Gov. Hochul announces $19 million to fund projects in Johnson City, Montour Falls, Waverly

BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) — Governor Hochul’s efforts of revitalizing downtown communities across the Southern Tier now include Johnson City, Montour Falls and Waverly with an announced $19 million going to future projects.

Gov. Hochul announced that Johnson City will receive $9.7 million through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for 15 upcoming projects to breathe new life into the area. Johnson City joins the communities of Elmira, Watkins Glen, Owego, Hornell, Endicott, and Norwich, which were the Southern Tier’s previous winners of the DRI program.

Waverly and Montour Falls will receive $4.5 million each for a total of 15 projects between the two as part of the NY Forward Program. Nine projects in Waverly and six in Montour Falls, specifically. . NY Forward investments are part of the Governor’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the economy and create more opportunities in the Southern Tier.

Renderings of all projects can be found here .

In the first seven rounds of the DRI, the state has committed $800 million, investing in 81 downtowns ripe for revitalization that have the potential to become magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity and opportunity.  In the first two rounds of NY Forward, the state has committed $200 million, investing in 43 smaller and rural downtowns.

With the Governor’s commitment this year of an additional $100 million each for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, the State has now invested a combined total of $1.2 billion in both programs since their inception, serving 124 communities combined.

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The full list of projects and summaries of their purposes can be found below:

Johnson City (15 Projects):

• Construct a New Mixed-income Apartment Building at 333 Grand Avenue ($1,000,000)
• Construction of a new building with 72 affordable apartments along with a children’s daycare center.
• Fund Small Projects ($500,000)
• The Village will establish a building renovation program to provide matching grants to individual downtown buildings to upgrade facades, install new signage, and undertake interior renovations.
• Enhance Parks and Public Spaces ($1,215,000)
• Public parks and open space improvements including art installations in Jenison Park, street art, wayfinding, and the completion of the EJ Theme Park.
• Enhance Downtown Streets and Gateways ($2,561,000)
• Improve streetscape and pedestrian-friendliness of Main Street, Arch Street, Broad Street, Corliss Avenue, Avenues B and C, and Willow Street.
• Transform Former High School on Main Street into Mixed-use Facility ($1,150,000)
• Conversion of 70,000 square feet of an existing historic high school into 62 apartments with future commercial uses.
• Rehabilitate Mixed-use Building at 214 Main Street ($450,000)
• Renovation of a 7,200-square-foot, two-story mixed-use building.
• Transform Willbrow Alley into a Pedestrian Public Place ($652,000)
• Redesign of Willbrow Alley to create a vibrant public space downtown to include new lighting, pavers, landscaping, and public art.
• Update Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network of South Central New York, Inc. at 346 Grand Avenue ($142,000)
• Replacement of existing HVAC system at 346 Grand Avenue to complete renovations to existing facility.
• Redevelop Mixed-use Building at 15 Ave B ($250,000)
• Renovation of an existing historic structure to include six apartments as well as commercial elements.
• Revitalize the Helping Celebrate Abilities (HCA) Non-profit Facility ($750,000)
• Revitalization of the Helping Celebrate Abilities Building including a new roof, a new playground surface, a new parking surface, plumbing reconstruction, correction of stormwater drainage, as well as improvements to the facade of the building.
• Revitalize Business Facility at 240 Main Street ($150,000)
• Renovation of over 13,000 square feet including storefront, signage, roof and drainage, stair, and other interior upgrades to improve operations and patron experience.
• Expand Existing Brewery Facilities at 135 Baldwin ($300,000)
• Brewery expansion for increased production, community gathering, and performance spaces.
• Rehabilitate Mixed-use Building at 254 Main Street ($100,000)
• Exterior and interior renovations to an existing mixed-use Main Street building.
• Revitalize IBEW Non-profit Offices at 271 Main Street ($105,000)
• Renovation of existing structure used by IBEW Local 10 to include a new storefront, signage, lighting, windows, doors, and exterior siding.
• Redevelop Mixed-use Building at 20 Willow Street ($375,000)
• Renovations and improvements of exterior and interior to develop a variety of office spaces for local businesses.

