Each summer, the Yonkers waterfront becomes one of the most popular destinations in Westchester.  It offers everything from food and fireworks to music and movies.  Indeed, the Yonkers shoreline with the magnificent Palisades as a backdrop is just an all-round great warm weather place to be.

Today’s eating and entertainment nature of the waterfront follows a long history of Yonkers as a commercial maritime center.  Beginning in 1645 when the Dutch West India Company issued Adriaen Van der Donck the grant of Colon Donck, development and transit have centered around Yonkers location on the Hudson River. 

Beginning with sawmills and gristmills, the land became filled with blacksmith shops, taverns, general stores and farmhouses to support the trade along the waterfront. The advent of rail travel (the first railroad station was built in 1848 on the site of the present Yonkers Station), accelerated the development of the industrial era near Yonkers harbor.

Industry titans in Yonkers in the 1800s included innovators like the Otis Elevator Company, the Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company, and the Waring Hat Manufactory.  In addition, today’s American Sugar Refining that operates on the Hudson River traces its origins to the Federal Sugar Refinery built on the same site in 1901.

Over the past decade, the amazing revitalization of the downtown district has been driven by new residential buildings emerging from abandoned industrial sites.  Earlier this month, Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone and other dignitaries celebrated the grand opening of the second phase of Hudson Park, the $200 million redevelopment project offering luxury rental apartments.  Metro92 is a conversion of a former trolley barn into live/work lofts.  This year has seen the ribbon cutting of 66Main Street, a new 170-unit apartment house built on a series of former industrial parcels.

And the future of Yonkers waterfront is very promising with a number of new projects being planned including additional residential rental units, office space, marinas, parks and retail centers.

Other attractions have also been added along the Hudson River.  The city dedicated the first phase of its riverfront Esplanade Park in 2003.  It is comprised of a Sculpture Meadow, a September 11th Memorial Garden and a pedestrian boardwalk.  The Yonkers Pier, where many boats and ships once docked, has been renovated and now houses X20 Xaviar’s-on-the-Hudson, a new five-star restaurant, and a ferry dock for NY Water Taxi’s commuter service to lower Manhattan.

The 21st century Yonkers waterfront is a work in progress that continues a tradition of welcoming new residents, emerging businesses and visitors. Like generations that preceded, there is continued renewal along the City’s shoreline.

In the coming weeks, there will be much summer fun to celebrate as the Yonkers Downtown BID, in partnership with the City of Yonkers, once again presents the Jazz & Blues at Dusk Summer Concert Series that will be held every Friday from July 11 to September 5, starting at 6:30 PM.

Evolution Arts, the highly successful new series of free Sunday afternoon art exhibits that the Yonkers Downtown BID introduced this spring will continue through August. The exhibit sites  are clustered together on Main Street and the waterfront, enabling visitors to leisurely view works by artists from Yonkers and throughout Yonkers and also enjoy food and refreshments of restaurants offering discounts on the exhibit days.

The free Main Street Film Series at Dusk will delight moviegoers once again with outdoor screenings of popular films every Tuesday evening during August. The films will be projected on a huge inflatable outdoor screen with seating provided.

And, mark your calendars for Saturday, September 13, for the annual Yonkers Riverfest, an all-day celebration taking place throughout Downtown Yonkers featuring a variety of adult and kid-friendly activities including a host of entertainers, arts, amusements, educational games, booths, rides and exhibits—all free and open to the public. 

These are just some of the many events that will be taking place this summer.  For  more info, visit www.YonkersDowntown.com. We look forward to seeing you on the waterfront.