Public art, a community center, helping rehab the Best Western––all and more are under consideration for millions in grants the Village of Cobleskill is seeking.
Consulting engineer Brendon Becker and Mayor Becky Stanton-Terk Tuesday night held a forum to get public feedback on projects for a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant or a $4.5 million NY Forward grant.
Only four people from the public turned out Tuesday night at The Community Library; officials hope more attend an October 3 session at SUNY Cobleskill.
A survey also solicits public input.
The village applied for but didn’t receive these grants last year, and many of the same projects are being considered this year.
But nothing’s fixed yet, Mr. Becker said, though the final list must be completed by the October 18 application deadline.
Under consideration:
•Public art, including painting the railroad overpass at the East End and art along downtown’s Main Street.
•Beautification at the former Best Western, including helping the owner with renovating the motel.
•Community center at Iorio Park.
•Improving walkability, including a sidewalk on Grandview Drive to the hospital, bike lanes and a walking path on McArthur Avenue.
•A public courtyard at 551 Main Street, the vacant burned-out site.
•Support for more housing, including having a developer build on a Grove Street property owned by the Industrial Development Agency.
•Help for owners to improve facades of their businesses.
•Promoting mixed-use buildings, with commercial space on the first floor and apartments above.
•New structure at the Fairgrounds to host more public events.
•Community garden.
•Pocket park at Wohl’s Plaza.
•Patio renovation at The Community Library’s annex, which is being rehabilitated.
Projects involving private property––building facades, housing, mixed-use––would require the owner to provide 25 percent of the cost, and the grant would pay 75 percent, Mr. Becker said.
Empire State Development offers guidelines for the applications and favors such features as housing, streetscape, supporting economic growth and quality of life.
Cobleskill could receive either grant but not both, Mr. Becker said. The DRI application would include more projects, and the smaller NY Forward would have a reduced scope.
The village is looking for more input, especially from the survey and at the second public session, next Thursday, 6pm at Champlin Hall, SUNY Cobleskill.
“We have to show that there’s buy-in from the community,” Mayor Stanton-Terk said.