Utica, Rome awarded millions in state funding to rehab vacant buildings. What to know

New York State awarded $64.1 million to 43 projects through the State's Restore New York Communities Initiative, which includes $1.9 million for Rome and $2 million for Utica to support rehabilitation of vacant buildings.

Restore New York supports municipal revitalization efforts with funds to help remove and reduce blight, reinvigorate communities and generate new residential and economic opportunities statewide.

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.

“Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities brings new energy and investments that support local and regional growth,” Gov. Kathy 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."

Utica's award

Utica was awarded $2 million to support the redevelopment of the five-story Cronk Building on Hotel Street, which was built in 1920, and has been vacant since the early 2000s.

The development team is planning a mixed-use project including 30 apartments, ground floor retail/commercial space and on-site parking.

Rome's award

The city of Rome was awarded $1.9 million to support rehabilitating a 26,000-square-foot vacant industrial building on Railroad Street and Harbor Way, transforming it into a vibrant waterfront site that leverages the region's growing tourism industry with a brewery and entertainment venue.

Upon completion, the building will offer three distinct sections: a nearly 7,000-square-foot brewery, a spacious 16,500-square-foot section for industrial/entertainment, and a 3,000-square-foot section dedicated to maintaining the building, along with an art studio for film/creative design.

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About the program

The next round of the Restore New York program will launch this summer. Hochul’s office wrote in a release that these awards complement Hochul’s economic development vision by making strategic investments in communities across the State which revitalize the economy and create more opportunities for New Yorkers. The FY2025 Budget invests an additional $50 million in Restore New York, as well as $100 million for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and $100 million for NY Forward.

These programs help municipalities promote quality of life, foster socio-economic development and create walkable, livable and safer neighborhoods in every corner of the state.

"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 President, CEO and Commissioner 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."

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica, Rome awarded millions in state funding to rehab vacant buildings. What to know