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CITY OF NEWBURGHD O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V EA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H EREGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILM I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V E
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V EBA S I C I N F O R M AT I O NRE GI O N AL E C ON OM IC D EV ELO PM ENT C O U NCI L ( REDC) REGI ON :MUNI C I PA LI TY N A M E:DOW N TOWN N A ME :COUN TY:Mid-HudsonCity of NewburghDowntown NewburghOrange CountyDOW N TOWN DES C R IPT IO N:P R O V I D E A N O V E R V I E W O F T H E D O W N TO W N A N D S U M M A R I Z E T H E R AT I O N A L E B E H I N DN O M I N AT I N G T H I S D O W N TO W N F O R A D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V E ( D R I )AWARDDowntown Newburgh, the center of civic, artistic, cultural, and institutional life in Newburgh, is poised to take advantageof recent public and private investment to become a day and evening, year-round destination for the region that willshowcase its unparalleled historic and environmental beauty; increase the tax base and promote development withoutdisplacement.Much of Newburgh’s historic downtown was removed during Urban Renewal in the 1970s, and these, still mostlyundeveloped lands, just to the east of Colden Street and the Downtown, are the target of comprehensive planning forredevelopment in 2016 and early 2017. A comprehensive initiative in Downtown Newburgh would further position theseredevelopment parcels, finally re-connecting the Downtown to the vibrant waterfront, and putting the heart back in theCity.Recently, Downtown Newburgh has seen a large expansion in new businesses and the unprecedented redevelopmentof historic properties in and adjacent to the Downtown. Several large scale private developments are in the planningor permitting phases, and will add significant numbers of new housing units to the Downtown at a variety of incomelevels, along with a much needed supermarket. Newburgh’s Land Bank has also commenced work on approximately fortyDowntown buildings. And three institutions, the Boys and Girls Club, Safe Harbors of the Hudson, and SUNY Orange,are rehabilitating anchor buildings into significant cultural and educational amenities to enhance the full time, year-roundofferings available to residents and visitors. A comprehensive plan, and money for implementation, would ensure thateach of these committed dollars for Downtown Newburgh would have the transformational effect for all of Newburgh’sresidents, current or future.C E L E B R AT I N G O N L I B E RT Y ST R E E T N E W B U R G H I L L U M I N AT E D1
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O NB OU N DA R I E S OF T H E D OW N TOW NNEIGHBORHOODSUNYORANGEB R O A D W A YCITYPOLICE &FIREDEPTS T R E E TTO STEWARTAIRPORTFERRY TOBEACONW A T E RNEWBURGHW AT E R F R O N TWASHINGTON’SHEADQUARTERSR I V ERD E TA I L T H E B O U N DA R I E S O F T H E TA R G E T E DN E I G H B O R H O O D, K E E P I N G I N M I N D T H ATTHERE IS NO MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SIZE,B U T T H AT T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D S H O U L DB E C O M PACT A N D W E L L- D E F I N E D. C O R ENEIGHBORHOODS BEYOND A TRADITIONALDOWNTOWN OR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ARE ELIGIBLE, IF THEY CAN MEETOTHER CRITERIA MAKING THEM RIPE FORI N V E ST M E N T.S T. L U K E ’ SH O S P I TA LST GEORGESCEMETERYDowntown Newburgh is the area that stretches alongBroadway and Liberty Street, from Colden Street on the east,First Street on the North, Johnston Street, on the west, andEast Parmenter Street on the South.H U D SO N140 MILES TOKINGSTONDOWNINGPA R K60 MILES TONEW YORK CITYECCLESIAMINISTRIESOFNEWBURGHG R A N DL I B E R T YNEWBURGHCOMMUNITYLAND BANKC H A M B E R SL A N D E RM U N I C I PA LPA R K I N G LOTS T.PAT R I C K ’ SPA R I S HK E YG R E E N S PA C EORANGECOUNTYD E P T. O FH E A LT HRIVERFRONTBOYS &GIRLSCLUBKARPELESMANUSCRIPTLIBRARYDMVTO STEWARTAIRPORTSUNY ORANGENEWBURGH CAMPUSPA R K I N G / R O A D SC OT TA G E I N D U S T R YMIXED USENEIGHBORHOODSB R O A D W A YH A B I TAT F O RHUMANITYFERRY TOBEACONRITZT H E AT E RSAFE HARBORSON THEHUDSONCITYHALLB R OA D WAY & L I B E RT YSTREET CORRIDORSCITY POLICED E P T.KEY CIVIC &COMMUNITY RESOURCESSAFEANNSTREET HARBORSGREENGALLERYLAND BANK PROPERTIESCITY FIRED E P T.A N NNEWBURGH COMMUNITYLAND BANKKEY INSTITUTIONSH O S P I TA L S & C O L L E G E SR E L I G I O U S S PA C E SABANDONED PROPERTIESC O L D E NG R A N DBICYCLEPEDIAMUSEUML I B E R T YM U N I C I PA LPA R K I N G LOTVAC A N T LOTSCITY OWNED LOTSW A S H I N G T O NF E D E R A LPROPOSED AFFORDABLEHOUSING DEVELOPMENTH A B I TAT F O RHUMANITYR U P C O S C AT T E R E DSITE DEVELOPMENTTRANSIT ROUTESE .P A R M E N T E RWASHINGTONHEADQUARTERSHISTORIC SITEDOWNTOWN PROJECTAREA BOUNDARYNORTH2
