The City of New Rochelle has teamed up with RXR Realty, the developer behind the 28-story mixed-us 360 Huguenot project, to award a year of free rent to one prospective resident — a nearly $12,000 value — and they want you to help choose who deserves it most.
We were already excited for the amenity laden 280-unit building when this contest was first announced, but now that the city and RXR have led down entrants to a select group of finalists, it’s time for Westchester to help welcome our prospective neighbors. The three finalists were named on Wednesday, July 26 and you can go online to view more about them, check out their work, view their submission videos, and vote on your favorite now through July 10, when the winner will be announced.
“The sheer volume of submissions — and the variety displayed within them — is a testament to the transformation underway in New Rochelle’s Downtown,” says New Rochelle Commissioner of Development Luiz Aragon. “When we created the contest as a unique initiative to highlight the creative community as a key demographic of the City’s makeup, we did not remotely anticipate the response that has resulted.”
He adds, “The contest has already confirmed that New Rochelle is making its mark as a municipality that is highly conducive to creative, entrepreneurial-spirited residents.”
After the initial open call for entrants back in March, more than 100 artists from across the country submitted videos explaining why New Rochelle was the ideal place for them to create their art. From the deluge of actors, chefs, dancers, make-up artists, musicians, rappers, sculptors, and more, the selection committee selected 10 semifinalists who were then narrowed down to the three remaining finalists:
Kyra Johnson
A NewRo native, is an award-winning educator, performing artist, and local businesswoman who mentors high school and college students.
Brendan Guzman
This performer and music producer from Burlington, NJ is looking to bump his musical and producing careers to the next level by entering into New Rochelle’s thriving arts scene.
Daniel Martinez
A Bronx-born photographer, Martinez is a full-time video editor and studio manager for a healthcare advertising firm, in addition to running his own wedding photography company, teaches summer photography classes, and pursuing his own side projects in — can we guess? — photography
You can vote for the artist you’d most like to see win the grand prize here through July 10. Good luck to all our current and prospective Westchesterites!