MOUNT VERNON, NY - Today, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, City Council and City leadership officially launched Mount Vernon’s first Comprehensive Plan since 1968. Declaring that “this is a new day for Mount Vernon, and we need a comprehensive vision for the future of our city,” Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is launching the start of a process that will involve every community from across the city. The Mayor is naming this process, “Envision Mount Vernon, Reimagining Our Future Together.”
“When I took office, I pledged to my neighbors and all of our communities that Mount Vernon would undertake a serious, professional and most of all, inclusive comprehensive planning process to lay out a vision for the future of our city,” said Mayor Patterson-Howard. “Today, I am thrilled to formally announce the start of the planning process and to emphasize to all residents, business owners, and organizations that you will have a chance to make yourself heard on the future for Mount Vernon. We are calling this process Envision Mount Vernon, Reimagining Our Future Together.”
The body of this City Council is excited to see some traction on the beginning stages of the Comprehensive Plan. Mount Vernon has gone decades without a plan in place and now we are finally at a place where things can begin and be beneficial to our city. It will be great to see the input our community brings forth as part of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Persons from every sector of this city will be able to share their ideas and concerns about what structures are allowed to be erected throughout the city. This is a great start for great things to come to Mount Vernon. "Together we can do anything,” said City Council President Derrick Thompson.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Patterson-Howard administration and our City Council, we are finally ready to move forward with the comprehensive plan. The adoption of this comprehensive plan will be a turning point for Mt. Vernon. Our future is not only bright but will also be driven and directed by our residents", said City Councilman Ed Poteat.
“This is a proud day for the City of Mount Vernon! When I was brought on back in February, we guaranteed that we would start the city’s first comprehensive plan since 1968 before the end of the year, and we kept that promise. I want to thank Mayor Patterson-Howard for her energy and vision in making this moment happen. I would also like to recognize Deputy Commissioner Marlon Molina,
Associate Commissioner Katherine Mella, and Planning Administrator Robert Galvin for their work in helping make the right choice for the city. MUD Workshop’s extensive grassroots, urban design-based experience will help forge the city’s identity for the next ten years and decades to come. Through collaborative outreach, local partnerships and substantive listening sessions, MUD Workshop, along with their stellar partners, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress and AKRF, will create the vision that Mount Vernon has sought for so long,” said Planning Commissioner James Rausse
Mount Vernon has contracted Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop, LLC (MUD Workshop), a New York City-based minority- and woman-owned business, to partner with the City on these efforts. MUD Workshop is an urban design and planning studio dedicated to the regeneration of neighborhoods and public places. MUD Workshop emphasizes sustainability and community-centric thinking in all projects as it recognizes this to be the greatest factor in bringing about positive changes in communities and ensuring the long-term viability of all design and development works. The consultant team also includes AKRF Inc. and Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress.
Most people know Mount Vernon as a City of Homes: a retreat from the densely populated New York City with high quality housing stock. But the City has always offered a lot more than that: it has been home to some of the most renowned artists in film, hip hop, and jazz, it has a distinct architecture and architectural history, and culturally diverse retail. So, there is a lot more than just "residential retreat" that makes up Mount Vernon's identity. My team and I are looking forward to working with the people of Mount Vernon and highlighting all its apparent and hidden assets to develop a framework that will guide necessary preservation, quality of life, future growth, and economy,” said Shachi Pandey/MUD Workshop.
“Core to the city’s and the consultant team’s approach is robust community engagement” said Mayor Patterson-Howard. “Community engagement activities will be varied, accessible, and inclusive of the diversity of residents who live and work here and will include opportunities for residents and stakeholders to participate both in-person and virtually.”
This approximately two-year process will unfold in two phases: the first phase will focus on visioning for downtown, which has city-wide impact. The second phase will build on these efforts and engage residents across all neighborhoods. The outcome of this process will guide the City’s trajectory over the next ten years and beyond.
To learn more about the plan and sign up for updates, go to the comprehensive plan landing page at: https://cmvny.com/605/Comprehensive-Plan.