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N2 SIZEO U T L I N E W H Y T H E D O W N TO W N , O R I TS C ATC H M E N T A R E A , I S O F A S I Z E S U F F I C I E N T TOS U P P O RT A V I B R A N T, Y E A R- R O U N D D O W N TO W N , W I T H C O N S I D E R AT I O N O F W H E T H E RT H E R E I S A S I Z E A B L E E X I ST I N G , O R I N C R E A S I N G , P O P U L AT I O N W I T H I N E A S Y R E AC HFOR WHOM THIS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY DOWNTOWN.T H E F O L LO W I N G A C R O N Y M S & A B B R E V I AT I O N S A R E U S E D T H R O U G H O U T T H E A P P L I C AT I O N :Newburgh is the only central urban downtown inthe surrounding area, with 100,000 residents in theCity and towns of Cornwall, New Windsor, andNewburgh. It is also the densest city in OrangeCounty, which has 372,813 residents. Althoughthe Downtown itself, Census Tracts 4 and 5.01, hasa population of 7,681 as of 2014, the catchment areasupports vibrant year round performing and visualarts programs, restaurant districts, universities, ahospital, small shops, and festivals. The City is theadministrative and cultural hub of the region, anda consolidated regional school district serves mostof these residents. National demographic changeshave made downtowns, including Newburgh’sDowntown, places that people want to be in andbe part of. Ongoing, year round events such asNewburgh Last Saturday draw hundreds of peopleadding to the cultural vibrancy of the City andsupporting local businesses.CDBG: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTSTHE CITY: THE CITY OF NEWBURGHNCLB: NEWBURGH COMMUNITY LAND BANKSAFE HARBORS: SAFE HARBORS OF THE HUDSONNEWBURGH URBAN FARM FESTIVAL Joshua Brown / LIFEUPRIVER.COMThe Downtown is uphill from the riverfront, a lively three season destination, and location of year-round commuter ferryservice to the Metro-North Railroad. The City is proximate to two interstate highways and is the terminus of a scenic bywayout of New York City, making it one of the most accessible cities in the Hudson Valley.As with most cities in New York State, the City of Newburgh’s population declined over the last 50 years, but Downtown hasseen an increase in investment and population in the last 5 years, and the City had slight population growth between 2010and 2014. The Downtown census tracts have historically suffered from high levels of residential vacancy, however, in recentyears, this has presented opportunity for redevelopment. East of Liberty Street, historic homes have been purchased andrestored as single family properties while to the west there is new commercial and greater variety of housing options frommulti-unit affordable rentals to owner-occupant row house restoration. As the population growth leads to increased sales andrehabilitation of the housing stock and commercial properties, the Downtown only becomes more poised to capitalize therecent investments and increase growth.Sales of properties tracked through MLS have increased City-wide from 170 in 2012, to 250 in 2015. Arms-length residentialsales, as tracked by the City assessor, have increased from 68 in 2012 to 169 in 2015, suggesting that arms-length residentialsales in Newburgh represent the majority of this increase in sales. This has been bolstered by targeted home-ownershipprograms to bring new families to the downtown, including Habitat for Humanity’s East Parmenter Street Development, oneblock south of Broadway, and the Newburgh Community Land Bank’s target area, bordering Broadway to the north.This increase in residents downtown is supporting an addition of new restaurants, businesses, and shops in the downtown.The three blocks of Liberty Street, between Broadway and East Parmenter Street are now at 96% storefront occupancy, withbusinesses, such as restaurants, which support residents and tourists alike; and businesses, such as a pilates studio, whichcater to the rapidly expanding downtown resident base.3
