A Downtown Success Story_ Governor Hochul Proclaims Completion Of Oswego’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul in the present day introduced the completion of Oswego’s last Downtown Revitalization Initiative venture at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort. The completion of this venture makes Oswego the primary DRI neighborhood within the state to finish all of its DRI tasks.

“With this ribbon slicing ceremony for the Splash Indoor Water Park Resort, Oswego has accomplished a complete of 10 tasks to enhance its downtown and develop into a mannequin DRI neighborhood,” Governor Hochul mentioned. “Oswego’s expertise showcases the essential private and non-private partnerships wanted to make sure the success of this system and spur financial improvement all through the area. This success story can serve for instance for different communities as we glance to the way forward for our DRI and NY Ahead packages and proceed working to construct a greater future for all New Yorkers.”

New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez mentioned, “You may really feel the power, vibrancy and pleasure created by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative tasks whenever you go to Oswego. The town has masterfully chosen and built-in a wide range of tasks that exemplify the imaginative and prescient and targets of the DRI, laying the groundwork for way more funding to return because the revitalization course of continues to unfold and serving as a shining instance for different communities taking part on this program. Congratulations to the Metropolis of Oswego on this vital accomplishment.”

The Splash Indoor Water Park Resort is a four-season household vacation spot that’s linked to the Clarion Lodge and Convention Middle overlooking the Oswego River/Canal, linking the venture to the town’s cherished riverfront and its wealthy maritime historical past because the Port Metropolis. Splash builds on current anchor developments and sights within the downtown—a lot of which had been funded by the DRI and different State packages—to strengthen the enchantment of the downtown as a enjoyable, family-friendly vacation spot.

The DRI supplied $500,000 for the venture, which was carried out by Shane Broadwell of the Broadwell Hospitality Group. Broadwell estimates that Splash will create 60-70 jobs in peak season. The water park can even help surrounding companies by attracting extra guests to the world.

Oswego obtained a $10 million DRI award within the first spherical of this system in 2016. The Metropolis’s Strategic Funding Plan targeted on rising downtown housing, increasing small companies, and offering leisure and eating choices for all ages, whereas maximizing entry to its treasured waterfront. So far, Oswego’s tasks have created over 200 items of housing for households of all revenue ranges, 12 industrial areas and over 150 new full-time and part-time jobs.

As a part of the DRI, Oswego has accomplished a complete of 10 revitalization tasks:

Assemble the “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort – $500,000 DRI Award; $5,600,000 Whole Challenge Value: Constructed the brand new “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort to draw guests and create a four-season household vacation spot downtown, linked to an current resort and occasion/convention heart close to the waterfront.

Create Riverwalk, a Multi-Constructing Combined-Use Improvement on West First Road – $2,000,000 DRI Award; $9,500,000 Whole Challenge Value: Created 32 market charge flats with 28 indoor parking areas in Oswego. Riverwalk created 20 full time and 25 half time jobs in Oswego with a payroll of over $700,000, along with 10 full time unbiased stylists beginning their very own enterprise within the Riverwalk Salon Suites.



Create Harbor View Sq., a Combined-Earnings Redevelopment – $740,000 DRI Award; $29,200,000 Whole Challenge Value: Accomplished a mixed-income redevelopment of brownfield web site tasks, offering 75 housing items and eight,000 sq. ft. of business area at 68 West First Road in Oswego.

Rework Midtown Plaza into East Lake Commons, a Combined-Use Gateway Improvement – $2,000,000 DRI Award; $25,200,000 Whole Challenge Value: Demolished the present buildings on the positioning, which had lengthy been an eyesore for the downtown, and changed them with a brand new engaging anchor improvement, creating 2 everlasting full-time jobs and 70 housing items between 50 – 80% of the Space Median Earnings.

Restore the Historic Buckhout-Jones Constructing & Renovate the Youngsters’s Museum of Oswego – $480,000 DRI Award; $3,200,000 Whole Challenge Value: Stabilized and restored the façade of the historic Buckhout-Jones constructing situated within the heart of downtown. Renovated area and put in hands-on academic and cultural displays for the Youngsters’s Museum of Oswego, situated on the bottom ground of the constructing. This venture created 13 jobs and transformed 5 former resort rooms into residential items.

Rework the Historic Cahill Constructing with Housing and a Restaurant – $700,000 DRI Award; $1,750,000 Whole Challenge Value: Stabilized the Cahill constructing, the oldest construction in Oswego, and created 7 residences and a pair of industrial areas, in addition to 2 part-time jobs.

Enhance the River Stroll & Create a Pocket Park – $680,000 DRI Award; $930,000 Whole Challenge Value: Constructed enhancements to the riverfront path community to supply higher connections to the downtown and supply extra consumer facilities, together with new fencing, landscaping, lighting, seating, signage and new entry factors. Created a pocket park on metropolis property in a key central downtown location—adjoining to a cluster of DRI tasks surrounding the positioning – with a versatile public area for neighborhood gatherings and public occasions area. This area now hosts a weekly summer season live performance sequence that’s effectively attended by the neighborhood.

