(This article incorrectly attributed to a source that the United Way of Westchester and Putnam accepted donations on behalf of residents at Palisade Towers. That information has now been removed from the article.)
The Municipal Housing Authority of Yonkers said a bid was awarded to an Armonk-based contracting company to convert gas lines into electric power by October 2026 after residents have been without gas for a year.
Since August 2024, Palisade Towers residents have been without gas after pipe corrosion was discovered while Con Edison crews attempted to repair a reported gas leak.
The gas services at the 411-unit apartment complex were permanently shut off on Aug. 30, 2024, as Yonkers city officials attempted to address the problem.
At the time of the gas leak at Palisade Towers, dozens of restaurants and local businesses came together to donate food, money and necessary appliances like microwaves to the residents, including Stew Leonards’ grocery store, P.C. Richard and Sons and St. Joseph’s Hospital, providing necessary temporary relief.
A permanent solution months in the making
MHACY president and CEO Wilson Kimball said the housing authority has attempted to convert the buildings from gas to electric long before the gas leak presented itself.
“That is something that we’ve wanted to do,” Kimball said in August 2024. “We’ve talked to Governor Hochul and [the state Homes and Community Renewal] office about going electric” as well as to the county government.
MHACY hoped that a contract would be finalized by June and construction to start as soon as possible after.
However, the housing authority failed to receive any bids from firms on the April 21 deadline after a request for proposals was online and active for a month.
Bids were reopened with a May 22 deadline. Now, Brendan McGrath, general counsel for the Municipal Housing Authority said two bids were received in early July.
Touchstone Builders, an Armonk-based general contracting firm, was awarded the bid after they “presented the best budget and plan” out of the two.
“Right now, we’re in the process of planning phase-one construction,” he said. “The contractors received an award letter July 11 and post-bid meetings are happening to negotiate the contract and work on a construction schedule.”
Kimball said phase one of the conversion would include upgrading to new electrical distribution panels, new service wiring to each apartment and installation of new stoves and new outlets in the apartments.
In January, Westchester County’s Landlord Tenant Assistance Program said it would provide a $4.6-million grant to fund the conversion. An additional $11 million was provided by the Community Preservation Corporation’s Climate Friendly Homes Fund.
McGrath said MHACY is aiming to start construction on Oct. 1, with an estimated completion by September or October of 2026.
“That right now is our goal and it seems to be on track right now,” he said. “Phase one will probably take about 11 months to a year if all goes well.”
Next steps for phase two would include upgrading internal electrical systems in the eight-building complex, updating plumbing, HVAC and hot water systems, among other necessary improvements.
How to help Palisade Towers residents
McGrath said that the municipal housing authority is no longer taking any donations directly to residents. However, those who would like to help residents still have options.
“The county government has been very helpful,” McGrath said. “But we’re trying to make sure that government money is being directed properly to our efforts to rehabilitate the apartments.”
McGrath says people wishing to help residents at the Palisade Towers can help get the ball rolling by contacting their local elected officials in New York state and express concern over the lack of gas.
Lohud’s Michael McKinney contributed to this report.
(This story was corrected to clarify how readers can help residents at Palisade Towers.)
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Palisade Towers residents to get electric stoves by October 2026, Yonkers says
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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