27 Projects announced for Finger Lakes area

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced 27 new projects for the Finger Lakes area on Friday.

These projects are split between two programs, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward.

Out of the 27 projects, 11 were announced for the Village of Perry as a winner of a $10 million DRI award. Eight projects were announced for the Village of Geneseo with the $4.5 million NY Forward award and another eight projects were announced for the Village of Medina as part of another $4.5 million NY Forward award.

The projects in Perry seek to create an inclusive and accessible downtown, providing a range of diverse housing units, and promoting the Village as a year-round tourist destination in proximity to Letchworth State Park.

The 11 Perry projects include:

• Extend Silver Lake Trail through Downtown Perry: $2,100,000
• Transform Assembly Hall to Expand Accessible Community Venues in Perry: $2,016,000
• Restore the Historic Perry Academy to Create Housing and a Childcare Facility: $1,950,000
• Provide New Housing Opportunities in the Historic Rufus Smith Building: $800,000
• Activate the JW Olin Block with Mixed-Use Development: $750,000
• Create the Village Trail Apartments: $500,000
• Establish a Building Improvement Fund to Support Smaller Scale Investments: $495,000
• Complete Main Street Streetscape Improvements: $350,000
• Rehabilitate the 1908 Wainman Building and Create Spaces for Entrepreneurs and Artisans: $321,000
• Develop Boutique Lodging and Retail at 17 North Main Street: $283,000
• Create Visibility & Visitor Traffic for Perry’s Revitalized Downtown & Destinations: $135,000

The $100 million NY Forward program has a similar strategy as DRI to support downtown revitalization for New York’s smaller and rural communities.

Geneseo’s NY Forward award will help uplift downtown as a destination for culture, education, and quality of life. These projects will focus on creating new commercial spaces, enhancing connectivity throughout the downtown and seeks to improve the Village’s assets and recreational offerings.

The NY Forward projects in Geneseo include the following:

• Enhance Recreational Facilities at Highland Park: $1,300,000
• Enhance the Main Street Streetscape: $1,100,000
• Transform Center Street into a Flexible, Pedestrian Space: $550,000
• Transform 5 Chestnut Street into a Mixed-Use Development: $500,000
• Create a Downtown Small Project Grant Fund: $320,000
• Redevelop the Conrad’s Building into New Commercial Spaces: $275,000
• Install Downtown Wayfinding Signage: $255,000
• Create a Dog Park at Kelsey Field: $200,000

Projects in Medina will seek to utilize the Village’s location along the Erie Canal and expand downtown and the waterfront areas. To do so, they plan to provide additional housing options and reinvest in Main Street with lodging facilities, new commercial spaces, and refreshed buildings.

The final 8 NY Forward projects In Medina are listed as follows:

• Transform Canal Basin Park into a Waterfront Gateway: $1,345,000
• Expand the Canal Village Farmer’s Market: $675,000
• Redevelop the Walsh Hotel: $560,000
• Upgrade the Hart House Hotel: $500,000
• Develop Arenite Brewing Company on the Canal: $500,000
• Rehabilitate the Upper Floor Apartments at 409-413 Main Street: $370,000
• Establish a Downtown Small Project Grant Fund: $300,000
• Install Downtown Wayfinding Signage: $250,000

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