Latest news with #RestoreNewYork
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Plattsburgh awarded $405K Restore New York grant
PLATTSBURGH — A redevelopment project at 5500 Peru St. in the City of Plattsburgh was recently awarded a $405,000 state grant. The project will include the rehabilitation of a former recording studio called Wayward Sound Studio into an active mixed-use property that includes 4,300 square feet of commercial space and two affordable apartments. As previously reported by the Press-Republican, Wayward Enterprises LLC, run by James Ward of Plattsburgh, is the owner of the property at 5500 Peru Street. Ward spoke to city councilors late last year to advocate for the project. He said floor plan for the building at 5500 Peru Street has two 2,100-square-foot apartment units on the second floor of the building with plans for a possible business on the first floor. The plan was for each apartment to have three bedrooms and two baths, he said in December of 2024, however, Ward acknowledged the plans may change if and when the project gets closer to the engineering and design phase. 'I think it's awesome,' Mayor Wendell Hughes said about the city receiving the grant. 'To have … some state money come in and help us out is amazing.' The funding is from the state's Restore New York grant program, which 'supports municipal revitalization efforts with funds to help remove and reduce blight, reinvigorate communities and generate new residential and economic opportunities statewide.' According to the state, the program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to help local governments encourage new commercial investments through community revitalization, growing local housing and putting properties back on the tax rolls to increase the local tax base. 'Being added to the tax base in the city is a good thing,' Hughes said. The city's $405,000 grant was part of more than $50 million awarded to 50 projects through the State's Restore New York Communities Initiative, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week. 'Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities for housing or development is vital to make downtowns thrive,' Hochul said in a news release. 'Restore New York helps our municipalities plan for the future by catalyzing economic growth and supporting housing, businesses and cultural spaces. We are further unlocking the potential of these sites and communities across New York.' The city being chosen for the Restore New York grant seemingly bodes well for future applications. It's a 'step in the right direction,' Hughes said. He said he is now hopeful this award could open up the possibility of bigger projects getting funding down the road. 'That's the hope,' he said. 'I'd like to get a bigger project maybe next time. But again … It's amazing that we won and we were chosen over a lot of other places that didn't get it. So it's exciting for the City of Plattsburgh.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Restore New York Initiative funds over 50 projects across State
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – A number of north country municipalities received funding via the State's Restore New York Communities Initiative. In an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul's office, more than $50 million will be awarded to over 50 projects throughout the state. Sackets Harbor finishes $3.3 million flood resilience project The Restore New York program 'supports municipal revitalization efforts with funds to help remove and reduce blight, reinvigorate communities and generate new residential and economic opportunities statewide.' Empire State Development administers the program that's designed to help local governments encourage new commercial investments through community revitalization, growing local housing, and putting properties back on the tax rolls to increase the local tax base. Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities for housing or development is vital to make downtowns thrive. Restore New York helps our municipalities plan for the future by catalyzing economic growth and supporting housing, businesses and cultural spaces. We are further unlocking the potential of these sites and communities across New York. New York Governor Kathy Hochul The City of Ogdensburg was given a Special Project designation and awarded $3.5 million to rehabilitate several historic mill buildings on the St. Lawrence River waterfront into a mixed-use complex. Here's a breakdown of the north country projects that will be getting funding: City of Ogdensburg – $3.5 Million – Special Project: This project includes the adaptive reuse of 119 W. River Street, a long-abandoned former waterfront hotel property situated along the St. Lawrence River. This transformative downtown initiative focuses on restoring two historic stone mill buildings to create a vibrant mixed-use destination, including 10 residential apartments. The redevelopment will breathe new life into a blighted area, enhance the local economy, and provide unique retail, residential, recreational, and dining opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Village of Canton – $749,997: This project will demolish 6,400 square feet of vacant buildings and reconstruct 4,500 square feet of commercial and event space at 15 Gouverneur Street. The objective is to create a welcoming, functional mixed-use space that restores the beauty and history of Canton's downtown waterfront and increases economic activity and opportunities. Town of Lowville – $560,000: The project will redevelop approximately 6,500 square-feet of vacant space at 7623 North State Street, a historic brick block building in Downtown. Funding will assist with the costs for the installation of electrical and plumbing throughout the building, the construction of an ADA-compliant elevator, a stairwell, masonry repairs, and the construction of eight market-rate housing units and amenities. Town of Martinsburg – $1 million: The General Martin Apartments project repurposes the former Glenfield Elementary School at 5960 Main Street into 63 affordable housing units. This adaptive reuse will include 55 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, and two studio apartments. The building will undergo substantial renovations, incorporating community amenities like a fitness center, laundry facilities, a community room and an outdoor garden. City of Ogdensburg – $914,355: Small City Brewing Company will transform a vacant building at 110 Lake Street