Waverly (9 Projects):

• Enhance Walkability and Comfort on Broad Street through Streetscape Improvements ($960,000)
• Provide physical streetscape improvements on Broad Street including but not limited to enhanced crosswalks, new sidewalks, pedestrian-level streetlighting with arms to hang flags or planters, curb bumpouts, signage, landscaping, street trees, benches and enhanced parking and open space.
• Renovate East Waverly Park ($1,196,000)
• Create a family and youth focused recreation facility with new pickle ball courts, a splash pad, walking trails, fishing holes, softball field, basketball court, playground, new parking area, and rehab of existing restroom and kitchen.
• Establish Waverly Waterfront Access and Trails ($795,000)
• Create a new park on land bordered by the Chemung River that will encourage paddling, boating, fishing, hiking, and passive recreation in the Village of Waverly.
• Renovate Soprano’s Market and Build an Outdoor Seating Area ($420,000)
• Upgrade the established Soprano’s Market with a new outdoor patio, additional site lighting, new siding and insulation, roof replacement, and rehabilitation of the parking lot.
• Upgrade Historic Building and Create Upper-Level Housing Above an Established Sports Bar ($156,000)
• Build new fully furnished apartments on the vacant upper floors of a historic building on Broad St that also houses an established sports bar and create an outdoor deck in the rear of the building to be used by residents.
• Convert a Victorian Home into a Multiuse Residential and Commercial Space ($300,000)
• Complete the final phases of a conversion of an historic Victorian home and neighboring vacant lot into a mixed use building with commercial space, upper floor apartment, and green space for outdoor gatherings.
• Construct a Multiuse Commercial Building in Downtown Waverly ($317,000)
• Construct a new mixed-use commercial space on Cayuta Ave to house a café, offices, retail shop, and rentable conference room.
• Improve Fitness Center on Broad Street ($156,000)
• Raise the interior ceiling at an established fitness center on Broad Street to allow for better air circulation in gym and other improvements including new glass doors and windows and new drainage onsite to prevent ice caused by flooding onsite.
• Develop a Small Project Fund to Help Local Businesses ($200,000)
• Implement a grant fund for small projects in the NY Forward boundary that will support building renovations, facades, interior build outs, permanent equipment, awnings, and signage.

Montour Falls (6 Projects):

• Enhance Walkability and Comfort on Main Street through Streetscape Improvements ($971,000)
• Improve walkability and pedestrian comfort along Main Street with enhanced crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb bump-outs and sidewalk extensions, street trees, green infrastructure, benches, signage, public art installations, and gateway arches.
• Build Townhomes on Vacant Lot in Downtown Montour Falls ($916,000)
• Construct new townhomes on a vacant plot of land on N Genesee Street. These townhomes will be long-term rentals in the heart of downtown Montour Falls.
• Build a New Dental Office and Apartments on Catharine Street ($685,000)
• Construct a new building on vacant property that will house an established dental practice, space for a commercial business, and new long-term apartments on Catharine Street. The building will include room to expand the dental practice.
• Preserve the Historic Brick Tavern Museum and Incorporate Accessibility Improvements ($792,000)
• Preserve the historic Brick Tavern Museum through interior and exterior improvements and a building extension to provide a space that is amenable to preserving the museum collection and that will ensure accessibility for all visitors.
• Develop a Small Project Fund to Help Local Businesses ($200,000)
• Implement a grant fund for small projects in the NY Forward boundary that will support building renovations, facades, interior build outs, permanent equipment, awnings, and signage.
• Improve Street Lighting on N Catharine Street ($936,000)
• Upgrade existing street lighting on Catharine Street to include infill pedestrian-level lighting to create a more comfortable environment for pedestrians at night.

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