Recent public and private investment, local planning efforts, and capital infrastructure projects have catalyzed downtown’s redevelopment. The City of Auburn is the second largest city in Central New York. Amsterdam is focused on bringing to life a beloved quote written by Maria Riccio Bryce for the Amsterdam Oratorio, “What once was home is home again –My Amsterdam.” The city plans to use participation in the DRI to make new businesses, visitors, and residents will be eager to come to the city that everyone so warmly refers to as “home.” The City seeks to attract investment in its developable land and buildings available, and has identified potential major projects at the four points of the compass to anchor revitalization. The area contains mixed-use residential and commercial spaces, an assisted living facility, established businesses, and many park and recreation amenities. The Amsterdam DRI area spans the Mohawk River to encompass the remaining segment of the historic downtown and new downtown areas that have emerged as the city continues to grow and evolve. Clinton Square is poised to be a thriving gateway district and a distinctive hub that connects and catalyzes activity in Downtown and the Warehouse District, and draws this momentum into the Arbor Hill and Sheridan Hollow neighborhoods through public infrastructure enhancements, private project development and vibrant arts and entertainment investments. With DRI investment, residents, visitors, and the workforce will enjoy new links to the Hudson River. The City envisions revitalizing Clinton Square directly while providing infill investments, corridor enhancements, and targeted housing revitalization projects. This compact and walkable area, rich in history, arts and cultural assets, is where five city investment zones converge. The City of Albany is focused on revitalizing Clinton Square to create a welcoming gateway into the capital city. The Governor will soon announce the projects that will receive implementation funding through the third round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.Ĭommunities selected in Round Three of the DRI were: To fully leverage the impact of the DRI, Local Planning Committees identified projects that totaled in excess of the available DRI funds to ensure a continued pipeline of projects ready for funding within the community. Each year, the State facilitated a community planning process that resulted in a Strategic Investment Plan for each community. Ten more communities were identified in 2017 (DRI Two) and again in 2018 (DRI Three).
Launched in 2016, the $100 million initiative resulted in identification by the ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) of one community in each region to participate in the DRI. Recognizing that companies are increasingly seeking to relocate and invest in vibrant, walkable downtowns in an effort to attract and retain a talented workforce, the State launched a major new initiative – the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), to improve the vitality of urban centers across New York State.