The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo on July 6 announced the 12 projects for which the City of Oswego will use its $10 million award in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). That came a day after the governor’s office announced the nine winning projects selected for the City of Elmira in the DRI. Both cities […]
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The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo on July 6 announced the 12 projects for which the City of Oswego will use its $10 million award in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
That came a day after the governor’s office announced the nine winning projects selected for the City of Elmira in the DRI.
Both cities were named DRI first-round winners in their respective regions a year ago.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative seeks to “transform” local neighborhoods across the state into “vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family,” Cuomo’s office said.
Oswego projects
Oswego will use its funding to construct a new indoor, Lake Ontario Water Park to “attract visitors and create a four-season family destination downtown,” linked to an existing hotel and event/conference center near the waterfront, Cuomo’s office said.
It also plans to renovate space and install hands-on educational and cultural exhibits for the Children’s Museum of Oswego, located on the ground floor of the historic Buckout-Jones building.
The projects include an effort to restore the Buckhout-Jones building; redeveloping the Cahill Building into “upscale” housing; and work on the “aging” Midtown Plaza.
The funding will target the completion of the downtown West Gateway project. It involves the redevelopment of a single-story structure on the corner of West First Street and West Bridge Street into a two-story, mixed-use building.
The “completely renovated” building will provide ground floor retail space and include a vertical addition to add 12 upper-story residential units and a roof-top deck overlooking the Oswego River for outdoor restaurant dining, per the governor’s office.
The establishment will provide parking for residents in the building’s basement.
Oswego will use a portion of the funding to construct improvements to the riverfront-trail network to provide “better” connections to the downtown and offer more user amenities.
Upgrades will include new fencing, landscaping, lighting, seating, and signage as well as new access points and signage.
In addition, Oswego will use the funding for streetscape features along West Bridge Street, such as sidewalks that are ADA-compliant; cross-walks and sidewalk bump-outs; street striping; and green infrastructure.
ADA is short for Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation signed in 1990.
The projects also include the West First Street multi-building redevelopment and the Harbor View Square mixed-use development.
Oswego plans to establish a revolving loan for private improvements on commercial interiors; a combined grant/loan fund for façade improvements; matching grants for renovating upper floors for housing; and a matching grant program for outdoor programming in the downtown.
The City contends the investment will “encourage additional investment in existing downtown buildings and support active programming to attract more visitors.”
In addition, the City will create a pocket park on Market Street, designing a “flexible, creative small public space for community gatherings and public events,” which will provide a “much-needed” connection between West First Street and Water Street.
Elmira projects
Elmira will use its $10 million award on nine projects that include a mixed-use development project on West Water Street; rehabilitating and reopening the Lake Street pedestrian bridge; and fixing the 40-year-old Centertown parking garage, the governor’s office said.
They also include plans to renovate an “underutilized” public space in Elmira’s downtown to create Clemens Square, a “walkable and inviting” public space that links Clemens Center, First Arena, and Main Street, as well as the West Water Street mixed-use development project, several renovated “historic” buildings, and the renovated Centertown parking garage.
Elmira will also use the funding to improve and upgrade Riverfront Park on the Chemung River; renovate “vacant and underutilized” buildings in the area in order to accommodate Elmira’s “unmet” housing, ground floor retail, and commercial business needs; reconfigure public parking on West Water Street; “modernize” the City of Elmira’s zoning code by adding a new form-based overlay district to apply to the DRI area; and provide small loans to owners of buildings within the DRI area to renovate retail and commercial storefronts and spaces.
