Main Street Program turns to New Hartford: Here's what's planned at Village Pizza site
The Village of New Hartford is working with Oneida County through its Main Street Program to expand its village green.
The village bought the former Village Pizza building on Genesee Street late last year for around $400,000 and proceeded to tear it down, with plans to add the property to the neighboring village green.
Village Mayor Donald Ryan has said the park extension was something past administrations had talked about, but the opportunity only became possible last year.
“Right now, we’re trying to come up with a design,” Ryan said in a recent interview. He said the village is also looking at how to fund the proposal.
About the Village Pizza parcel
A real estate representative had reached out to the village about possibly buying the parcel when Village Pizza left in January 2021.
Last year, Ryan said he was not sure of the exact size of the parcel, but noted it was on the smaller side.
Ryan has said he hopes to incorporate local area businesses into plans for the extended green. He envisions summer concerts where people can go listen and then stop by the various restaurants, bars and shops that are centered around the green.
The green has been home to concerts and the village’s farmers market throughout the years.
About the Main Street Program
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. unveiled his Oneida County Main Street Program in July 2021, a proposal he first broached at his State of the County address in May.
Picente is committing half a million dollars in matching funds for municipalities to work with the county’s planning department to rethink and rebrand their main streets as part of the project.
The fund will be $5 million over the course of two years, and the program comes with a 50-50 match with the municipality.
In his State of the County address, Picente said the program, once fully realized, would infuse $11 million in planning and capital investment directly into the projects.
The Main Street Program aims to improve safety, provide better access to local businesses, allow people to move safely while walking, accommodate bicyclists, support climate smart investments, provide a sense of place and enhance communities.
Oneida County Planning Commissioner James Genovese said the village is one of 11 municipalities currently taking part in the Main Street Program.
Genovese said there was no concrete timeframe for when the Main Street Program projects would move forward, though he did note some could possibly go ahead this summer.
“A lot of work has gone into the planning stages,” Genovese said.
Ed Harris is the Oneida County reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Ed Harris at EHarris1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New Hartford expands village green at former Village Pizza site
