RXR and the City of New Rochelle Host Poem Dedication Ceremony in Downtown New Rochelle
RXR, the master developer behind the redevelopment of Downtown New Rochelle, the City of New Rochelle and The Lincoln Park Conservancy today held a community event honoring the City’s rich Black history and culture through the unveiling of a new plaque featuring a poem by poet and academic Rashaun Allen. Titled “Unforget,” the poem was created as a reflection of RXR’s commitment to recognizing the history of Enslaved people in New Rochelle. The dedication of the plaque in Clinton Park Plaza in Downtown New Rochelle ensures that current and future generations will remember and recognize the City’s former Enslaved population and the role they played in New Rochelle’s long history.
Culminating the City’s Black History Month Programming, the dedication ceremony included remarks given by Yadira Ramos-Herbert, Mayor of New Rochelle; Jarrod Whitaker, Senior Vice President of Residential Operations at RXR; Linda Tarrant-Reid, Executive Director of The Lincoln Park Conservancy; and Barbara Davis, New Rochelle City Historian.
In addition to a reading of “Unforget” by Rashaun Allen, Westchester County Poet Laureate Phylisha Villanueva read “Speaking Up is in the Interest of My Ancestors,” followed by a dedication of the new plaque to commemorate New Rochelle’s history. Allen’s powerful poem reflects an impactful message that confronts the enduring legacy of slavery while emphasizing the importance of remembrance, hope and possibility.
The afternoon concluded with a reception at Two Clinton Park featuring Caribbean cuisine provided by Jolo’s Vegan Kitchen and a guided walkthrough of “History Restored: Black Entrepreneurship,” a new exhibit at the New Rochelle Public Library curated by The Lincoln Park Conservancy. The exhibit honors Black History Month’s 2025 theme of African Americans and Labor through a moving display of historic photographs of Black entrepreneurs and businesses in New Rochelle and across the U.S. It is on display through Friday, February 28th and will return to New Rochelle Public Library’s Lumen Winter Gallery on June 1st, 2025.
“We are grateful to work with our incredible partners at the City and The Lincoln Park Conservancy to create a platform where Downtown New Rochelle’s roots can be celebrated, not just today, but every day moving forward,” said Joseph V. Graziose, Executive Vice President, Head of Construction & Development, RXR. “It’s our honor and duty to pay tribute to those who came before us in a community we are deeply invested in.”
“Through Rashaun Allen’s powerful words and this permanent tribute in Clinton Park Plaza, we honor the legacy of African Americans who came before us and reaffirm our commitment to remembrance, inclusion, and shared progress,” said New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert. “Today’s dedication ensures that the voices of the past continue to inspire our future. I am grateful to RXR and the Lincoln Park Conservancy for their part in preserving and celebrating the rich history of our City.”
“The process of creating a word tribute to the Enslaved who lived in the area is an important step in valuing the history of the African American community of New Rochelle,” said Linda Tarrant-Reid, Executive Director of The Lincoln Park Conservancy. “I commend poet Rashaun Allen for his moving words and RXR and the City of New Rochelle for facilitating this tribute.”
“Enslaved Africans have laid the foundation of this country including New Rochelle. I am so grateful to Rashaun Allen for preserving a piece of our rich history here in New Rochelle,” said Angela Davis-Farrish, Chair, New Rochelle African American Advisory Committee. “The Ancestors are proud and are rejoicing from the soils of the earth!”
“Some of my own ancestors have been enslaved in the Caribbean and North America,” said Rashaun J. Allen. “Being given the privilege and responsibility to write a poem honoring enslaved people of New Rochelle sets my heart ablaze.”
RXR’s work in New Rochelle stands as a model for urban redevelopment, combining luxury living with community-focused development. The comprehensive Downtown revitalization plan was put in motion a decade ago to transform Downtown New Rochelle into a center for job generation, quality, affordable housing for young professionals, empty nesters and others, dining, retail and arts and culture. To date, RXR has delivered four key residential projects, 360 Huguenot, 11 Garden Street, One Clinton Park, and Two Clinton Park, bringing 1,000 new rental apartments to Downtown.