Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the list of transformational projects for Peekskill and Baldwin as part of their $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative awards.
The 12 projects in Peekskill and 7 projects in Baldwin will incorporate mixed-used transit-oriented development, improve pedestrian connections, and support small businesses to create places where residents, commuters and visitors want to shop, dine, and recreate. The investments are part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the downstate economy and create more opportunities for the Mid-Hudson region and Long Island.
Peekskill – Mid-Hudson Region
The specific projects to be funded through the Peekskill DRI include:
Redevelop 41 N Division St. as a mixed-use building housing the Peekskill Arts Center, multi-media production spaces, and apartments – $1,638,752: Redevelopment of 41 N Division St. as the primary home of the Peekskill Arts Center on the ground floor, multi-media production spaces in the basement level, and new micro-apartments on the two upper floors.
Transform the Kiley Youth Center as a new location of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester – $1,500,000: Renovate the Kiley Youth Center as a new location for the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. Upgrades include interior/exterior improvements, utilities, and structural repairs providing offices, an art room, computer labs, and cafeteria.
Revitalize the Paramount Theater – $1,000,000: Renovations to the building facade and marquee, improved interior spaces for audience and artists, expanded hospitality programs, and upgraded equipment and utilities. Interior upgrades include lighting and sound equipment, stage rigging, accessible seating, flexible seating, and box office renovations.
Downtown Revitalization Fund – $700,000: Creation of a fund to help small businesses in the DRI area make capital improvements. Eligible activities include facade improvements, small business creation and expansion, solar installations, and adaptation to social distancing guidelines.
Transform Downtown Peekskill with Public Art – $500,000: Series of public art installations throughout Downtown Peekskill through a locally administered selection process involving long-time arts organizations in the city. The joint venture includes three proposals, Enlighten Peekskill, Making Connections, and the Five Arches Mural.
Implement Public Wi-Fi in Lepore and Pugsley Parks and low-cost internet service for Bohlmann Towers and Barham Senior Houses – $380,000: Create a mesh Wi-Fi network to offer low-cost internet to residents of Bohlmann Towers and Barham House Apartments, free access to a local resource gateway, and free Wi-Fi access along the Main St. Corridor including Lepore and Pugsley parks.
Create a Downtown Civic Hub and Improve the Downtown Public Realm – $1,626,000: Create the Peekskill Plaza on S. Division St by converting two lanes to a pedestrian civic space, redesign Gazebo Plaza as the civic heart of Peekskill, improve streetscapes to enhance pedestrian safety and beautify downtown Peekskill.
Improve Connections for Pedestrians and Cyclists between the Waterfront and Downtown – $1,102,000: Strengthen the connection between the Waterfront and the Downtown Core by improving connectivity and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on Railroad Avenue, S. Water Street, Central Avenue, and South Street. Components include bike lanes, curb extensions, crosswalks, bios wales, bike racks, LED info signage, street trees, and pedestrian signals.
Enhance Pugsley Park as a Downtown Attraction – $313,248: Improvements to Pugsley Park including creation of new plazas and seating areas, pedestrian-scaled lighting; small-scale play equipment to attract children, trash cans, bike parking, plantings of trees, shrubs, and flowers, and infrastructure to support power hook-ups and watering.
Enhance Monument Park, a Gateway into Downtown Peekskill – $260,000: Monument Park would be enhanced by lighting and maintenance improvements to improve the quality of the public space for daily use by residents. The project proposal seeks DRI funding for lighting, landscaping, and LED informational sign at the bus stop.
Reconstruct Fleischmann Pier and Improve Charles Point Park as a premier waterfront destination – $180,000: Reconstruction of Fleischmann Pier to create a new pier that will support tour boats. The project would provide funding for a second phase improvement to include floating docks for smaller vessels and transient boaters, improvements to Charles Point Park, and expanded parking area building.
Baldwin – Long Island
The specific projects to be funded through the DRI include:
Build a mixed-use development at Milburn Plaza – $2,000,000: Redevelop 24 Sunrise Highway replacing a contaminated, used car parking lot, with a mixed-use building consisting of ground floor retail uses with 200 residential units above. Project amenities would include on-site parking facilities and a pedestrian plaza.
Redevelop 775 Brooklyn Ave. for mixed-use transit-oriented development -$3,500,000: Construct a mixed-use, seven-story building accommodating 107 new residential units, 24,000 SF of commercial/office space, and 81 on-site parking stalls immediately adjacent to the Baldwin LIRR station.
Build a mixed-use development at 2130 and 2134-2138 Grand Ave.- $1,000,000: Redevelop the largely vacant property at 2130 and 2134-2138 Grand Ave. as a five-story mixed-use development, accommodating 7,800 sq. ft. of commercial uses on the first floor and 60 residential units on the upper floors.
Develop affordable workforce housing at Baldwin Commons – $850,000: Redevelop vacant property located at 785 Merrick Rd/ as a 33-unit, four-story all-affordable workforce housing development known as Baldwin Commons, with ground floor amenity space such as a leasing office, mail room, lobby, and community room.
Improve traffic and pedestrian safety along Merrick Road – $1,500,000: Implement roadway and pedestrian safety enhancements along Merrick Road between Harrison Ave. and Pershing Boulevard to facilitate safer circulation between pedestrians and vehicular traffic along the well-traveled corridor.
