Geneseo’s New York Forward Local Planning Committee has started to look through project applications and narrow down what the future of the downtown looks like.
Devon Roblee
Special to The Citizen
It s an exciting time for Auburn. The trees are greening and, similarly, downtown businesses are blossoming with the help of the Auburn Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Projects originally awarded DRI funding in 2019 are underway as evidenced by construction materials that are popping up along its streets, and five projects awarded recently as part of the first round of the DRI Small Project Grant Fund are working through contracting to start construction soon. Representatives from the city of Auburn recently gave a presentation about some of the DRI projects during a Wednesday Morning Roundtable. The momentum of this regrowth continues with the opening of a second round of the grant fund and the launch of a new brand for the Auburn Industrial Development Authority.
There s a saying that central New York has two seasons: snow and construction.
With snow most likely gone until the end of the year, construction has indeed become more visible around the area. In downtown Auburn, though, some of that construction is announced by a sign: Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Almost three years after the city was named a winner in New York state s $10 million grant contest, most of the 13 projects that will receive a piece of that money have begun.
This week, The Citizen reached out to their stakeholders for an update.
One thing all 13 projects have in common â besides the $10 million grant being a source of their funding â is COVID-19. Their progress has been slowed by the economic ripple effects of the pandemic, though some have been slowed more than others. COVID-19 also delayed the finalization of the city s grant agreement with the state, said Tracy Verrier, executive director of Cayuga Strategic Solutions and co-chair of the commi