R I D G E S T R E E T T O W N H O U S E S
The project at 7-15
Ridge Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, began in 1997 when the owner of the vacant
property met with the Hastings Planning Board to explore types of development
that could be considered in an area of the village zoned light industrial. The
site is a steeply sloped lot made vacant by a gas explosion in the late 1960s,
overlooking the decaying remains of industrial facilities that once thrived
along the Hudson River. Ridge Street is a narrow windy road accessible from
Washington Avenue, which is part of the Hastings downtown commercial district.
The Westchester County Planning
Department, who prepared a Master Plan for the street, and the Hastings
Affordable Housing Committee recommended in 1997 that the property be developed
for affordable housing.
In 1998, the architect and owner/builder for the project made a proposal to the Village to construct ten affordable housing units. Two years later, after several submissions to the Hastings Zoning Board of Appeals to review zoning variances and compliance with the steep slopes and view preservation ordinances, approval was given for four 1,680 square foot units. Although the lower density meant that the project would no longer meet the regulations for affordable housing, the design would retain many of the original features of the ten-unit project that would result in economical construction, making the units at the low end of the cost of housing in Westchester County.
The inspiration for the project came from the Architect’s study of post-war English terrace housing during her undergraduate studies at the Architectural Association of London in 1977. This housing prototype consisted of a small three-bedroom unit using 20 to 25 foot wide floor spans between 30 to 40 foot long party walls. A two-story glass bay at the front façade, and generous expanses of glass on the rear wall, maximized entry of light into the dwelling. This model was applied to Ridge Street, utilizing a 21-foot by 40-foot module, a two-story glass bay along the front façade, and an entire wall of glass along the western façade to take advantage of river views. The model was modified to meet the challenges of building on a narrow 20-foot wide ridge along the street, which dropped approximately 40 feet towards the rear property line. Steel outriggers were anchored into each party wall to support a cantilevered platform for the back portion of the units and outdoor decks.
To create a sense of spaciousness in a small 820 square foot footprint, the kitchen, dining, and living areas were given an entirely open layout, with nine and ten foot ceiling heights, and a wall of glass doors along the rear façade facing the river. A skylight at the top of an open staircase provides light into the interior space. The two story glass bay and the 21 foot wide façade at the front of each unit creates a scale and proportion in keeping with surrounding buildings, built in the early 1900s.
The project was completed in Spring 2002. Today this neighborhood, which was once a run-down blighted area of Hastings, is a vibrant community. The owners of the units make use of the front stoops and take pride in maintaining their front gardens. The dramatic upgrade in the physical environment and property values has affected the entire street, and consequently, the quality of life in the neighborhood.
In 1998, the architect and owner/builder for the project made a proposal to the Village to construct ten affordable housing units. Two years later, after several submissions to the Hastings Zoning Board of Appeals to review zoning variances and compliance with the steep slopes and view preservation ordinances, approval was given for four 1,680 square foot units. Although the lower density meant that the project would no longer meet the regulations for affordable housing, the design would retain many of the original features of the ten-unit project that would result in economical construction, making the units at the low end of the cost of housing in Westchester County.
The inspiration for the project came from the Architect’s study of post-war English terrace housing during her undergraduate studies at the Architectural Association of London in 1977. This housing prototype consisted of a small three-bedroom unit using 20 to 25 foot wide floor spans between 30 to 40 foot long party walls. A two-story glass bay at the front façade, and generous expanses of glass on the rear wall, maximized entry of light into the dwelling. This model was applied to Ridge Street, utilizing a 21-foot by 40-foot module, a two-story glass bay along the front façade, and an entire wall of glass along the western façade to take advantage of river views. The model was modified to meet the challenges of building on a narrow 20-foot wide ridge along the street, which dropped approximately 40 feet towards the rear property line. Steel outriggers were anchored into each party wall to support a cantilevered platform for the back portion of the units and outdoor decks.
To create a sense of spaciousness in a small 820 square foot footprint, the kitchen, dining, and living areas were given an entirely open layout, with nine and ten foot ceiling heights, and a wall of glass doors along the rear façade facing the river. A skylight at the top of an open staircase provides light into the interior space. The two story glass bay and the 21 foot wide façade at the front of each unit creates a scale and proportion in keeping with surrounding buildings, built in the early 1900s.
The project was completed in Spring 2002. Today this neighborhood, which was once a run-down blighted area of Hastings, is a vibrant community. The owners of the units make use of the front stoops and take pride in maintaining their front gardens. The dramatic upgrade in the physical environment and property values has affected the entire street, and consequently, the quality of life in the neighborhood.