As one of the state’s first smalltown—and $10 million—Downtown Revitalization Initiative winners, the Village of Schoharie is unique.
And so maybe, shouldn’t be bound by what’s come before.
That’s the case members of the Local Planning Committee made in their first meeting with Department of State reps and consultants, arguing to extend the boundaries for potential projects.
The DRI is intended to provide matching funding for transformative projects in a “compact, walkable, well-defined core,” DOS’s Stefan Lutter told the 10-member LPC.
Cementing those boundaries was one of the first things they needed to tackle.
And their first challenge.
As proposed, Schoharie’s boundaries start at the old Great American parking lot, Firman Drive, and Bridge Street, travel north to include Hilgert Parkway and Spring Street, before crossing Main Street at Prospect and continuing on the west side of the village down Grand Street and Shannon Avenue and back to Main.
LPC member Paul Conroy said he’d like to see the Schoharie Library included—an easy fix, as was adding Lasalle Park.
Others argued the boundaries should also extend as far as the Old Stone Fort.
“It’s very important to stretch it out Route 30,” said Mayor Colleen Henry, who is chairing the LPC with SUNY Cobleskill President Marion Terenzio.
“We walk to the Post Office, the Fort, Lily Park. To say I was a little stunned…” when she first saw the map.
Also outside the boundaries: the old jail, where plans for mixed housing are in the works, and the Route 30 site for the Farmers Beef & Brew’s new event facility.
The boundaries are critical because the call for projects was expected to go out Friday—it went out Monday--and remains open until June 11. (See related story.)
Mike N’Dolo of MRB, a subcontractor for the project, said he thought there would be flexibility; the Fort “isn’t three miles away,” he said.
Mr. Lutter said they’d need to check with the state, but to start, projects on the edge of the boundaries “can make their case” for inclusion.
The LPC members also agreed to set a minimum 25 percent match and a minimum $250,000 investment for private projects.
In addition to the co-chairs, LPC members are Colleen Quirion, Mike Langan, Mark Stolzenburgh, Steve Babbitt, Paul Conroy, Julie Pacatte, Lillian Spina-Caza, and Darlene Patterson.
They’re charged with spreading the word on the DRI and, by December, forwarding a list of 10 recommended projects totaling $13-$15 million to the state for its approval.
The “extra” $3-$5 million allows for “backup projects” in case one of those picked falls through, Mr. Lutter said.
It also puts all of the projects in line for additional funding, said Ms. Pacatte of SEEC, who who’d also served on the Village of Sharon Springs’ New York Forward LPC.
NYF is a “sister” to the DRI and Sharon Springs was awarded $2.5 million in 2023 in the sixth round of funding.
Projects there are now getting started.
Eighth-round Mohawk Valley Region NYF winners were Canajoharie and Waterville.