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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that New Rochelle has been chosen as one of 10 municipalities throughout the state to receiving the funding that is designed to “help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.”
In New Rochelle, the grant is scheduled to accelerate work on the mile-long Lincoln Avenue Corridor.
“New Rochelle's Lincoln Avenue Corridor is an area ripe with potential to appeal to a new generation of residents, businesses and visitors," Cuomo said. "This new funding will lead to strategic investments that will spur positive economic growth for New Rochelle, Westchester County and the surrounding region.”
According to officials, with the $10 million award, “ New Rochelle will connect its evolving and prosperous city center with the mile-long Lincoln Avenue Corridor that contains mixed-income residential housing, a newly renovated hospital, green space, a Metro North Train Station and part of the city's Arts and Cultural District.
“The Downtown New Rochelle Strategic Investment Plan will build upon significant public-private investment over the past few years to spur commercial, residential, and mixed-use development in the city. The city envisions infrastructure improvements that will improve pedestrian and traffic circulation and extend the downtown's walkable, sustainable, transit-oriented design into this corridor to create a bustling environment in which to live and work.”
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said that “New Rochelle's application to the DRI focused on the Lincoln Avenue corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, with the goal of forging stronger social, economic, and physical linkages between this vital area and our downtown as a whole. We want prosperity and equity to go hand-in-hand.
“The precise use of the funding has not been decided and will be determined through a collaborative and inclusive partnership among State, City, and community representatives.”
New Rochelle will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million grant.
“In order to effectively spend the grant money, a DRI Strategic Investment Plan needs to be generated,” New Rochelle City Councilman Jared Rice noted. “The process in creating one will be led by a Local Planning Committee comprised of local and regional leaders, community representatives, and other stakeholders in the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and downtown New Rochelle. I can assure you that the DRI process will be collaborative and transparent.”
When announcing that New Rochelle had been chosen as the Mid-Hudson initiative, Bramson noted that “every member of the City Council, Democrat and Republican, is joined in pride and satisfaction.”
“And let’s be clear about why this announcement matters so much. It’s not just the money – although that sure helps, we’re not turning it down; we’re going to accomplish a lot with $10 million.
“It’s something bigger. It’s a validation of the hard work we have done together to bring New Rochelle back. And an affirmation of the core belief that we’re all in this together. That a healthy city doesn’t leave anyone behind. That prosperity and equity can, should, and must go hand-in-hand. That’s the New Rochelle we know and love.”
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