into a craft brewery, advancing the development of Ogdensburg's Marina District – a Brownfield Opportunity Area. The project will include a manufacturing facility with a commercial grade five-barrel brewing system and the addition of a 400 square foot grain room. SCBC plans to wholesale to restaurants and bars and open a retail tasting room on-site with a commercial kitchen and event space. Village of Waddington – $1 million: The former St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 129 Lincoln Avenue is a 5,120-square-foot stone Georgian structure built in 1818. The now-vacant structure faces severe decay, threatening its place within the historic district. The Village plans to stabilize and rehabilitate the site, comprising the church, the adjoining brick rectory, and a rear wooden garage, to create a multi-use, non-sectarian recreational hub. This transformation will preserve its architectural heritage while drawing new residents, fostering community engagement and providing entertainment options. According to the state, the awards complement the governor's economic development vision by making strategic investments in communities across the state which revitalize the economy and create more opportunities for New Yorkers. This fiscal year's budget invests $100 million for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and $100 million for NY Forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Six local communities receive Restore NY Communities Initiative money
ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Six local communities were awarded a combined $7 million from the Restore New York Communities initiative on Thursday, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul. Governor Hochul announced on Thursday, May 22, that 50 projects — including five in the Mohawk Valley — will share over $50 million to encourage community revitalization. The initiative helps revitalization efforts by reducing blight, growing local housing, and increasing local tax bases by putting properties back on the tax roll. 'Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities for housing or development is vital to make downtowns thrive,' Governor Hochul said in a statement. 'Restore New York helps our municipalities plan for the future by catalyzing economic growth and supporting housing, businesses and cultural spaces. We are further unlocking the potential of these sites and communities across New York.' The City of Rome received $3.5 million from the initiative on a Special Project designation. This designation is given to projects that, if left undeveloped, would cause severe economic injury or would hinder the economic growth of the community. The city of Rome's money would be used to rehabilitate two buildings — one on South Madison Street and the former Rome Cable Building on Henry Street — that were damaged in the July 2024 tornadoes. One of the buildings would be redeveloped for mixed use, and would include first-floor commercial event space. The other — according to the Governor's office — will be renovated to become the 'largest available industrial space in the [Utica-Rome area].' Other recipients of the program's money include the City of Oneida, which received $1 million to partially demolish and rehabilitate two buildings on Madison Street. The buildings will receive a shared elevator and stairwell, which visitors can use to travel freely between each other. New spaces will be added on the upper floors of both buildings, and will include 15 units suitable for living or commercial use. The Village of Boonville received $1 million of their own to renovate three buildings — all on Main Street — that were all involved in a fire in 2020. The village plans to make the buildings into a sporting goods store, an artisinal meat market and a boutique gift shop. The buildings will also house ten one- and two-bedroom residential units. The Village of Cooperstown received $1 million to demolish the former site of the village's cheese factory, which has sat dormant since the company moved to another location in the village. After demolition, the village intends to build a three-story apartment building, housing approximately 50 units. The building will include on-site parking and several apartment amenities. The Village of Herkimer also received $1 million to rehabilitate the former Masonic Temple on North Main Street. The village intends to turn the property into a commercial hub for several business uses, including the Mohawk Valley's only certified kitchen to support food-based enterprises. The money will also be used to resolve safety and aesthetic concerns around the village. The Village of Richfield Springs received just under $500,000 to rehabilitate one building on Main Street. Once finished, the building will become an inn with guest rooms, an event center, and feature the village's newly re-established mineral spas. The fourth floor of the building will also include one apartment, and perform several much-needed repairs to the property — including repairing the roof. 'Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is building for the future by supporting projects that advance statewide priorities like increasing housing and revitalizing communities,' Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight said in a statement. 'Through the Restore New York Communities Initiative, we are working together with municipalities to remove blight and generate new investments to promote sustainable economic growth.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Development plans for Canton's Midtown Plaza include 55 apartments, retail space
