(The Downtown Revitalization Initiative video prepared for the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council by the City of New Rochelle)
Reporting from sunny Arizona where my wife and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary, I am ecstatic to announce that the New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council for the Mid-Hudson region has selected New Rochelle to receive 10 million dollars to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the revitalization of the Lincoln Avenue Corridor. Just now, from inside the Remington Boys and Girls Club, right in the heart of the Lincoln Avenue Corridor, the news was made official that a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant will be going to New Rochelle. Believe me, this is a huge moment for all of New Rochelle.
Since our first Comprehensive Planning meeting more than two years ago (see Comprehensive Planning for the Lincoln Avenue Corridor), we have been working hard to try to figure out how to obtain the necessary resources to increase the quality of life for residents along this historic corridor. Now, with the DRI grant, we will be able to better connect center-city New Rochelle, specifically the Lincoln Avenue Corridor, with the jobs, transportation, and services located in our bustling downtown. In my opinion, the key to our success thus far has been robust community involvement. In engaging area residents to determine the many needs of the corridor, we were able to put together a solid plan for the future. With that, I would like to give a special shout-out to our Department of Development staff and the Lincoln Avenue Task Force for the countless hours spent in preparation for this moment.
With a recently upgraded Lincoln Park, and new zoning in place to foster smart development at the base of the corridor near Memorial Highway (see Re-Imagined Lincoln Avenue Corridor Part 2), the DRI grant perfectly complements the exciting changes we are witnessing. Still, the ongoing needs for the Lincoln Avenue Corridor – from workforce housing, to a brand new Remington Unit of the Boys and Girls Club, to the total reconfiguration of the Memorial Highway/Lincoln Avenue intersection, to practical retail space – require more attention. What is so tantalizing about the DRI grant is that it allows for significant infrastructural improvements along Lincoln Avenue and Memorial Highway, along with new transportation options, so that better connections from the Lincoln Avenue Corridor to downtown New Rochelle can be created. The mix of private and public capital in this area can yield transformational results.
In order to effectively spend the grant money, a DRI Strategic Investment Plan needs to be generated . 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. You can see frequently asked questions for the DRI process here.
So, please excuse me as I enjoy the rest of my anniversary weekend away; I’ll be right back to work on this with our council and Mayor Bramson as soon as I get home. In the meantime, click on the video above to get a better understanding of where we are going with this.
Sincerely,
Councilman Jared Rice