Million dollar renovations are planned for some of the City of Peekskill’s most important facilities, including Peekskill City Court and Police Department.

Comptroller Toni Tracy presented the 2027 multi-year capital plan to the Common Council at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, June 1, due to be adopted by July 1. It is required to be presented to the council at least three months prior to the final date for the submission of the budget.

The preliminary document, created each year, includes planning for capital projects, infrastructure improvements, and purchases of vehicles and equipment. The proposed estimated costs are $208 million for the general fund, $18.3 million for the water fund, $28.7 million for the sewer fund, and $15.4 million for planning/other, for a grand total of $270.6 million.

Renovations, upgrades, new facilities

Among the largest items to the capital plan are upgrades to city facilities.

“In looking at the facilities, there is a need for restoration, renovations, and in some cases possibly new buildings for some of the departments,” Tracy said.

Buildings identified as needing renovations include the court building,with an estimated $7 million for efficiency, elevator, and security upgrades; police station, with an estimated $1.95 million for new locker rooms, HVAC system replacement, and electrical service upgrades; Neighborhood Center (where the library is planned to move out), with an estimated $5 million.

“The court was built in 1975,” Tracy said. “In many ways this building is outdated. It just needs to be brought up to today’s standards. And also there is a waiting area in the court building that is really inadequate for the needs of the court at this point.”

At City Hall, an estimated $300,000 is planned at the council chamber for painting, electrical work, and other updates, as well as an estimated $200,000 for a customer service station in City Hall, where residents can get answers to questions, directions for resources, and make payments in a centralized spot.

Other renovations include the Youth Bureau building, with an estimated $7 million in renovations for accessibility, efficiency, and some programmatic changes; and Depew Park’s Veterans Memorial Pool, included in the prior capital plan, now upgraded to an estimated $12 million.

The city is also looking at an estimated $35 million to build a new highway garage at a yet-to-be-determined location. Tracy said the current facility is “inadequate” for the city’s needs and would be “very costly” to replace.

In addition, the city is looking to pay an estimated $1.1 million to obtain the title to the property of an impound lot on Central Avenue that the police department uses with the permission of Con Edison, which is currently completing a brownfield restoration at the site.

Infrastructure projects for water, sewer, and housing

Under the proposed capital plan, there are new estimates and funding plans for existing water and sewer projects.

There is an estimated $11,750 for Lower South Street sewer infrastructure, with grant money from New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and Westchester County, and a city match of funds approved through a resolution.

Other infrastructure changes include a channel modification to Park Street/Field Street for an estimated $3.37 million and storm drain improvements on Phoenix Avenue (from Highland to North Division Street), Husted Avenue (from Westchester Avenue to East Main Street) and Leila Street, for an estimated total of $9.28 million.

Among vehicle and equipment request estimates are police patrol administration vehicles (four per year) for $3.2 million, an upgraded radio system for $1.5 million, a fire engine vehicle for $1.46 million, and a vactor truck for street maintenance for $600,000.

The plan lists information about the $10 million Mid-Hudson Momentum Award from New York State Empire Development, which requires an equal match of $10 million from the city, to fund essential infrastructure for housing. 

For that award, the estimated funding is $3.5 million for Nelson Street garage renovations, $642,000 for James Street garage renovations, $12.16 million for James Street garage addition, $1.7 million for downtown intersections streetscapes, $1.42 million for railroad avenue sewer improvements, and $810,526 for Riverfront Green improvements. The payments would be made in 2027 and 2028, according to the tentative plan.

The plan also lists projects funded by the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant award, including $1 million in building improvements to the Paramount Theater, $500,000 for marketing/branding and the wayfinding project, and $3.13 million for the Kiley Youth Center, proposed to become site of the Boys & Girls Club.

At the May 18 Committee of the Whole meeting, Tracy said work on the capital plan began about March or April of this year.

“I work with the department heads and with the city manager to identify everyone’s needs, and we’re looking at their vehicles, big equipment items, the projects that need to be done throughout the city,” Tracy said. 

The plan includes a listing of funding sources, such as state grants or bond anticipation notes, and a timetable regarding planned completions for items.

Tracy will continue to present the plan to the Common Council during June, in which members of the council will go through the document, ask questions, and make revisions prior to its approval due July 1. Members will then go through it again in October and November before the budget is voted on.

The capital plan, as presented on June 1, can be viewed by clicking here.