After more than a year of waiting, the winning projects in the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative have been announced. Our Matt Hunter has a look at their potential future impact.
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Joined by local leaders Thursday, New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly $10 million in winning projects through the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
"It's the downtowns that have the charm and character that we have to fight for, and Glens Falls is about as cute as it can get," Hochul said to a small crowd assembled at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
The eight projects were chosen from a list submitted by local business and civic leaders, all of whom were eager to get a piece of the state funding.
"It's a significant game changer for Glens Falls," said Ed Bartholomew, who served as the city’s mayor several decades ago and is now the president of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation.
Among the projects to be funded are a building for a new year-round farmers market, streetscape improvements and the rehabilitation of vacant structures, all on South Street.
"South Street has the highest number of vacant buildings in downtown Glens Falls and the highest rate of deteriorating buildings downtown, so the focus is on South Street," Bartholomew said.
The money will also pay for broadband improvements, the creation of a mile-long arts district and the relocation of SUNY Adirondack's culinary program. With some of the projects expected to get off the ground almost right away, leaders believe the impact will be felt beyond the downtown neighborhood.
"This is going to free up additional monies from the city budget and other funding sources to do infrastructure in residential areas,” Bartholomew said. “We’re looking at some parks and recreation around the schools and down on Pruyn's Island that were not included in this."
"We are talking about a concentrated downtown area,” Hochul said. “This is not $10 million for a region or a county, this is one city. It's not such a large city that you won't see impacts immediately."