Elmsford, NY (May, 2005) – County Executive Andrew Spano and local officials joined senior residents and their guests Sunday to celebrate the completion of the first building at Woodcrest Village Condominiums in Mount Kisco, Westchester’s newest senior housing community. Developed by Wilder Balter Partners, the region’s leading developer of affordable senior housing, the occasion was marked with a “Hard Hat Tour” and spring barbecue held at the site off Route 172.
The occasion provided an opportunity for the seniors and their guests to preview their unit types and meet their future neighbors. All 90 condo units of Woodcrest Village were sold within 4 months when sales opened last May, said William Balter, who heads the company along with his partner, Robert Wilder.
“The need for affordable senior housing is well known,” Balter said, “but when you see the level of interest that Woodcrest Village commanded, you get an idea of just how much pent-up demand is out there.” He noted that high level of demand was seen from the moment ground was broken for the project “when we had 250 names on a waiting list.” Since all 90 units are in contract to be sold, a waiting list for unit resales is being maintained by Community Housing Innovations in White Plains. Community Housing Innovations is the not-for profit sponsor for Woodcrest Village.
Balter said that Woodcrest Village, like other affordable senior communities that Wilder Balter Partners has built, meets the need for active seniors to be able to remain in their communities rather than being forced to relocate long distances to more affordable locations and thereby be separated from family and friends.
The County Executive praised Wilder-Balter Partners for its innovative approaches to creating affordable housing.
He said: “Affordable housing isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario. Westchester County needs a healthy mix of housing to keep our economy strong. Fortunately, we have creative developers like Bob Wilder and Bill Balter who recognize this and create new opportunities for our different resident needs. I congratulate them for their vision.”
Mount Kisco Mayor Michael Cindrich commented, “The Woodcrest Village Condominium Project represents a significant accomplishment for both the developer and the Village of Mount Kisco. Mount Kisco has always been on the cutting edge of providing affordable housing. This project was a collaboration of neighboring property owners, Mount Kisco officials and the developer resulting in open space preservation, affordable housing and quality high-end housing balancing and meeting the needs of a diverse Mount Kisco community.”
Because most of the 25-acre parcel is situated in the Village/Town of Mount Kisco and partly in the Town of Bedford, 59 affordable condominiums were allocated with first preference to Mount Kisco seniors while the other seven were allocated to seniors from Bedford. Unlike most other affordable senior housing communities, Woodcrest received no government funding. The entire $15 million project is privately funded.
In the center of the property an 8-acre open space preservation will be created that includes a restored dam and pond. This area is subject to a conservation easement managed by the Westchester Land Trust and will include walking trails for use by Woodcrest residents and the public.
The project architect is Westchester-based Warshauer Mellusi Warshauer, Architects. Griffon Associates, an affiliate of Wilder Balter Partners, is the construction manager. Construction financing was provided by M&T Mortgage Corporation.
