Yonkers Unveils New “Past & Present” Mural at Downtown Waterfront
A new landmark has arrived at the Yonkers waterfront. City officials, artists, and community members gathered Wednesday as Mayor Mike Spano formally dedicated “Yonkers Past & Present,” a large-scale mural celebrating the city’s rich history and enduring creativity.
The artwork, installed on the façade at 35 Main Street and Warburton Avenue, stretches across the building’s exterior and offers a visual journey through Yonkers’ evolution — from its earliest settlements to its modern cultural icons.
Created by internationally acclaimed muralist Richard Haas and painted by Yonkers native Robin Alcantara, the piece blends architectural trompe l’oeil, historical imagery, and local storytelling into a single dynamic scene.
A Tribute to the City’s Roots and Its Future
Mayor Spano said the mural reflects both the legacy and the momentum of Yonkers today.
“‘Yonkers Past and Present’ is more than a work of art — it’s a vibrant reminder of who we are and where we’re going,” said Spano. “Richard Haas has captured the spirit of our city and the resilience of our community with extraordinary vision. This installation not only honors Yonkers’ rich history but also reflects the energy and momentum driving our city forward today.”
The sprawling design includes references to notable Yonkers landmarks such as City Hall, Philipse Manor Hall, Untermyer Gardens, and a range of historic churches and civic buildings. Haas also nods to the city’s industrial past with imagery of old Yonkers trolleys and the historic brewery trade.
One of the most striking sections is the right panel foreground, featuring Yonkers-born rapper DMX, captured mid-performance in front of the Yonkers train station. The mural also incorporates scenes of the original Saw Mill, Indigenous inhabitants, a freed Black resident, and a woman selling cockles—each representing layers of the city’s early history.
A Continuation of Haas’ Legacy in Yonkers
Haas is no stranger to the city’s public art landscape. He previously designed a three-part mural series on Warburton Avenue in the late 1990s, making this new addition a return to a community that has embraced his work for decades.
“This new mural addresses, in part, the long history of our city originally depicted in the three-part mural series designed in the late 1990s,” Haas noted during the unveiling.
Haas is widely recognized as a pioneer of architectural trompe l’oeil in American public art and has completed more than 100 mural projects nationwide since the 1970s.
Alcantara, who executed the painting of the new piece, has also contributed to Yonkers’ growing public art landscape, including murals of Ella Fitzgerald and Mary J. Blige.
A Community Investment
The mural was commissioned through a community benefit agreement with Macquesten Development, LLC, which is currently building The St. Clair, a 76-unit affordable housing development on Main Street that will also include commercial space.
“Macquesten Development is pleased to work in partnership with the City of Yonkers and world-class muralist Richard Haas to produce a beautiful historic mural at the Gateway to the downtown waterfront,” said Joseph Apicella of Macquesten Development.
