NORWICH, N.Y. — The upcoming Principle Hotel, an $8.3 million boutique hotel in downtown Norwich, is among the projects that the community is developing as part of its funding award in the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Officials in Norwich held an Oct. 23 groundbreaking for the hotel. The Principle Hotel will have 61 rooms […]
NORWICH, N.Y. — The upcoming Principle Hotel, an $8.3 million boutique hotel in downtown Norwich, is among the projects that the community is developing as part of its funding award in the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
Officials in Norwich held an Oct. 23 groundbreaking for the hotel.
The Principle Hotel will have 61 rooms and include a rooftop lounge, restaurant, and event room, “so visitors can stay and enjoy the unique retail, dining and entertainment options in downtown Norwich,” the New York State Department of State said in an announcement.
The 12,000-square-foot property at 14-16 South Broad St., was once part of the SUNY Morrisville campus. It will soon become a boutique hotel that will include a dining area, lounge, conference room, fitness center, outdoor patio, and open courtyard with a fountain.
“This hotel represents far more than a new place to stay — it’s a cornerstone of our downtown’s rebirth,” Salvatore Testani, president and CEO of Commerce Chenango, said. “Together with the other DRI projects, it stands as a powerful sign of a healthy, growing, and optimistic Norwich.”
The Principle Hotel will have Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant features, such as ramps, elevators, and four rooms with accessible bathrooms.
In addition to $3.3 million from the DRI, this project has received $2 million in funding from Empire State Development’s Restore New York initiative, which encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures. The project was also funded through private investments.
“Norwich is building on its strengths and setting the stage for long-term success through its DRI projects, like this boutique hotel, which will allow people to stay overnight right in downtown Norwich,” New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley said. “Here in Norwich, this investment will breathe new life into downtown, by drawing visitors, sparking new business activity and creating lasting opportunities for residents and local entrepreneurs alike.”
Besides the hotel, other DRI projects in Norwich include rehabilitating both the Unguentine Building and the Heritage Building, improving two parks, and enhancing the American Avenue streetscape.
The City of Norwich was named the Southern Tier Region Downtown Revitalization Initiative winner for the fifth round in 2021.
“We are very excited about this project and what it means for the revitalization of downtown Norwich,” Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver said in the state’s announcement about the hotel. “This is an important first step in bringing new life to our city center and can serve as a cornerstone for future economic vitality.”
