VILLAGE OF GROTON NYF
Public Meeting #2
The second Public Meetings for the Groton NYF project will be held on September 10, 2024 at 6:00pm at the Groton Village Offices, 308 Main Street, Groton, NY. For those of you that are not able to attend in person, we virtually replicated the experience of attending the public meeting in-person and will be collecting input through Sunday, September 15, 2024 on this website.
Scroll down to see the various topics that will be discussed at the Second Public Meeting. You can click on any image to see a larger version of that image.
Thank you in advance to all who participate in this important exercise!
Click image for larger view.
Goal: Attract and support new business to ensure Groton’s long-term economic sustainability.
Strategies:
- Develop a marketing and branding campaign for the Village.
- Invest in facade improvements and streetscape improvements (e.g., trees, planters, lighting, banners) in the downtown, and specifically on Main Street.
- Host community events that will increase foot traffic to local businesses in the downtown.
- Promote local businesses and provide information about available services and support for business owners.
- Create partnerships between local schools, businesses, organizations, and employment agencies to develop a skilled workforce for specific business interests.
Goal: Improve the downtown streetscape and enhance building facades.
Strategies:
- Support the renovation of vacant storefronts and mixed-use buildings to attract new businesses.
- Invest in pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the downtown (e.g., enhanced crosswalks, sidewalks, signage, lighting) to ensure a safe and accessible walking environment.
- Seek funding opportunities for a facade improvement program on Main Street.
- Encourage local businesses, property owners, and organizations to beautify Main Street (e.g., tree and flower plantings, trash and debris pickup).
Goal: Showcase the Owasco Inlet and capitalize on its central location.
Strategies:
- Establish a multi-use trail and public open spaces along the Owasco Inlet to improve access to the water and increase connectivity between key community assets and businesses.
- Use the Inlet and community trails to support local recreation (e.g., walking, biking, fishing, kayaking) and outdoor education opportunities (e.g., interpretive signage, fishing courses, boat safety courses).
- Restore and beautify the Inlet and surrounding area by removing invasive plants, brush, trash, and debris and encouraging native plantings
Goal: Support rehabilitation of downtown housing units and the expansion of housing opportunities in the Village.
Strategies:
- Prioritize infill development of vacant properties and redevelopment of underutilized sites for multifamily housing or mixed-use development.
- Support the creation of multi-generational housing at a range of income levels.
- Encourage renovations that result in quality housing units on the upper floors of buildings on Main Street.
- Seek funding opportunities to support investments in new or existing housing units.
Goal: Preserve historic buildings to celebrate Groton’s history and create new economic opportunities.
Strategies:
- Support the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic buildings to promote new and existing businesses and land uses.
- Develop a local historic register to designate key buildings for historic preservation and provide additional resources to support the maintenance and renovation of such buildings.
- Host community events that showcase historic buildings and sites in the downtown.
Goal: Create a strong sense of place through connective, accessible trails.
Strategies:
- Develop the Owasco Inlet trail in the downtown to connect key community assets and businesses and allow for future connections to the existing local and regional trail networks.
- Create and implement a wayfinding plan for the trail system with directional and interpretive signage that highlights community landmarks, natural resources, and Groton’s unique history.
- Support marketing, programming, and activities that encourage use of community trails.
The following boards have detailed information for the proposed projects. After you have reviewed all projects you will have the opportunity to let us know which of the projects you believe will have the greatest impact on the Village of Groton.
Project Description: Create a fund for downtown businesses that will support the growth and establishment of small businesses, promote aesthetic improvements of existing buildings, and help to create a better overall environment for residents and visitors to the downtown. The proposed fund will cover the following activities:
- Building Renovation: interior and exterior building renovations for commercial and mixed-use spaces (e.g. façade/storefront renovations, signage and awnings, commercial interior fit-out, upper-story residential improvements or creation, HVAC, MEP, or other permanent building improvements)
- Business Assistance: permanent commercial machinery and equipment
- Public Art: design, production, and installation of murals, sculptures, or other significant permanent installations
- Soft Costs: Architecture, engineering, or environmental testing expenses (as part of a construction project).
Each of these activities would require a minimum 25% match. This program will award qualifying individual projects via formal application and selection processes developed by the community and partners. All candidates for funding will be required to submit any necessary applications to the Village of Groton. A project review committee will evaluate the applications and provide recommendations for funding eligibility based on projected criteria as follows:
- Sited within the NYF boundary area
- Locally owned/operated
- Demonstrates site control
- Aligns with the goals of the Village of Groton NYF Strategic Investment Plan, REDC, and other local goals
- Current on all taxes (federal, state & local)
- Compliance with all codes, zoning, design, signage and/or permitting regulations
- Relevant business plan and documented commitment for 100% of the project total financing
Proposed Projects (*Indicates that the project sponsor also submitted as a standalone project)
- *102 W Cortland Street - Handicap accessibility at Baker Miller Lumber, Inc
- 103 – 105 Peru Road - Refinish floors, new laundromat washers and dryers, heat pump, insulation, new fence
- 106 S Main Street - New embroidery equipment
- 114 Church Street - Paint, new roof, update bathrooms, furnace and hot water heater
- 118 Main Street - New lighting fixtures, ceiling tile, paint gridwork in main dining area, new floor throughout, combine bathrooms into one larger bathroom, rework entry to be more accessible.
- *120 Main Street - Front door and storefront windows, new booths and seating, upgrade façade, replace dining room flooring.
- 143 Main Street - Redo façade (remove faux stone), replace windows, structural repair, new façade panels, new paint, HC access to salon on first floor
- 152 – 154 Main Street - Siding, windows, trim, replace awning, replace broken glass front doors
- 129 Main Street - Remove aluminum siding, new vinyl siding that resembles original clapboard siding, new sign on top of building that resembles original Atwood Building sign.
- *132 Church Street - Site prep, replace windows, purchase appliances, counters, and cabinets for new apartments, repair fire-escape, fixtures for four bathrooms, flooring
- *203 E Cortland Street - Replace siding, trim, front porch foundation, replace decking
- *111 Main Street - New roof, first-floor apartment buildout
- *NYF Area – Public Art
- *NYF Area – Branding