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N3 PA S T I N V E S T M E N T S & F U T U R E I N V E S T M E N T P O T E N T I A LD E S C R I B E H O W T H I S D O W N TO W N W I L L B E A B L E TO C A P I TA L I Z E O N P R I O R , A N D C ATALY Z E F U T U R E , P R I VAT E A N D P U B L I C I N V E ST M E N T I N T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D I T SSURROUNDING AREAS.The targeted downtown neighborhood is at the epicenter of a strategic and intentional cluster strategy for downtownrevitalization. To date, this focused approach has garnered much support including: Newburgh’s designation as a Community,Opportunity & Reinvestment (CORe) community; a 4.4 million investment from the Office of the Attorney General insupport of the Newburgh Community Land Bank in addition to multiple Consolidated Funding Application awards; a 250,000 investment from Central Hudson Gas & Electric for main street revitalization; and an expected investment of 16million from Homes and Community Renewal and state and federal historic tax credits for the historic rehabilitation of 13buildings and 47 units of affordable, workforce housing.With a 2 million grant from a local, private foundation, and 663,000 in planned New Market Tax Credits, the Boys &Girls Club of Greater Newburgh is purchasing and renovating a long underutilized 21,000sq,ft. multi-story building, at thecenter of the targeted area to establish the Center for Arts & Education. This facility will house an early childhood educationcenter for 100 children in grades K-2 and the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy, the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh’sarts program serving over 800 youth and adults each week. As a complement, SUNY Orange is building on its 20 milliondowntown campus with the development of the Masonic Temple to create a Performance and Fine Arts Education center tofoster entrepreneurship and the development of social and cultural capital.To support all of these initiatives, the City has spent 300,000 in CDBG funding on facade improvements along thetargeted downtown corridor. A private developer is also working to create 90 units of market rate housing with an adjacentsupermarket, at an estimated development cost of 26 million.Safe Harbors of the Hudson, a 21 millionLow Income Housing Tax Credit project,has invested an additional 1.6 million inthe development of two commercial spaces,a half acre park space and a performingart space which will support the SUNYPerformance and Fine Arts Educationcenter and the Boys and Girls Club’sPerforming Arts Academy. Habitat forHumanity has developed over 70 dwellingsfor homeownership and live/work housing.B R E A K I N G G R O U N D AT S A F E H A R B O R S G R E E N M I D - H U S D O N N E W SBusinesses have expended millionsof additional dollars to locate in theDowntown. Hundreds of thousands ofsquare feet dedicated to fine arts, designand industrial craft businesses can be foundin the Downtown area as well as restaurantsand retail shops to provide neededamenities.Prior and future investment in the targeted neighborhood, coupled with a re-zoning and land use plan that orientsdevelopment toward the reintegration of downtown, affords Newburgh the unique opportunity to create the conditionsnecessary for a downtown district that is a social, cultural and economic driver in the community.4
