Project Description
Schoolhouse Terrace is the first phase of a master plan
to redevelop the adjacent, outdated Cottage Gardens
Public Housing. The project consists of a pair of new
buildings, one with 51 units for seniors and the other 70
apartments for families ranging in size from one to three
bedrooms.
Set on Ashburton Avenue and separated by a new street
ending in a cul-de-sac, the two corner lot structures
reflect the style and scale of the community. With 19th
century masonry buildings surrounding the site, the
brick facades embrace the area’s established aesthetic
and visually tie it through material to the public school
that it replaces. Though structural damage forced the
city to demolish the school, its original arched entryway
has been incorporated into the new buildings to create a
monumental senior lobby.
Continuity within the neighborhood is expressed through
the buildings’ massing. Dividing the lot with a small
street eschews a superblock development. Taking
advantage of the downward slope of the street, the
Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC
larger building is situated on the lower, western portion
of the property and its tallest portions are set back from
Ashburton Avenue.
Residents enjoy large windows that maximize natural
light and offer views of the Hudson River and the
Palisades beyond. The new street and sidewalks,
green roofing, street trees, public benches and lighting
connect them to their neighborhood. Terraces located
at the north end of each building provide residents
with a pleasant landscape where they can sit and enjoy
the outdoors. The site is within walking distance of
the Yonkers Metro North and Amtrak train station. It