New Rochelle is a suburb of New York City known for its diversity, its seasonal festivals and events, museums and educational opportunities, and its beautiful waterfront. In May of 2022, during National Public Works Week, the city unveiled a new addition on the shore: a Department of Public Works center that provides crucial services to the more than 80,000 residents who live within New Rochelle’s 10 square miles.
Thanks to the economic development advisory services of Grow America, the city of New Rochelle was approved for over $600 million in development over two years. This allowed the government to relocate the DPW center, something they’ve hoped to do for over a decade. It now stands at 25 Industrial Lane, a 12-acre site.
“This new facility brings this essential department into the 21st century,” said City Manager Charles B. Strome, III. “As the work they do is often unseen, this event—and Public Works week annually—is an opportunity to express our appreciation for their hard work and service.”
Along with assisting New Rochelle in updating its Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP), Grow America provided recommendations on property tax abatements to encourage the development of living and working spaces, as well as affordable housing. Now, developers and businesses have precise schedules to predict what’s coming in the development processes.
The DPW facility, built on the ground floor of a $70 million mixed-use building through a public-private partnership, has opened up the waterfront for a $150 million mixed-use development. It now contains the Bureaus of Streets and Highways and Central Garage (which extends the useful lives of city vehicles), training spaces for DPW staff, as well as an Emergency Operations Center.
Mayor Bramson noted, “The completion of this center is an achievement of generational significance, with three vital benefits to our community: enhanced safety and dignity for DPW workers who perform some of New Rochelle’s most essential duties; modern, efficient infrastructure to meet the current and long-term service needs of a growing city; and a visionary change in land use that unlocks the enormous untapped potential of the Echo Bay waterfront for the public’s use.”
The new DPW building was complemented by a new City Yard Waste and Refuse Facility at 85 Beechwood Avenue and 90 Birch Street’s Cliff Fuel Station.
“This year’s theme is ‘Ready and Resilient’, which perfectly describes the dedicated members of our department,” said Commissioner Jim Moran, of the DPW’s 127 staff members across eight bureaus. “We celebrate the opening of this new facility, and the additional sites, with gratitude for the service of the bureaus that will be housed here and that of the other bureaus that provide essential services throughout every season, and in response to every need.”
With Grow America, New Rochelle was able to determine the needs of its people and look to the future. The city estimates that the DPW structure has saved over $5 million in capital costs. There is interest in further developments to come, and the city will be richer for it.
From the ground
