RESOLUTION NO. ___ 2026
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RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 OF THE CITY’S CODE, TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING BOARD AND THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD TO EXPAND THE PHILLIPSE MANOR HISTORIC DISTRICT AT BLOCK: 2003 LOTS: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6.7, AND 8 ON THE PROPERTIES KNOWN AS 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20 WARBURTON AVENUE, YONKERS, NEW YORK
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WHEREAS, the City Council previously designated the area commonly known as the Phillipse Manor Historic District and consisting of the Phillipse Manor Building and the McCann Building, as an historic district pursuant to Chapter 45 of the City Code of the City of Yonkers (the “Yonkers City Code”) titled, “Historic and Landmarks Preservation”; and,
WHEREAS, another application, pursuant to Chapter 45 of the Yonkers City Code was thereafter submitted to the Board on August 22, 2025, to expand the District to include the properties known as 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 45-1 (A) of the Yonkers City Code provides, in part, that the City Council finds and declares it desirable to take measures to provide for, as relevant herein, the designation of historic districts to serve the public purpose of promoting the economic benefits, cultural and educational advantages and general welfare of the City of Yonkers; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Yonkers City Code provides for the formation of a Landmarks Preservation Board for the City of Yonkers and outlines the procedures by which an application for historical district status may be submitted to the Board for its consideration and possible thereafter recommendation of such designation to the City Council (see Chapter 45-3); and,
WHEREAS, the procedures by which the Board shall review a proposal to designate an historic district is codified in Chapter 45-5 (D)-(J) of the Yonkers City Code and are as follows: (1) a referral of the proposal to the Planning Board of the City of Yonkers for its advisory recommendation; (2) receipt of the Planning Board’s recommendation; (3) a notice of Public Hearing, including, but not limited to, the address of the property under consideration and the name of the owner of record; (3) a notice of Public Hearing to said owner by registered mail, return receipt requested; (4) the holding of a Public Hearing by the Board; and, (5) the issuance by the Board of a written report of its findings of fact, which, if include a recommendation of designation of a proposed historic district, shall be directed to the City Council for acceptance, remand or rejection; and,
WHEREAS, to be deemed an historic district, the proposed property must possess one or more of the following characteristics of an historic district, as listed in Chapter 45-2 (A) of the Yonkers City Code: (1) special character and special historic value; (2) represent one or more periods or styles of art or architecture typical of one or more past eras; and (3) geographically combine such factors “in a distinct and identifiable portion of the city so as to constitute a discernible entity” (Chapter 45-2 [A][3]); and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the foregoing on or about August 22, 2025 the application for the Phillipse Manor Historic District to be enlarged to include additional buildings was received, and the Board has undertaken and completed its review process, including, without limitation: a referral of the application to the Planning Board on September 3, 2025, for its advisory recommendation; the holding of a public hearing on January 7, 2026 and February 4, 2026, following satisfaction of the aforementioned notice requirements; and, receipt from the Planning Board on November 10, 2025, of its recommendation for approval of the application. With that, the Board found that the properties located at 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York, should be added to the Phillipse Manor Historic District as the Southern Extension of the Phillipse Manor Historic District because they satisfy the criteria for an historic district, as set forth in Chapter 45-2 (A) of the Yonkers City Code. As detailed in the application, To be deemed a historic district, the subject property must possess one or more of the characteristics of a Historic District as defined in section 45-2 of the Yonkers Code; and
WHEREAS, The proposed continuation of the Philipse Manor Historic District is illustrative of a number of these characteristics. The proposed preservation of the architecturally and culturally significant buildings located on the east side of Warburton Avenue between Main Street and Manor House Square would complete two large rectangular blocks of downtown Yonkers development dating from the post-Civil War period through the early twentieth century. Inclusion of these six buildings would extend the Philipse Manor Historic District and connect it with the Wheeler Block Historic District, collectively serving as a lasting testament to the economic and cultural vitality of downtown Yonkers during this period of prosperity. The Warburton Avenue buildings represent a diverse range of architectural styles that, when viewed collectively, form a harmonious composition of height, massing, and scale; and
WHEREAS, These structures complement the buildings to the north and east and contribute to a cohesive historic streetscape. All of the subject buildings were constructed following the destruction of earlier development on the block in the devastating fire of 1893. In rebuilding, the architects and builders demonstrated a clear commitment to architectural quality, resulting in a unified block of buildings that continues to contribute meaningfully to the city’s historic character; and
WHEREAS, In the context of extensive contemporary redevelopment in this area of the city, the creation of this district presents an important opportunity to establish a bastion of historic preservation and continuity. The daylighted Saw Mill River further reinforces this connection to the past, reminding residents and visitors alike that Yonkers possesses a long and distinguished history predating twenty-first-century development. When viewed above the altered commercial storefronts at street level, the upper stories reveal classic architectural details of the era, including a functioning clock crowning the roofline at 16 Warburton Avenue. Several of the buildings are identified in the City’s File Room archives as having been designed by members of the Quick family of architects, a prominent local firm also responsible for Yonkers City Hall. In addition, No. 10 Warburton Avenue holds cultural significance as the longtime home of the Herald Statesman. These architectural and cultural associations further underscore the importance of the buildings as tangible links to Yonkers’ civic and social history and render them worthy of inclusion in the City’s ongoing downtown preservation efforts; and
WHEREAS, The proposed continuation of the Philipse Manor Historic District to include six buildings along Warburton Avenue satisfies the criteria for historic district designation. Collectively, these properties possess special character and special historic and cultural value as a cohesive extension of the existing district. The buildings represent architectural styles and periods typical of Yonkers’ post-Civil War through early twentieth-century development and share consistent scale, massing, and design characteristics with the adjoining Philipse Manor Historic District. Geographically, the properties form a distinct and identifiable continuation of the historic downtown streetscape, completing a coherent block bounded by Main Street and Manor House Square. Taken together, these factors establish the area as a discernible historic entity whose preservation will strengthen the integrity, continuity, and legibility of the Philipse Manor Historic District; and
WHEREAS, Finally, the suggested properties “geographically combine” the foregoing factors “in a distinct and identifiable portion of the City so as to constitute a discernible entity” by their joining of architectural elements with the spirit of the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s, all of which can be admired in the historic prints held by the Hudson River Museum (Chapter 45-2 [A][3]); and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on February 4, 2026, the Board therefore voted unanimously to recommend adding 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York 9 to the Phillipse Manor Historic District, finding that these buildings meet the criteria for an historic district as set forth in Chapter 45 of the Yonkers City Code, and thereafter forwarded a written report, dated February 5, 2026, of its findings and favorable resolution to the City Council for consideration and a final decision; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 45-5 (J) of the Yonkers City Code provides that if the Board recommends designation of a proposed historic district, then the City Council shall review said recommendation and may accept it.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby accepts the recommendation of the Board and does hereby expand the Phillipse Manor Historic District at Block 2003, Lots 1, 3, 4, 5, 6.7, and 8 on the properties known as 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York, pursuant to Chapter 45 of the Yonkers City Code; and it be further
RESOLVED, that the above constitutes a “Type II” action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), and its implementing regulations, 6 NYCRR Part 617, which is an action determined not to have significant effect on the environment and therefore does not require further environmental review; and it be further
RESOLVED, that the resolution will take effect immediately.