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Governor
Cuomo Launches $100 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative
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State to Collaborate
with Regional Economic Development Councils
to Revitalize
Ten Designated Downtowns in Communities Across New York
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Albany,
NY – April 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo has launched the $100 million Downtown Revitalization
Initiative – a comprehensive approach to transform communities ripe for
development into vibrant neighborhoods where the next generation of New
Yorkers will want to live and work. The program, first presented in the
Governor’s 2016 State of the State Address, will invest $10 million into
ten downtown neighborhoods across the state. The downtown areas will be
selected by the state’s Regional
Economic Development Councils.
“A
thriving downtown can provide a tremendous boost to the local economy,”
said Governor Cuomo. “This initiative will transform selected downtown
neighborhoods into vibrant places for people to live, work and raise a
family – which will also help attract new investments and businesses for
years to come. The Regional Councils have been key to generating new opportunities
for local economies, and I am excited to have them spearhead this new effort
to build on that progress from the ground up.”
Former
New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales will chair this initiative
and lead the effort with a team of private sector experts and planners
from the Department of State, with support from the Division of Homes and
Community Renewal, as well as other state agencies. The state will assist
selected municipalities in building strategic investment plans and identifying
key projects consistent with the initiative’s goals.
Acting
New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said: “The Governor’s Downtown
Revitalization Initiative will help reinvigorate our communities by leveraging
private investment with existing state resources. Under the Chairmanship
of former Secretary Perales, this program will rehabilitate downtowns by
housing new and growing small businesses to anchor these areas and make
them more livable.”
NYS
Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner James S. Rubin said: “In New
York State, we are guided by the Governor’s comprehensive economic development
vision. This Downtown Revitalization Initiative is an incredibly important
strategic investment for New Yorkers and will make these communities magnets
for redevelopment, growth, job creation, broader economic and housing diversity,
and opportunity.”
Downtown
Revitalization Initiative Chairman Cesar A. Perales said: “I am honored
to be tasked by Governor Cuomo to chair this vital initiative. I look forward
to working with the REDCs and the various State agencies to reinvigorate
communities throughout New York State.”
Each
Regional Council will weigh seven proposed criteria to select their nominee:
1.
The targeted neighborhood should be compact and well-defined.
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2.
The downtown, or its center, should be of a size sufficient to support
an active, year-round downtown and should have a sizeable existing or increasing
population within easy reach for whom this would be the primary downtown.
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3.
The downtown should capitalize on prior, and catalyze future, private and
public investment in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.
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4.
There should be recent or impending job growth within, or in close proximity
to the downtown that can attract workers to the downtown, support redevelopment
and make growth sustainable.
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5.
The downtown must contain properties or characteristics that contribute
or that could contribute, if enhanced, to the attractiveness and livability
of the downtown, including the presence of developable mixed-use spaces,
housing at different levels of affordability and type, commercial and retail
main street businesses, including healthy and affordable food markets,
walkability and bikeability, and public parks and gathering spaces.
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6.
The downtown should contain or articulate how it can create policies that
enhance quality of life, including the use of local land banks, modern
zoning codes, complete streets plans, or transit-oriented development.
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7.
Local and community support must exist for revitalization of the downtown.
There must be a commitment among local leaders and stakeholders to build
and implement a strategic investment plan for the downtown.
Following
Council nominations, selected communities will establish local planning
committees with technical support from both private sector and state experts
to build a Strategic Investment Plan for the designated downtown area.
Completed plans will include identification of economic development, transportation,
housing, and community projects that align with the community’s plan and
can leverage and expand upon the State’s $10 million investment. Plans
will be complete in early 2017.
To
review the nominating criteria, please
click here (PDF file).
Governor’s
Press Office
Contact:
press.office@exec.ny.gov
Albany:
518-474-8418
New
York City: 212-681-4640 |