State awards $10 million for eight Little Falls downtown-revitalization projects

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — Eight projects designed to improve the quality of life in Little Falls are moving forward as part of the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award.

The work will help create a more unified downtown to improve walking and biking for residents and to catalyze additional investment along Main Street and at Canal Place. The changes will allow a more natural flow for vehicular traffic. The city will establish a small-business assistance fund and replace the canopy along Main Street.

“The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is all about making our New York communities even better places to live, work, and play,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release. “Little Falls residents have seen the potential of their community as the gateway to the Adirondacks, and I have been struck by their passion for taking it to the next level.”

The specific projects funded through the DRI include the following:

• Creating affordable senior housing — $2.5 million to renovate the M&T Bank building to create senior housing, amenities for residents, and commercial space while maintaining the existing bank.
• Enhancing connectivity of Seeley Street — $1.8 million to transform Seeley Street into a bicycle and pedestrian waterfront walkway by repaving the existing roadway and installing lighting and guide rails. The project will connect Canal Place to Moss Island and Erie Canal Lock 17.
• Replacing the Main Street canopy — $1.67 million to redesign and modernize the canopy and creating continuity.
• Improving Main Street streetscape — $1.6 million to improve the streetscape by including a separated, two-way bike lane from Albany Street to Ann Street, green infrastructure between Ann Street and School Street, and repaving the entire corridor.
• Renovating vacant facility — $640,000 to renovate a former hydroelectric facility into office space for STEAM anchor tenants, a multipurpose community space, and a hub for film and movie production.
• Small-business development fund — $600,000 to support smaller-scale projects such as façade improvements, signage, lighting, murals, and energy-efficiency upgrades through the Little Falls Grant Fund.
• Enhancing library access and use — $500,000 to increase accessibility of the Little Falls Library with a new elevator and transforming the third floor into community spaces for counseling, GED prep, and tutoring.
• Increasing childcare and community services — $390,000 to expand the Little Falls Youth & Family Center to increase capacity of its existing childcare facility at 45 Furnace St. and redevelop its 524 E. Main St. location to accommodate an emergency childcare facility.

“We look forward to improving the downtown district and making Little Falls an even more vibrant area to live and visit,” Little Falls Mayor Mark Blask said.

New York’s DRI helps transform downtown neighborhoods into compact, walkable downtowns that promote the use of public transit and reduce dependence on private vehicles.