May 4—CANTON — The Midtown Plaza redevelopment project is moving forward with plans for a three-story mixed-use building in downtown Canton, the project developer revealed last week. Rob Holzman, vice president of planning and acquisitions with the Vecino Group, presented an update on the project at a joint meeting of the town and village boards Tuesday. The project will feature 55 one and two-bedroom residential units, a 10,000-square-foot SUNY Canton Entrepreneurial Center, and approximately 2,500 square feet of retail space. The project will feature affordable housing units targeting residents at 30 to 80% of the area median income. Holzman noted that a significant step in the process was the recent hiring of LaBella Associates, a civil engineering firm, to lead the site plan development. LaBella Associates' Regional Business Development Manager Anastasia Thomas will be a key partner in navigating the site plan review and approval process. The development team aims to secure site plan approval from the Village Planning Board by July or August. First up for LaBella is a site survey to identify any potential issues, such as hidden infrastructure. Geotechnical work will follow to determine the type of material beneath the paved area that extends from Miner Street to the old Jubilee Supermarket. Holzman said they are seeking 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Vecino will submit the tax credit application in September or October. It is foundational to making the project financially feasible, Holzman said. Factors working for a successful application are that the project is for mixed-income housing including market rate and affordable units, it is located in the downtown core, the partnership with SUNY Canton, the village's prior work preparing the site, and it being named a priority project in New York Forward Strategic Investment Plan and Restore New York funding for demolition of the existing structures. Construction timelines will depend on securing the state tax credits, Holzman said. The Midtown Plaza, anchored by the Jubilee supermarket, has been vacant for 20 years. Since 2019, it has been the center of a plan to build housing, retail spaces, and an entrepreneurial center and incubator hosted by SUNY Canton. In 2023, the village paid $1.28 million for the properties owned by Gary M. Cohen and Vernon L. Green. Cohen, a New York City businessman, had owned the plaza and its parking lot since 1980. Green owned a separate property adjacent to Cohen's five parcels. Once completed, the Vecino Group will be the owner and property manager. Holzman said Vecino has created an in-house property management company in New York. This approach, he said, allows for more direct control over property management staff and avoids challenges associated with third-party management. Holzman said that finding good property managers can be difficult when outsourcing, so their internal management company provides better oversight and quality control. This approach allows the Vecino Group to maintain consistent standards across its affordable housing developments and ensure proper maintenance and tenant services, he said.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Former mayoral hopeful Nix out of jail, back in business on Pine Avenue
Former Niagara Falls mayoral candidate Demetrius Nix is out of jail and back behind the counter at his restaurant on Pine Avenue. He said this week that he also has much bigger plans now, including pursuing the development of a program to help improve the lives of residents living in poverty and high-crime areas in Alexandria, Louisiana. Nix, who failed in his bid to become mayor in 2023, was released from the Niagara County jail on March 5 after serving a six-month sentence stemming from a plea agreement on charges that he broke in and caused damage to a house on Pierce Avenue that he was hired to renovate. 'I came home with my mind right,' he said. 'While I had time in jail, I had time to think about how to do things and how to do them right.' While he was offered a probationary sentence, Nix chose to serve time in jail so he could be 'done and free' with the case. After his release, his first order of business was to restart N-Town Wingz, the restaurant he opened in April 2024 to raise the money needed to cover the $32,000 restitution ordered by the courts as part of his plea deal. Nix credited income from the restaurant with allowing him to cover the full restitution. He said he has now hired three people to help run the restaurant. 'One thing this situation did do, it created a new means of income for me,' he said. The charges against Nix stemmed from a break-in at a home on the 1100 block of Pierce Avenue on Jan. 16, 2023. Nix was also linked to a reported burglary at an apartment building on the 500 block of 20th Street, between Jan. 18 and 19, which is under the control of the same owners as the Pierce Avenue property. He was never charged in connection with the 20th Street incident. The Pierce Avenue break-in resulted in an estimated $30,000 of property damage. The property was being renovated by Rod Davis, a Western New York developer, whose firm Power City Ventures, LLC, had been designated by the city as the preferred developer for a housing renovation project that was eligible for up to $1 million in reimbursable grant funds through the state's Restore New York program. Davis withdrew from the project after a Niagara Gazette investigation raised questions about his record of payment to vendors, handling of rent payments he collected for a company that managed properties in the Falls and his involvement in a Cedar Avenue development project that was never completed. Nix said he's glad to have the issues with Davis and the Pierce Avenue property behind him and is now concentrating on the restaurant and fixing up and renting out apartments he owns in the city. He is also continuing to work with co-director Trent Hamilton on offering services to residents in need out of the Entrepreneur School of Thought, an adult resource center located at 1110 19th St. 'I'm really trying to make it bigger and put more time and more energy into the school because it helps so much,' he said. Prior to going to jail, the center received a visit from Reddix Washington, a member of the Alexandria city council who expressed interest in opening a similar school in his community. Nix said he has also met with the city's mayor and police chief to talk, and that Washington stayed in touch with him while he was in jail and they have agreed to talk again now that he has been released. 'Alexandria has the same population as us but three times the murder rate. The killing that's going on out there is crazy and they don't know what to do with it,' Nix said. Nix said he's also interested in finding ways to expand on another one of his ideas, the motivational slogan and movement he dubbed 'WAWG,' short for the slogan he ran on during his mayoral campaign, 'We All We Got.' Prior to serving jail time, Nix met with rapper and music producer Master P to discuss the possibility of expanding WAWG to other parts of the country. He said he often does not receive the same level of interest or response from leaders in this area. 'In Niagara Falls, nobody wants to help,' he said. 'The only help I'm getting is from my people. There, the government wants to help. When it comes to the system here, I'm always running uphill.'