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N4 JOB GROWTHDESCRIBE HOW RECENT OR IMPENDING JOB GROWTH WITHIN, OR IN CLOSE PROXIMI T Y TO, T H E D O W N TO W N W I L L AT T R AC T P R O F E S S I O N A L S TO A N AC T I V E L I F E I N T H ED O W N TO W N , S U P P O RT R E D E V E LO P M E N T, A N D M A K E G R O W T H S U STA I N A B L E I N T H ELONG-TERM.While Newburgh prides itself on its connectivity, especially to NewYork City, 82% of Newburgh residents work in Orange County. Theaverage commute time is 24 minutes, suggesting that most choose tostay local to work. Investment in Newburgh’s downtown increasesjob growth, continuing to create a vibrant downtown corridor andbikeable/walkable neighborhoods.H U D S O N VA L L E Y B I N D E RY AT AT L A S ST U D I O S M e l i s s a S h a w - S m i t h / D i r t- M a g .c o mThe development of the Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, andAccommodations sector has added 614 jobs to the City of Newburghsince 2010, for a total of 1,502 jobs, making it the third largestemployment industry, after Educational, Health, and Service; andRetail. The Arts industry cluster is critical for promoting culturaldevelopment and for redeveloping buildings to house industries andcrafts. For example, Atlas Industries, a high-end, NY based furniturecompany, invested several million dollars in the rehabilitation of abuilding for its production, and also created additional studios andmanufacturing spaces, gallery and performance space, and has shortterm plans to open cafe and retail space. With over 30 businessesrun out of their building, they are incubating small businesses andhave created a cultural hub that encourages more businesses andnew residents.Adjacent to Atlas, Thornwillow Press, a high-end stationary and book bindery, has expanded its portfolio and physicalfootprint to include the Thornwillow Institute, a not-for profit developing properties to serve as spaces for artists in residence;and Thornwillow Village, which will be a multi-use arts incubator, arts venue, and public market facility. This expansioncreates jobs and vibrancy, and redevelops an entire block that suffers from long-term disinvestment, vacancy, and crime.SUNY Orange, in collaboration with local business partners and community groups is working to significantly expandprograms designed to create a highly skilled and flexible local workforce. Areas of concentration are healthcare, digitalmedia, manufacturing, historical preservation and restoration, floriculture, and fine and performing arts.St. Luke’s Hospital has recently become part of the Montefiore Health System and is working with NYS to decrease in-patientvolume and emergency visits through Population Health initiatives. These changes to the health sector, bring a new focus oncutting-edge preventative and community based health programs, that includes greatly increasing jobs in the community, ina variety of health sectors.River of Opportunities advertises Newburgh and Newburgh spaces to targeted sectors, in order to connect spaces for rent andsale with relocating manufacturers to create jobs. The program also promotes City, State, and regional economic incentivesvia a well designed website and marketing campaign.Start Up Newburgh (SUN) is a Mt. St. Mary College/ iCANny co-venture that manages Newburgh’s START-UP NY endeavor.In addition to working with SUNY applicants interested taking advantage of NYS tax incentives and making Newburgh theirhome, SUN seeks to converge academic, entrepreneurial and community leaders with local business to enhance Newburgh’seconomy. SUN has worked with scores of SUNY applicants and has successfully brought 3 to Newburgh in the last year.5
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N5 AT T R A C T I V E N E S S O F T H E D O W N T O W NI D E N T I F Y T H E P R O P E RT I E S O R C H A R AC T E R I ST I C S T H E D O W N TO W N P O S S E S S E S T H ATC O N T R I B U T E O R C O U L D C O N T R I B U T E , I F E N H A N C E D, TO T H E AT T R AC T I V E N E S S A N DLIVABILITY OF THE DOWNTOWN. CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESENCE OF DEVELO PA B L E M I X E D - U S E S PAC E S , H O U S I N G AT D I F F E R E N T L E V E L S O F A F F O R DA B I L I T Y A N DT Y P E , H E A LT H Y A N D A F F O R D A B L E F O O D M A R K E T S , W A L K A B I L I T Y A N D B I K E A B I L I T Y,A N D P U B L I C PA R K S A N D G AT H E R I N G S PAC E S .Coupled with breathtaking Hudson River vistas, Newburgh’s Downtown is part of the East End Historic District whichfeatures unique historic and architecturally significant housing stock and commercial buildings, civic and institutionalanchors all within a dense, walkable urban fabric. The City has made extraordinary strides to improve the ”curb appeal” ofDowntown by focusing on projects