Mohawk Valley projects boosted by state funding

Three Mohawk Valley communities will receive funding for 19 projects as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward state programs, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced. Herkimer, which was a round seven winner of a $10 million DRI award, will proceed with eight projects, while Boonville and Richfield, each round two winners of $4.5 million in NY Forward funding, will progress with six and five projects, respectively. “The Mohawk Valley is home to an extraordinary array of small businesses and hubs of arts and culture, and by supporting them through these projects, we’re helping our communities write the next great chapter of their history,” Hochul said in the announcement. The Village of Herkimer’s projects include: Enhancing village streetscapes with a gateway arch at the intersection of Main Street and Albany Street, improving multimodal transportation networks, and adding streetscape amenities for $2.9 million; Revitalizing the former Masonic Temple building for food and commercial businesses as a multi-purpose incubator space with a state-certified commercial kitchen, co-working and tenant office space, and community/event space for $2 million. Revitalizing and updating Myers Park with a multi-purpose building that includes performance space and restrooms, enhancing outdoor seating, lighting and landscaping, restoring a historic fountain, and improving walkways and connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods for $1.9 million. Upgrading the Herkimer County Historical Society building with an elevator, improved storage for and access to historic collections, and interior renovations to support events and programming for $1.208 million. Other projects include creating a $600,000 DRI small-project fund to provide small businesses, nonprofits, and property owners in the DRI area with small grants for business assistance, technical assistance, public art, façade restoration and/or building renovations for commercial and mixed-use spaces; using $500,000 to create a Downtown Diamond District with a unique branding and marketing campaign, signage, branding elements, and public art throughout the DRI area and online; spending $442,000 to renovate a mixed-use building at 120 West Albany St. to help a dry cleaner remain viable; and using $150,000 to build an addition onto a local dental office at 314 North Prospect St. to improve access to dental care for residents and veterans in the region. “This is an exciting moment for Herkimer as we begin to pave the way with new economic development, housing, education, artistic collaboration, and historic renovation and embark on the long-awaited revitalization of the Main Street corridor,” Herkimer Mayor Dana Sherry said in the announcement. “This will transform the way we do business by bringing excitement, new life, vibrant artistic expression, and positive people and energy to our downtown.” The Village of Boonville is working to transform its downtown into a destination for tourists and residents by improving pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, expanding small-business opportunities, and developing mixed-use buildings. Boonville will spend $1.531 million to improve the gateways into its historic downtown with improved wayfinding signage, rebuilt sidewalks, pedestrian-scale lighting, and new sidewalk edges. The mixed-use Boone Building is a $1 million, three-story, 25,500-square-foot mixed use building that will include three ground-floor retail spaces and nine apartments above. The historic Slim’s Restaurant will be rebuilt for $840,000 with the restaurant on the first floor and two apartments above. To help the business called Revive Manufacturing, $600,000 will be spent to replace part of the roof, paint the exterior, add landscaping and exterior lighting, add two new accessible bathrooms, and other work to screen adjacent residential areas from the warehouse. Flower Hill Farm will receive $385,000 to renovate existing greenhouse spaces, turn an underutilized barn into a retail venue with a commercial kitchen, and create a botanical garden. A $144,000 project to renovate the building of the nonprofit organization called Restore Forward at 181 Main St. will include the addition of co-working space, a commercial kitchen, and a woodworking shop along with façade improvements. “This investment in the village of Boonville is key for our village’s future to create a vibrant, walkable downtown to attract new businesses, support local businesses, and a welcoming space for residents and visitors,” Boonville Mayor Judith Dellerba said. “Most importantly, and critical to this community, is that we will move forward in a way that preserves the historic charm and character that makes our village so special.” The Greater Richfield Springs Downtown Area is located within the town of Richfield and village of Richfield Springs. State-funded projects will focus on adaptive re-use of existing buildings, increased sustainability, and support for small business growth. A $1.552 million project will turn the Elk Opera House into a mixed-use facility with 10 apartments on the upper floors. An updated façade will display the original name and year of construction and energy-efficient upgrades will ensure the building is environmentally friendly. Historic Spring Park will be revitalized for $976,000 with work including reestablishing formal walkways between trees, creating new pathways, restoring significant structures, and installing interpretative signage to tell the story of the park. An $826,000 project will revamp the Cornerstone mixed-used building by renovating the exterior, five apartments, and four street-level commercial spaces. All spaces will get new heating and LED lighting. At 140 Main St., a $546,000 project will construct a commercial kitchen to support growth at the Richfield Springs Community Food Cooperative, renovate the building exterior, and construct three apartments. A $600,000 small-project fund will provide support to small businesses and property owners within the NY Forward area for building renovations, business assistance, and soft costs. “Everyone is ready to continue the revitalization of Richfield, which would not have been possible without this financial support,” Richfield Town Supervisor Larry Frigault said. DRI and NY Forward communities developed strategic implementation plans to create a downtown vision and identify and recommend projects that support the vision. The plans are guided by a local planning committee comprised of local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives. The projects selected for funding were identified as having the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for long-term growth. “These projects will create new opportunities for businesses, support vibrant public spaces, and attract residents and visitors alike, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and stronger regional economics,” Empire State Development President/CEO/Commissioner Hope Knight contended.