Highway - originally built in the 1960s and responsible for severing a historically Black neighborhood - into a linear park and community connector. The project will right-size the existing six-lane highway into a local street and green corridor, connecting downtown, the train station, the public library, and Lincoln Avenue. LINC will create safe and attractive pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, recreational space, and gathering areas, replacing a longstanding physical and social barrier with a shared community asset that allows residents and local businesses to benefit from downtown revitalization and economic growth. Building on the City's 2018 Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, the LINC supports more than 11,000 housing units already authorized and could unlock an additional 1,500 new units.

By transforming an outdated highway into green space, safe streets and vibrant public gathering places we are bringing communities together that were divided for generations."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The LINC will build upon the state's previous investments in New Rochelle by furthering efforts to improve connectivity and create inviting and engaging spaces. Additionally, the City's ongoing push to create more available housing complements the importance of Governor Hochul's 'Let Them Build' agenda, where common-sense reforms will cut red tape and promote new growth that strengthens communities throughout New York State."

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "The LINC project builds on the more than 11,000 homes already created, preserved, or underway in New Rochelle since 2020 that are providing opportunity and stability to households and individuals of all ages and income levels, while creating a connected, vibrant urban community. The LINC is the type of innovative revitalization initiative that will continue to propel New Rochelle forward and make it more affordable and attractive for residents, businesses, and visitors. This announcement, coupled with the Governor's Let Them Build agenda will have a transformational impact on New Rochelle and on communities across the state."

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, "The Department of State is proud of our role in creating opportunities for New Yorkers. Our programs promote economic growth and stability, construct badly needed housing and stimulate job growth. With the Governor's "Let Them Build" agenda, a faster, more streamlined approval process will allow projects to come online faster. We applaud Governor Hochul for her vision."

DASNY President & CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, "DASNY is proud to support efforts that bring critical investment to communities across New York. Our work financing, building, and administering grants for infrastructure projects gives us a clear view of how delays cost time and money that communities can't afford. With Governor Hochul's 'Let Them Build' agenda, a faster, more streamlined approval process will help get these projects off the ground and into the hands of the New Yorkers who need them most. We applaud the Governor for her vision and look forward to supporting this important work."

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, "As we recognize Black History Month, it is important that we confront not only the achievements of the African American community, but also the policies and infrastructure decisions that caused real harm. The construction that divided this neighborhood decades ago disproportionately impacted Black families and weakened a once-thriving community. Today's $16 million investment ensures that The LINC will move forward and begin repairing that damage. This project is about more than infrastructure - it is about equity and opportunity. Governor Hochul's leadership sends a clear message that New York stands with communities that were historically marginalized, even when federal support falls short."

City of New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert said, "I want to sincerely thank Governor Hochul for this extraordinary $16 million investment in New Rochelle. She has been a steadfast champion from the very beginning and a critical partner in securing the funding needed to keep the LINC moving forward. This support advances a transformational effort that strengthens economic connection, supports working families, and ensures that as New Rochelle grows, we do so thoughtfully and in a way that benefits residents today and for generations to come. We are grateful for the State's partnership and shared commitment to that vision."

In New Rochelle, collaboration between the city, state and other stakeholders has resulted in the creation of approximately 4,500 new homes since 2020 with 6,500 more underway. This surge in housing construction demonstrates how building housing of all types for a wide range of households increases affordability for all, leading to a five percent decline in rent growth in New Rochelle from 2020 to 2023. A Pew study found that New Rochelle increased annual housing permits from 39 units in 2017 to 989 new homes a year, which contributed to a decline in average rent growth from 12 percent in 2017-2020 to seven percent in 2020-2023 at a time when rents nationwide have been rising at double digits.

Governor Hochul toured housing developments financed by the state to see the progress, including Stella Phase I, a completed mixed income rental development and Stella Phase II, an affordable housing condominium development that is currently under construction, both of which are near transit with service on Metro North.

Helping Our Communities Build Housing We Need

When Governor Hochul took office, she vowed to tackle the housing crisis and bring down costs by building the housing that New Yorkers desperately need so that more hard working households and families can afford a place to call home. However, too much critically-needed affordable housing development is forced to navigate a web of red tape created by state mandates that add unnecessary costs and years of needless delays, despite such housing development consistently being found to have no significant environmental impact. Studies have quantified how State-mandated environmental review can slow down housing projects by an average of two years, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per project, at a time when New Yorkers can least afford the wait for the housing they need to continue to live and thrive in New York.

To speed up the development of housing to create a more affordable and sustainable New York, Governor Hochul has proposed to amend the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to exempt certain types of housing that have no significant impacts on the environment from additional SEQRA review. Housing exempted from SEQRA will still be required to comply with crucial State regulatory and permit requirements governing water use, air quality, environmental justice, and protection of natural resources. The proposal does not supersede local zoning and other permitting requirements, and exempted housing also must be located outside of flood risk areas in order to qualify.

Years of experience in both New York City and across the state, involving more than a thousand projects, has shown that virtually none of such projects ultimately were found to have significant environmental impacts, but nevertheless were still subject to lengthy reviews. These reforms will accelerate the delivery of much needed housing and reduce the cost of building in ways that are consistent with sustainable and environmentally-protective development, driving down the cost of housing and rents across the state while protecting our natural resources.

Accelerating Critical Infrastructure Projects That New Yorkers Depend On

Governor Hochul also has proposed to facilitate the speedier, cheaper delivery of a broad range of beneficial infrastructure projects that New Yorkers depend on. Specifically, the Governor has proposed to adjust SEQRA's classifications to exempt the following important categories of infrastructure that meet specific criteria from additional SEQRA review to start serving New Yorkers faster:

• Clean Water Infrastructure: Critical water infrastructure that avoids impacts to natural resources.
• Green Infrastructure: Nature-based storm water management.
• Parks and Trails: Public parks and recreational bike/pedestrian paths
• Child Care: New or renovated child care centers
• Governor Hochul's proposal would reserve these fast-track environmental review processes for only infrastructure that would be located at previously disturbed areas, protecting our natural resources and undisturbed lands, while strengthening our neighborhoods. The Governor's approach would yield tangible environmental benefits including improved air and water quality, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the preservation of critical habitats when compared to policies which encourage sprawl and unchecked development of natural areas.

Currently SEQRA review timelines vary greatly across projects, creating unpredictability for local communities, project sponsors, and state agencies alike. To cut through the red tape, Governor Hochul has proposed to:

• Deliver faster decisions for local communities by setting clear timelines for environmental impact statements and driving accountability
• Streamline environmental impact statements to cut down on review timelines for key categories of projects
• Modernize New York's permitting processes to save time and money for localities by improving processes and utilizing new technologies
• Expedite major state infrastructure projects to serve New Yorkers faster
• Support local communities through a new permitting academy

Contact the Governor's Press Office