New York OKs 6 Projects For Ossining's $10M Revitalization

OSSINING, NY — New York State has OK'd six projects under Ossining's $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award.

The money is meant to leverage the community's walkability and historic, cultural, and natural resources. The award was announced a year ago. SEE: Ossining Wins $10M State Grant To Revitalize Downtown.

"Ossining is on the move and this funding allows us to move far more swiftly, making longstanding desires a reality and fulfilling our goals for a thriving, inclusive and sustainable community," said Village Mayor Rika Levin.

State officials said the village possesses significant assets to build upon, including ethnic and cultural diversity, the waterfront, historic Main Street, and a train station.

"Ossining is an historic community on the Hudson River which because of its age has more needs in order to enhance the quality of life for its residents," said outgoing state Assemblywoman Sandy Galef. "This large grant will go a long way to improve upgrades to the infrastructure and to strengthen cultural opportunities."

Ossining's initial list of possible projects was long. The six projects chosen support goals and strategies in the community's Strategic Investment Plan. The state's $9.7 million will leverage additional public and private sector investments as the revitalization process proceeds and builds momentum, state officials said.

Two projects are meant to enhance walkability, transit use and waterfront access:

1. Building a Multi-Modal Transportation Center to Facilitate Mixed-use Development - DRI Award: $2,243,000. Build a multi-modal transportation center to provide approximately 240 vehicle parking spaces, as well as bicycle infrastructure to accommodate parking and charging, to support infill development in downtown and promote decreased reliance on vehicle use. The center will generate renewable energy via a rooftop solar array, and the design will be consistent with the historic character of the Main Street Corridor.
2. Enhancing Streetscaping in the Station Plaza Neighborhood to Improve Connectivity - DRI Award: $857,000. Beautify the Station Plaza neighborhood through improved streets, widened sidewalks, bikeability, placemaking, and connectivity between the waterfront and upper Main Street.

Three are to improve public spaces for performing arts and cultural activities:

1. Enhancing and Expanding the Market Square Public Plaza - DRI Award: $2,000,000. Design and construct a new public plaza to include seating, new landscaping, a raised stage and kiosks. The public plaza would remain in public ownership.

2. Preserving and Revitalizing the Historic Olive Opera House Building - DRI Award: $1,500,000. Conduct exterior renovations, restorations and retrofitting of the interior of the building to allow for flexible workspaces, studios and a performance space with modular stage.
3. Upgrading the Louis Engel Waterfront Park Performance Space - DRI Award: $600,000. Replace the existing stage with a new, covered state-of-the-art performance space to accommodate performances in inclement weather while drawing locals and visitors to the waterfront.

The sixth is to expand community services:

1. Transforming the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center - DRI Award: $2,500,000 Transform the Community Center into a state-of-the-art facility for intergenerational recreation and learning that will create opportunities for innovative programming while providing expanded and improved space for STEM and sports for children, adults, and seniors.

The investments are part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the New York economy and create more opportunities in the Mid-Hudson Region. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award is led by the Department of State, which provides technical assistance as each participating community develops a Strategic Investment Plan identifying specific projects with a unique vision for the revitalization of the downtown area.

The point is to benefit neighborhoods across New York through targeted investments made with the collaboration of local leaders, said Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas.

"We want to see communities thrive and grow, be vibrant and inviting, and that is exactly what New York State is doing for Ossining," Westchester County Executive George Latimer said.

Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Dr. Marsha Gordon and Dr. Kristine Young said the Downtown Revitalization Initiative is transforming downtown neighborhoods in New York State through key investments and projects developed by community members.

"My administration will continue to prioritize transformational projects through targeted investments that will strengthen communities across New York," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in the announcement.