Utica received the 2019 Downtown Revitalization Initiative from Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week.
The city beat out four other communities in the Mohawk Valley region for the $10 million, including a joint application by the Village of Clinton and Town of Kirkland. Also competing for the award were Gloversville, Herkimer and Cooperstown.
Utica joins Schenectady, Fulton, Seneca Falls, Baldwin, Peekskill, Staten Island, Potsdam, Hornell and Niagara Falls Bridge District as this year’s winners. The governor provided each community with $10 million to enhance its downtown with a variety of projects.
This is the fourth year of the DRI program and the first time the Clinton/Kirkland community applied for the funds. Their proposal included building a hotel, apartment complex, making repairs and upgrades to the Kirkland Art Center, Clinton Cider Mill, Clinton Arena and Jack Boynton Pool along with enhancements to the Park Row and College Street area.
Utica’s plan focuses on the area near Munson-Williams Art Museum on Genesee Street. They will add street and public art, renovate the Doubletree Hotel Utica and New Century Club, add to parks and greenspace and build centers for veterans and refugees.
They will also address parking issues in that area, add a park near Munson Williams and redo the box office of the Stanley Theatre.