22-05-2025
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.'
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