that leverage public and private funds to rehabilitate facades and improve the streetscape.Besides the projects discussed in the Investment section, the Downtown is teeming with other activity. Safe Harbors isdeveloping its half acre public square, park, and outdoor performance space which will act as the central square for Downtownon one corner of Broadway and Liberty. Concurrently, the NCLB is rehabilitating the historic mixed-use building on theopposite corner. These projects have spurred privateinvestment and confidence, so that the long-vacant thirdcorner was sold in April to a local developer for a newconstruction mixed-use redevelopment project.The NCLB has also redeveloped its headquarters andstabilized the adjacent mixed-use building on ChambersStreet. The local architecture firm that undertook thework eventually moved its office to the first floor space,relocating in the Downtown. The 300,000 in CDBGfunding invested to make facade improvements alongBroadway and Liberty Street, has led to unprecedented96% occupancy for Liberty Street, of shops, restaurants,offices, and the redevelopment of a former Labor Templeinto a Bicycle Museum by the Motorcyclepedia Museum.Nascent business development continues to spur newinvestment by long-term City business owners and thosenew to the area.9 6 B R OA D WAY R E H A B I L I TAT I O N N E W B U R G H C O M M U N I T Y L A N D B A N KGreater HV Family Health Center (now Cornerstone) operates a Dental Clinic on Broadway, and a variety of social services,including the Department of Motor Vehicles, are also located within the Downtown area, making Downtown convenient fordiverse residents.Improvements to the public realm and streetscape are also ongoing. The City studied Complete Streets in this corridor,including the addition of parklets in front of existing restaurants, medians, bump outs, and other traffic calming devices,standards for street furniture, and street trees, all which allow and promote a vibrant main street. A contractor will beginimplementation of phase-1 of this plan in June. Updated sidewalk standards have been completed, incorporating CompleteStreets/ Green Infrastructure best practices within the historic streetscape, and re-construction along Liberty Street willbegin in fall 2016.Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site is undertaking a 1.6 million restoration of its monument and observation area,which will greatly increase tourism at the southern end of the Downtown. The Newburgh waterfront, which is 2-3 blockseast of the Downtown is also benefiting from substantial public and private investment and improvements, including newrestaurants, new parks, new public dock facilities, streetscape improvements, and expansion of the waterfront promenade.6
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N6 P O L I C I E S T O E N HA N C E Q UA L I T Y O F L I F EA RT I C U L AT E T H E P O L I C I E S I N P L AC E T H AT I N C R E A S E T H E L I VA B I L I T Y A N D Q UA L I T Y O FLIFE OF THE DOWNTOWN. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE USE OF LOCAL LAND BANKS, MODERNZO N I N G C O D E S , C O M P L E T E ST R E E TS P L A N S , O R T R A N S I T- O R I E N T E D D E V E LO P M E N T.I F P O L I C I E S AC H I E V I N G T H I S G OA L A R E N OT C U R R E N T LY I N P L AC E , D E S C R I B E T H EA B I L I T Y O F T H E M U N I C I PA L I T Y TO C R E AT E A N D I M P L E M E N T S U C H P O L I C I E S .In 2010 the Land Use Law Center at Pace Law School was commissioned to study opportunities to remediate distressedproperties and, in the process, set the stage for the future revitalization in the City. The plan led directly to the creation of theNewburgh Community Land Bank; a comprehensive city-wide zoning update; planning for the implementation of completestreets; the creation of the Downing Park Greenway to link green spaces and parks; and a city-wide emphasis on promotingdevelopment and redevelopment of distressed properties.The Newburgh Community Land Bank stimulates local planning, economic development and neighborhood revitalizationby acquiring, managing and disposing of vacant, abandoned and underutilized properties in a responsible manner. Ithas raised over 4.5 million to stabilize vacant properties