YONKERS – The downtown Yonkers six-acre parcel known as “Chicken Island” has been sold by the city to developer AMS Acquisitions LLC for $16 million.

The developer’s vision for the property is to make it the epicenter of the downtown with a concentration on shopping, dining and experiential retail, coupled with multi-family buildings, an office component and a luxury hotel.   

“Downtown Yonkers is in the midst of a renaissance,” said Michael Mitnick, principal in AMS Acquisitions.

“AMS is invested heavily in the growth and expansion of this incredible and unique market. An abundance of culture, diversity and history, combined with a beautiful natural landscape, and robust development is fueling the success of this city.”

“Seven years ago the Chicken Island redevelopment plan was dead,” said Mayor Michael Spano, referring to a previous plan to build a minor league baseball stadium on the site.

“Now we have a workable plan, backed up with hard dollars that the city can use in the short run to fund our schools and essential services, and in the long run we will collect many millions of real estate and income taxes plus take another giant leap forward in revitalizing the downtown.”

Coined “Chicken Island” in the late 1800s when a small island in the Saw Mill River was used as a local chicken farm, the six-acre site is located to the northeast of Yonkers City Hall.

The company will pay the city an $800,000 deposit with the balance of the funds paid once the sale is approved by the city council.