Oswego to use $10 million DRI award on a dozen projects

OSWEGO, N.Y. — The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the 12 winning projects selected for the City of Oswego’s $10 million prize as part of the first round of the state’s $100 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

Cuomo’s office a year ago named Oswego as Central New York’s winner in the first round of the competition.

The DRI aims to “transform” local neighborhoods across the state into “vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family,” Cuomo’s office said in a news release.

Working together with state agencies and the regional economic-development council (REDC), the City of Oswego has built a “strategic” investment plan that identifies downtown projects “consistent with the initiative’s goals.”

“This funding is more than an investment in Oswego … it’s an investment in the future of the entire region,” Cuomo said. “These investments will help make this downtown an economic engine that will support local businesses, foster growth, and have ripple effects that will keep Central New York rising for decades to come.”

Projects to be funded

Oswego will use its funding to construct a new indoor, Lake Ontario Water Park to “attract visitors and create a four-season family destination downtown,” linked to an existing hotel and event/conference center near the waterfront, Cuomo’s office said.

It also plans to renovate space and install hands-on educational and cultural exhibits for the Children’s Museum of Oswego, located on the ground floor of the historic Buckout-Jones building.

The projects also include an effort to restore the Buckhout-Jones building; redeveloping the Cahill Building into “upscale” housing; and work on the “aging” Midtown Plaza.

The funding will also target the completion of the downtown West Gateway project. It involves the redevelopment of a single-story structure on the corner of West First Street and West Bridge Street into a two-story, mixed-use building.

The “completely renovated” building will provide ground floor retail space and include a vertical addition to add 12 upper-story residential units and a roof-top deck overlooking the Oswego River for outdoor restaurant dining.

The establishment will also provide parking for residents in the building’s basement.

Oswego will also use a portion of the funding to construct improvements to the riverfront-trail network to provide “better” connections to the downtown and offer more user amenities.

Upgrades will include new fencing, landscaping, lighting, seating, and signage as well as new access points and signage.

In addition, Oswego will use the funding for streetscape features along West Bridge Street, such as sidewalks that are ADA-compliant; cross-walks and sidewalk bump-outs; street striping; and green infrastructure.

ADA is short for Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation signed in 1990.

The projects also include the West First Street multi-building redevelopment and the Harbor View Square mixed-use development.

Oswego also plans to establish a revolving loan for private improvements on commercial interiors; a combined grant/loan fund for façade improvements; matching grants for renovating upper floors for housing; and a matching grant program for outdoor programming in the downtown.

The City contends the investment will “encourage additional investment in existing downtown buildings and support active programming to attract more visitors.”

In addition, the City will also create a pocket park on Market Street, designing a “flexible, creative small public space for community gatherings and public events”, which will provide a “much-needed” connection between West First Street and Water Street.

Reaction

“This investment by Gov. Cuomo and New York State will help leverage our natural and existing assets while giving Oswego the opportunity to boost small business, foster pivotal development, and beautify our community. This significant investment will begin a new chapter in our community and positions Oswego to better attract millennials and younger working-class families to live here and patronize our downtown,” Oswego Mayor William Barlow said in Cuomo’s release.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R–Pulaski) said that he’s seen “positive changes and energy take hold in Oswego thanks to the leadership of Mayor Billy Barlow and local community leaders.”

“The anchor projects selected today will build on that positive momentum by providing investments in Oswego’s historic downtown and waterfront areas which will improve the local economy and the quality of life for residents. The governor’s innovative Downtown Revitalization Initiative enabled the city to secure significant public funding to maximize private investment that will benefit generations to come,” Barclay added in Cuomo’s news release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com