to prepare them for redevelopment. The City and NCLB alsocollaborated to develop Downing Park Urban Farm, a center for urban agricultural education and job-training. To furthersupport redevelopment, the City has hired a full time Economic Development specialist who manages the disposition ofCity-owned vacant property, and sells an average of 12 properties per month to qualified purchasers.The City adopted a comprehensive zoning update in 2015. Downtown Newburgh is now in Form Based districts that matchthe existing urban fabric and promote mixed use infill and redevelopment through streamlined permitting, reducing theneed for approvals and variances, and promoting transit oriented development with reduced parking requirements. Byrespecting the as-built environment, the zoning promotes livability and increases the diversity of people and businesses inthe downtown.A Complete Streets policy plan will increase the vitalityand usability of City streets, especially Broadway. In theshort term, the City is implementing a plan to transformBroadway between Chambers and Grand Streets with ademonstration model of complete streets, using paintand temporary measures to introduce traffic calming,more prominent crosswalks including mid-blockcrossings, a redesigned bus-shelter, and street furniturethroughout. The City updated its sidewalks standardsin 2016 to include bump-outs and stormwater retentionareas and is currently drafting a bid to reconstructsidewalks,for a portion of the downtown. The City hasbolstered its promotion of sidewalk cafe permits and isdrafting a policy and standards for in-street parklets.COMPLETE STREETS PROPOSAL NEWBURGH COMMUNITY LAND BANKIn 2015 the City began an initiative to rebrand its park system as the Downing Park Greenway in order to promoteenvironmental sustainability and healthy living, by adding more comprehensive signage, including maps that show linkagesbetween existing Parks and trailways. The project also links regional trails, such as the Hudson River Greenway and the Trailof Two Cities to Beacon.The City is focused on the issue of distressed properties and a city-wide emphasis on promoting development andredevelopment of distressed properties, of enforcing existing code violations, and of investigating and fixing unsafe structure,has become a model for the State, with weekly public working meetings to ensure that each property in the City is contributingto the improvement of quality of life.7
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N7 LOCAL SUPPORTS E T F O RT H T H E LO C A L A N D C O M M U N I T Y S U P P O RT T H AT E X I STS F O R T H E R E V I TA LI Z AT I O N O F T H I S D O W N TO W N A N D T H E C O M M I T M E N T A M O N G LO C A L L E A D E R S A N DSTA K E H O L D E R S TO B U I L D I N G A N D I M P L E M E N T I N G A ST R AT E G I C I N V E ST M E N T P L A N .I D E N T I F Y A N I N I T I A L LO C A L L E A D F O R T H E P R O G R A M T H AT W I L L W O R K W I T H O U TS I D EEXPERTS TO CONVENE A LOCAL DRI PLANNING COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE PLAN.The Land Use Law Center at Pace Law School has offered to serve as the initial local lead to coordinate outside expertsand a local DRI planning committee to oversee the plan. Community Preservation Corporation has agreed to be ourfiscal sponsor. In recent several years, stakeholders in Newburgh have made enormous strides in breaking down silos andcreating partnerships that result in tangible downtown improvement. Key entities in the downtown target area that havesupported, and committed time, energy and resources toward meaningful change include: CITY OF NEWBURGH AT L AS I N D U ST R I E S B OYS A N D G I R L S C LU B O F G R E AT E R N E W B U R G H L I B E RT Y ST R E E T PA RT N E R S SUNY ORANGE THORNWILLOW NEWBURGH COMMUNITY LAND BANK M I L L ST R E E T PA RT N E R S SAFE HARBORS OF THE HUDSON CITY OF NEWBURGH AND ORANGE COUNTY MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE ST LU K E ’ S C O R N WA L L H O S P I TA L O R A N G E C O U N T Y PA RT N E R S H I P H A B I TAT F O R H U M A N I T Y O F G R E AT E R N E W B U R G H PAT T E R N F O R P R O G R E S SINDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES“ C H E E R L E A D E R S , B I G A N D S M A L L , S U P P O RT T H E I R T E A M AT A H O M E G A M E ” B e n M o l d e n h a u e r / P H OTO G R A P H E R S F O R H O P ESeveral groups named above already participate in the “Distressed Property Task Force” which gathers quarterly tocoordinate initiatives surrounding vacant and abandoned property. Public meetings are also held to inform and engageresidents in the ongoing, iterative process of Downtown improvement. In addition, many groups, like the City ofNewburgh, Newburgh Community Land Bank and Safe Harbors of the Hudson have collaborated on the implementationof plans, such as the Central Hudson Main Street Grant program which is reimagining the intersection at Liberty Streetand Broadway with improved building facades, public green space and improved street crossings and navigation. Finally,the coordinated efforts between Newburgh Community Land Bank, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, RUPCO,Safe Harbors and other private individuals and entities are resulting in the rehabilitation and re-occupancy of vacantbuildings in the immediate downtown. The DRI is an opportunity to build upon initial successes and new collaborativeefforts, leverage dollars, and fully transform Newburgh’s historic downtown.8
CITY OF NEWBURGHA P P L I C AT I O N F O R T H E M I D - H U D S O N D O W N TO W N R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N I N I T I AT I V ED O W N T O W N I D E N T I F I C AT I O N8 OTHERP R O V I D E A N Y OT H E R I N F O R M AT I O N T H AT I N F O R M E D T H E N O M I N AT I O N O F T H I SDOWNTOWN FOR A DRI AWARD.“ K I T E F LY I N G AT WA S H I N GTO N H Q ” D av i d B u r n e t t / P H OTO G R A P H E R S F O R H O P ENewburgh has seen unprecedented public and private development and investment in the last five years, and has over 30million in the development pipeline for its Downtown. The City, through its focus on Downtown, will capitalize on thisinvestment to become the regional urban center of history, culture, and the arts. Downtown Newburgh is both a place tocall home and a day and evening, year-round destination. Buttressing this transformation will simultaneously increase thetax base, promote development without displacement, and highlight the unparalleled historic and environmental beautyof Newburgh. And the City is well on its way. Its strategic location attracts business development especially the industrialcraft and small scale manufacturing base. The Downtown’s diversity of storefront and spaces for business attracts retailand restaurant of various scales that support the existing residents, new resident, and tourists alike. Liberty Street has a96% storefront occupancy rate for the first time in recent memory, and institutions are making their stake along Broadway,creating civic, educational, and entertainment places that attract people back downtown again.More than ever, Newburgh is working together to accomplish this vision and plan with public, private and institutional actorsall integral to fulfilling the vision. In the short term, several projects are a priority. Notably, the reinvention of the historicRitz Theater as a contemporary, flexible performing arts space that will complement the Boys and Girls Club facility to beconstructed at Broadway and Grand Street and will be further enhanced by the SUNY Orange transformation of the MasonicLodge, just two blocks north, for its own preservation program. Each of these undertakings will provide educational, jobtraining, and community based programs. All of this is within an area that the City has invested in facades, streetscape, andcomplete street improvements which make the streets and public realm safe and enjoyable for all users. Recent City policychanges, particularly zoning, along with these large institutional projects, all support one another and help form the cohesivestrateg
CITY POLICE DEPT. CITY FIRE DEPT. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BICYCLEPEDIA MUSEUM . center for 100 children in grades K-2 and the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy, the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh's . week. As a complement, SUNY Orange is building on its 20 million downtown campus with the development of the Masonic Temple to create a Performance .
