Ludlow Apartments is an 8-story, 71-unit affordable senior housing development in Yonkers. Built under HUD 202 guidelines, the building includes 70 one-bedroom and a single two-bedroom units with full kitchens and bathrooms to support independent senior living. Located on the perimeter of downtown Yonkers, Ludlow Apartments is a short distance from the retail and community facilities center of the city, and easily accessible by the MetroNorth RailRoad. The apartments on the west end of the building enjoy views of the Hudson River and Palisades beyond.
On the ground floor the day-lit elevator lobby, a generous community room with kitchenette, and three program offices for Westhab, the senior services provider, occupy most of the space. The super’s apartment and laundry room as well as equipment and systems rooms occupy the rest. While the community room and laundry room look on to Ludlow Street, a landscaped rear garden provides access to the outdoors. The building is set back at Ludlow Street and a large landscaped field separates the entrance from the street; a slate wall/bench offer seating at the front door and indicate a path to the rear garden.
Supporting the welfare and active lifestyle of the senior tenants was an important focus of the design process. At each floor the elevator lobbies are extended to include a small sitting area with large windows that allow daylighting and views across Yonkers. At night, the lobbies glow onto the street creating a safe building entrance. The two building stairs are brightly lit with large windows and colorful wall treatments making them appealing to use for vertical mobility, important in senior housing.
Ludlow Commons includes sustainable strategies such as FSC certified hardwood paneling, linoleum Forbo floors, engineered concrete stone floors, high-performance, energy efficient windows, passive solar orientation, high efficiency condensing boilers, insulated building envelope, heat reflective roof, energy star appliances, LED lighting, including motion and daylight sensing public area lighting, and water savings kitchen and bathroom fixtures. The building is LEED Gold certified and NYSERDA Energy Star Multi-Family Program compliant.