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Naturally Lewis Awards $690,965 to Vacant Property
Revitalization Projects
Published: May 06, 2023 at 09:00
a.m.
By: Press Release from Naturally Lewis
Naturally Lewis Awards $690,965 to Vacant Property
Revitalization Projects
The Kellogg Block Building on Shady Ave. in Lowville was
awarded $100,000 to renovate the second floor into apartments.
LEWIS COUNTY, NY
–
Naturally Lewis, in partnership with Lewis County, created the Vacant
Property Revitalization (VPR) Program to target vacant and potentially
unsafe or blighted properties within downtown and surrounding areas to turn
them into usable spaces for business development opportunities. The Lewis
County Development Corporation (LCDC), through its Round 1 Application process,
approved nine (9) projects, granting a total of $690,965 in Vacant Property
Revitalization Program Funds.
The following
projects were awarded:
·
The Case Building Remodel, 1147 State Route
26, West Leyden, was awarded $50,000 to construct new commercial space on
the first floor, and an apartment on the second floor.
·
The crumbs. Bake Shop
building, 5421 Shady Ave, Lowville, was awarded $71,730 to turn the vacant
second and third floors into living space.
·
The Lowville Apartments (Dollar General) Building,
7619-23 N. State Street, Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to turn the second
and third floors into rental units.
·
Double Play Community Center, 6912 Bardo
Road, Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to help turn a vacant former
restaurant building into their new consolidated community center, including
fitness center, dance and yoga studios and senior and teen community space.
·
Grand Slam Safety, 9801 Bridge Street, Croghan, was
awarded $49,235 to renovate a vacant former bus garage on their property into
additional manufacturing space, which will create 5 new jobs.
·
The Kellogg Block Building, 5406-5424 Shady
Ave., Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to renovate the second floor into
apartments.
·
McRez Packing
International, 3823 Marmon Road, Lyonsdale, was awarded $100,000
to renovate a vacant former storage building into a USDA certified meat
processing facility, which would create 13-15 new jobs.
·
Port Leyden Portal (Phase 2), 3336 Lincoln
Street, Port Leyden, was awarded $100,000 towards Phase 2 of their project,
which includes renovation of the second story of the former Port Leyden
school building (river facing) into short- and long-term apartments and
lodging units.
·
Snow Ridge Ski Resort, 4173 West Road,
Turin, was awarded $20,000 towards the renovation of an underutilized 2nd
floor space into a short-term lodging unit.
The Vacant
Property Revitalization Program will have immediate effects on our
downtowns and surrounding areas, enhancing our communities, driving
business development, and attracting new residents and tourists. By
focusing on bringing these buildings back to life, the community will see
an increase in the property tax base, the creation of local construction
jobs, future employment within businesses, and an enhanced quality of life.
"We are
excited to empower our property and business owners through funding and
staff support to help turn vacant, blighted and underutilized buildings
into usable spaces that will lead to great economic and community
impacts. Once all projects are
complete, this program will have led to $7.7million in total project
investment across Lewis County,” stated Tim Petersen, Chairman of the Lewis
County Development Corporation Board of Directors.
The Vacant
Property Revitalization Program was created with $1,000,000 of funding made
available to the Lewis County Development Corporation through the American
Rescue Plan Act and Lewis County. Awarded projects through the Vacant
Property Revitalization Program were eligible to receive 50% of total
project costs, up to $100,000 per project, and will be in the form of a
reimbursement grant. Funding will be
reimbursed to the property owner once agreed upon milestones are met and
the project is complete. Applications were reviewed by the
Community Economic Development Program Committee, a committee through the
LCDC, with final approval of the LCDC Board of Directors. The committee and board assessed projects
based on the following criteria as listed in the Vacant Property
Revitalization Program Guidelines:
1. The project must
reduce blight, contributing to the economic recovery of downtown areas
2. The project must
be a vacant building and/or floor (currently unused, or unable to be unused
due to remediation or construction needs)
3. The project must
include renovation of commercial buildings resulting in occupancy through
new business or residential development (residential includes 2nd
floors and above)
4. The project must
show community benefit, such as increased tax base, job creation or new
business development
For more
information on the Vacant Property Revitalization Program visit https://naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/vpr.
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