Johnson City nets $10 million Downtown Revitalization award from NY state
Another Broome County village is receiving a $10 million boost from New York's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that Johnson City is the Southern Tier winner of the sixth round of the DRI, which aims to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers of activity that improve quality of life and attract businesses, jobs and housing diversity.
Neighboring Endicott won its DRI award in late 2021 and recently learned which projects will be funded through the program. In selecting Johnson City for the Southern Tier’s latest $10 million DRI award, the state noted the village, built on the shoulders of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe company, “is in the midst of a transformation from a working-class manufacturing community into a new economy leveraging higher education, healthcare and culture.”
“There has been a lot of development in and around our downtown over the last few years,” said Johnson City Mayor Marty Meaney. “This development has started the revitalization of our downtown. However, revitalization is not a speedy process. With this award, we will see the transformation into a vibrant downtown so much sooner."
What types of projects is Johnson City targeting with its $10 million?
Johnson City is hoping to fund projects that complement recent developments in the village, including the redevelopment of the former EJ Victory Building and the new Binghamton University Health Sciences Campus, home to 200 employees and over 1,000 students. Venues like the Goodwill Theatre and the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage support the village’s vision for a downtown entertainment and cultural hub.
Johnson City’s DRI application seeks projects that “create a downtown with a youthful, artistic vibe that meets the needs and expectations of this changing demographic and economic marketplace, while preserving and restoring its many historic assets and celebrating its ethnic and cultural diversity.”
Projects could help develop new housing for students and residents, revitalize vacant storefronts and help the village leverage the growth of downtown anchors like BU and the UHS Wilson Medical Center.
“The timing for Johnson City is perfect as the downtown has reached a major turning point,” said Assemblymember Donna Lupardo. “New energy and investments have come to the Village with the Health and Cultural iDistrict, the rebirth of the Victory Building, and new small businesses finding their way to Main Street.”
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How will Johnson City’s DRI projects be selected?
Johnson City will now form a Strategic Investment Plan utilizing up to $300,000 in planning funds from the grant. This plan will identify economic development, transportation, housing and community projects that align with Johnson City’s vision for downtown revitalization. The projects must be ready for near-term implementation with an infusion of DRI funds.
The village will be tasked with creating a Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders to oversee the process. The committee will make recommendations to the state on which proposals match the village’s goals.
The Department of State will ultimately award DRI funds to projects “with the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and realize the community's vision.”
The projects must be in the downtown corridor identified by the village. The DRI area is made up of almost 200 acres covering downtown and surrounding lands and buildings that once housed the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Johnson City nets $10 million Downtown Revitalization award from NY
