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The 5 Major Reasons Why Yonkers’ Chicken Island Is The Most Cursed—And Coveted—Development Site In New York

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The six-acre parcel of land in downtown Yonkers, known as Chicken Island, is one of the most persistently frustrating—yet potentially transformative—development sites in Westchester County. As of late December 2025, the site's future remains a high-stakes question mark, following a major pivot by the city. After a four-year agreement with a major developer stalled, Yonkers officials have once again put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) in mid-2024, signaling a fresh, aggressive push to finally break the site's decades-long development curse and unlock a massive $1 billion-plus revitalization for the entire downtown area.

This vacant municipal parking lot, a key component of the city’s long-term economic development strategy, is slated to become a massive mixed-use hub, potentially adding up to 2,500 units of new housing, retail space, and a hotel near the bustling Getty Square area. The story of Chicken Island, however, is not just about its future; it’s a saga of failed plans, historical significance, and the persistent challenge of turning a long-sought vision into reality.

The Tumultuous History and Key Entities of Chicken Island

The name "Chicken Island" is not merely a quirky nickname; it has roots in the city’s 19th-century industrial past. The site was once a literal island within the Saw Mill River, which flowed openly through downtown Yonkers.

Historical records show the island was occupied by a chicken farm, a slaughterhouse, and the Yonkers Brewery. Over time, the river was buried—or "culverted"—effectively turning the island into the land parcel we know today, primarily used as a municipal parking lot and the site of a government center parking garage.

For over 40 years, the City of Yonkers has tried, and failed, to redevelop the site, with proposals ranging from a minor league baseball stadium to various large-scale residential and commercial projects.

Key Entities and Development Players

  • Mayor Mike Spano: A major driver of the downtown revitalization efforts, who has repeatedly called the Chicken Island development a "game changer."
  • AMS Acquisitions: The developer who purchased the site for $16 million in 2018, with a plan for a residential center and hotel, before the agreement was recently scrapped.
  • Yonkers Community Development Agency (YCDA) & Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA): The city agencies involved in managing the property and the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
  • Saw Mill River Daylighting: The multi-phase environmental and urban renewal project that has uncovered sections of the buried river, with Chicken Island being a critical, final phase.
  • River Park Center Site: The official designation for the area, which encompasses the Chicken Island parcel.

The Five Major Reasons for the Development Delay

The Chicken Island project has become synonymous with development purgatory. Its long-term stagnation is due to a confluence of complex factors, making it a unique challenge for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Westchester County.

1. The Scrapping of the 2018 Deal

The most recent and significant setback was the termination of the agreement with AMS Acquisitions. While the 2018 sale for $16 million was hailed as a "watershed moment," the project failed to break ground. By mid-2024, the city moved to issue a new Request for Proposals (RFP), indicating the original plan had stalled beyond recovery. This restarts the clock on the multi-year process of developer selection, planning, and approval.

2. The Complexities of the Saw Mill River Daylighting

The Chicken Island site is the final and most challenging piece of the Saw Mill River Daylighting project. This ambitious environmental initiative involves uncovering the buried river to create a new urban park and reconnect the city to its natural waterway. The development plan must intricately weave the new buildings and infrastructure around this daylighting component, which adds significant engineering and regulatory complexity to the construction.

3. The Need for Massive Infrastructure Overhaul

The development requires the demolition of the existing government center parking garage and the municipal parking lot to make way for the new structures. This is not a simple tear-down; it involves relocating parking, managing the environmental cleanup of a former industrial site (known as the River Park Center Site), and building all-new infrastructure to support a community of 2,500 new residential units.

4. Shifting Economic and Market Conditions

The initial AMS deal was struck in 2018. The subsequent years saw a global pandemic, massive inflation, and volatile interest rates, all of which dramatically altered the economic landscape for large-scale development. These shifting market conditions likely contributed to the inability of the developer to move the project forward, forcing the city to take a "long-term view of development" and seek a new partner better positioned for the current financial climate.

5. The Scale of the Vision

The proposed development is not a modest undertaking; it is a transformative, multi-building project that is expected to cost over $1 billion and fundamentally change the Nepperhan Avenue corridor and the entire downtown Yonkers tax base. The sheer scale, which includes six buildings of varying heights and a mix of residential, commercial, and public space, requires a seasoned developer with immense financial stability and logistical expertise. The city's new RFP is specifically targeting such a partner.

The Future: A New Vision for 2025 and Beyond

Despite the delays, the momentum for the Chicken Island revitalization remains strong. The project is considered a linchpin for the continued success of downtown Yonkers, proving that economic development is possible beyond the immediate waterfront.

City officials, including those from the Yonkers Community Development Agency, are optimistic about a breakthrough, with an anticipated move ahead in 2025. The new developer will be tasked with executing a plan that is not just about building apartments but about creating a new, vibrant urban center.

The core components of the new vision remain consistent: a massive influx of new residences (up to 2,500 units), new retail and commercial space, and the completion of the Saw Mill River Daylighting component. This development is seen as the final piece of the puzzle to connect Getty Square with the waterfront, ensuring Yonkers continues its trajectory as a major hub for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) outside of New York City. The successful redevelopment of Chicken Island will finally lay to rest the "40-year curse" and cement a new economic future for the city.

The 5 Major Reasons Why Yonkers’ Chicken Island is the Most Cursed—And Coveted—Development Site in New York
chicken island yonkers ny
chicken island yonkers ny

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