New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley came to Peekskill on Tuesday for a site inspection of sorts. After getting a tour of recently completed Downtown Revitalization Initiatives, he hosted a four-hour panel conversation at the Paramount Theater about the state’s economic and development programs.
“Today was an eye-opening experience to see where Peekskill has been and where they are,” Mosely told the Herald.
Peekskill was the final stop on the state-wide tour Mosley and staff from the state department visited. He and Mayor Vivian McKenzie, along with city officials, went to the recently opened Fleischmann’s Pier, newly inaugurated Pugsley Park and along the way they saw colorful murals and sculptures.
“These are the reasons why we make these investments. Ultimately for every dollar that we invest in our DRI initiatives, the city or the local municipality gets three dollars back and that’s just during the construction phase,” Mosley said.
“We understand the immense importance of seeing a return on investment but that also means we want to see and make sure that the people of Peekskill, those who work here, go to school here, those who live here, that they see the benefits of why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
At the Paramount presentation audience members learned about the state’s DRI and NY Forward funding initiatives that have seen 124 municipalities benefit from a $1.2 billion investment since 2016. The afternoon was a lesson for municipalities who want to apply for funding where they heard what it takes to achieve a winning application.
Mosley, who took over the top job at the New York’s Department of State in May, told the audience gathered at the Paramount that the state is committed to revitalizing downtowns while creating a mix of housing. He referenced the announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul earlier in the day about an additional $200 million available for the state’s downtown revitalization (DRI) and economic development programs through NY Forward, which concentrates on smaller and rural downtowns.
Declaring that housing is in a state of crisis, Mosley said that more is needed in all price points. “Through DRI programs, we’ve learned that when housing that is viewed and planned for physically and woven into the overall fabric of community revitalization, those communities are more likely to embrace a diversity of housing options. “This diversity is part of what makes downtowns so special.”
This holistic approach to housing and revitalization is intended to contribute to the Governor’s goal of creating 4,500 units of housing of all sizes and costs, with 40 percent of them being affordable in prime downtown locations, said Mosley.
“We want and need to hear stories,” said Mosley. “Every group has a unique story to tell. The emphasis is on your story, past, present and your vision for the future.”
After Mosely’s remarks, panelists from various municipalities told their stories and experiences with the DRI and NY Forward programs, while explaining what it takes to submit a successful application. Peekskill received a $10 million DRI grant in 2019 and is still in the process of spending that money and planning on a variety of other projects.
Panelists included Peekskill’s Mayor McKenzie, Mayor of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson James Gagliano, Supervisor of the Town of Cornwall Josh Wojehowski, and City of Middletown Office of Economic and Community Development Maria Bruni.
On the panel representing the housing segment of the market were President and CEO of Pattern for Progress Adam Bosch, RUPCO CEO Kevin O’Connor, and President of Kearney Realty & Development Group Ken Kearney.
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress is a not-for-profit policy, planning, advocacy and research organization focused on promoting regional, balanced, sustainable and equitable solutions to enhance the growth and vitality of the Hudson Valley. RUPCO, based in Kingston, creates homes to support people and improve communities and Kearney Realty and Development Group also creates homes. They are the developers of the Art Lofts on Main Street in Peekskill.
