They say home is where the heart is, but Gov. Kathy Hochul thinks it should also be affordable and near public transport.

On Wednesday, the governor and Macquesten Development broke ground on a new affordable housing project on a street corner in downtown Yonkers that has sat empty for decades.

"This is going to be a 10-story building with on-site parking and about 1,500-square-feet of retail," says Macquesten Development CEO Rella Fogliano.

But most important to the governor is the strategic location of the project, and its proximity to public transport. It's an example of the state's effort to build out affordable housing close to transportation hubs.

"We have the Metro-North just down the road and walking distance or the new line bus system which is right here, all that will help make a better place for working families to want to live, work and raise a family,” says Yonker Mayor Mike Spano. 

To apply to live in one of the 76 units in the building, you must make between 50% and 80% of the median income of Westchester County, which according to the U.S. census, was approximately $105,000 in 2021. Ultimately, residents will be chosen through a lottery.

"We're bringing thousands of jobs here all over our state, but if people can't find a place to live, they're going to go to Connecticut and they're going to New Jersey," said Hochul.