State announces grants for brownfield-affected communities

The cities of Syracuse, Cortland, Rome, Little Falls, and Norwich, along with Oswego and Lewis counties are among 26 communities statewide set to benefit from a total of $10 million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) grants.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced the grant awards from the New York State Department of State.

Brownfields are dormant properties where the presence or potential existence of contamination has impeded site redevelopment, turning the properties into economic and environmental drains on localities, the governor’s office said in a news release.

BOA grants provide funding for municipalities to implement revitalization strategies that are “necessary” in order to redevelop impacted sites, Cuomo’s office added.

Once redeveloped, brownfield sites can attract businesses, jobs, and ultimately expand the local tax base, the governor contends.

The city of Syracuse will use a grant of $315,000 to complete a plan to induce investment in a 113-acre area of South Salina Street, the governor’s office said.

The effort will focus on redevelopment of four priority cluster areas through land assemblage, environmental assessments and cleanups, expanding recreational areas, and new commercial/mixed use development.

Syracuse will also use an additional $247,500 grant to work on a similar plan to spur redevelopment in a 478-acre brownfield area in a neighborhood along Erie Boulevard East.

The state has also awarded the city of Cortland a grant of more than $359,000 to use on a plan to generate redevelopment in a 540-acre area of the city that 26 brownfield sites have affected.

The project is intended to spur job creation through the redevelopment of Noss Technology Park, a 40-acre brownfield site that will provide high-technology economic opportunities, clean-up, and marketing of the vacant 38-acre Buckbee Mears property, the governor’s office said.

Buckbee Mears once produced aperture masks used in color-television picture tubes.

Additionally, Oswego County will use a grant of more than $597,000 to work on a strategy for the Oswego Canal Corridor including the Oswego River, the Oswego Canal, and Lake Ontario.

The county’s effort is intended to foster mixed-use development, professional offices, niche retail/service outlets, hotels, housing, public-waterfront amenities, and open space.

In the Mohawk Valley, the city of Rome will use a grant of $350,000 to complete a plan to revitalize a 437-acre area that includes 73 potential brownfield sites along the West Dominick Street corridor.

In addition, the city of Little Falls will use a grant of $81,000 to complete a plan that identifies development possibilities in the former industrial and commercial area along the Mohawk River and Erie Canal waterfront, including the Main Street business district and adjacent neighborhood.

In the North Country, the state has awarded Lewis County and the village of Lyons Falls a grant of more than $553,000 to complete a plan to return four brownfield sites back to productive.

It includes the redevelopment of an abandoned Lyons Falls mill site to create business opportunities and increase employment in the village’s downtown area.

In the Southern Tier, the city of Norwich will use a $90,000 grant to help revitalize a 591-acre area with 33 vacant and brownfield sites located in the city’s downtown and older residential areas.

The effort is intended to result in development projects on former industrial sites on the city’s eastern side and new commercial developments in Norwich’s downtown area.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com