Create the L.I.T.A.T.R.O. (Luck Is The Capability To Acknowledge Alternative) Combined-Use Constructing with Residential Items, Retail House and a Restaurant – $1,000,000 DRI Award; $7,200,000 Whole Challenge Value: Redeveloped a single-story World Buffet constructing on the nook of W. First Road and W. Bridge Road right into a two-story mixed-use constructing, creating 20 housing items, 42 new jobs and a roof-top restaurant and deck.

Set up the Oswego Downtown Enchancment Fund – $600,000 DRI Award; $933,483 Whole Challenge Value: Actively supported native enterprise progress, constructing renovation and out of doors programming via a revolving mortgage and mixed grant/mortgage fund.

Carry out a Full Streets Makeover on West Bridge Road -$1,000,000 DRI Award; $1,600,000 Whole Challenge Value: Created a protected, engaging and interesting connection between higher downtown and the waterfront space with new options comparable to sidewalks which might be ADA-compliant, crosswalks and sidewalk bump-outs, road striping, and inexperienced infrastructure.

The Oswego DRI exemplifies this system’s imaginative and prescient and targets by guaranteeing that each one tasks synergize with each other and leverage further non-public and public sector investments effectively past the preliminary $10 million DRI award. The $10 million funding in DRI tasks in Oswego leveraged $63.6 million in further non-public sector investments — greater than a 6-to-1 return on funding. Consequently, the Division of State produced a case research on the Oswego DRI, which is on the market right here .

Proprietor of Splash Indoor Water Park Resort and Broadwell Hospitality Group Shane Broadwell mentioned, “Splash Indoor Water Park Resort is thrilled to be the culminating venture of an incredible renaissance that has taken place within the Oswego neighborhood, on account of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Our $5.6 million venture would not have been attainable with out the help of the DRI and different State packages, and we’re really grateful for these partnerships. With the opening of our water park, now we have not solely seen the passion of our visiting households, however Splash has additionally supplied new alternatives throughout the neighborhood, creating 60-70 jobs throughout peak seasons, and bolstering the enchantment of our downtown as a enjoyable, family-friendly vacation spot.”



Empire State Improvement President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight mentioned, “Financial improvement is extra than simply job and trade progress – it is also about enhancing our neighborhood facilities in ways in which make them extra engaging for residents, guests, and companies alike, and Oswego has completed this with the opening of the brand new “Splash” Indoor Water Park. With the completion of this thrilling venture, Oswego has reimagined its waterfront right into a vibrant and engaging metropolis heart. Congratulations to the Metropolis of Oswego for hitting this thrilling milestone.”

Houses and Group Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas mentioned, “At this time’s ribbon slicing marks the completion of the State’s $10 million DRI dedication to Oswego, the primary municipality to succeed in this milestone below this program. HCR is proud to have performed a job in an initiative that created new housing alternatives for residents throughout the revenue spectrum on this stunning and resurgent metropolis. Congratulations to all those that have been concerned within the planning and execution of this initiative — your work will undoubtedly profit generations of Oswego’s residents, companies, and guests.”

Central New York Regional Financial Improvement Council Co-Chairs Randy Wolken, President & CEO of the Producers Affiliation of Central New York and Le Moyne School President Linda M. LeMura, mentioned, “The Governor’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative has completed precisely what it was designed to do. The $10 million in DRI funding helped to gasoline an array of focused tasks, selling financial progress and making a vibrant downtown space the place folks need to dwell, work, and play. This stunning waterfront neighborhood designed and has expertly executed its targeted, community-driven strategic plan – one that may proceed to learn each residents and guests alike for generations to return.”

State Senator John W. Mannion mentioned, “I am thrilled to see the imaginative and prescient for Oswego’s downtown develop into a actuality. As the primary metropolis to finish its Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Oswego is setting the instance for cities and neighborhoods throughout the State. I am wanting ahead to strolling alongside the newly improvedRiver Stroll and I prolong my congratulations to the town officers and stakeholders who developed and executed this profitable plan. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her management and dedication to Central New York.”

Assemblymember William A. Barclay mentioned, “Oswego’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative has confirmed to be an awesome success. The finished tasks, together with the newly minted ‘Splash’ Indoor Water Park Resort, will proceed to create jobs, entice guests and spotlight the pure great thing about our nice area. I’m particularly happy with the laborious work that went into these tasks, and I’ve little question they are going to have a long-lasting affect on the standard of our communities and native financial system. Congratulations to all these concerned in bringing these tasks to life.”

Oswego Mayor William J. “Billy” Barlow, Jr. mentioned, “The SPLASH Indoor waterpark brings yet one more distinctive amenity to Oswego as a part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The indoor water park is a big financial asset for the neighborhood as we are able to higher market ourselves as a real 12 months spherical vacation spot, whereas enhancing the standard of life for our personal residents by offering a further enjoyable exercise. I thank the Broadwell Hospitality Group together with the State of New York for working with metropolis authorities to deliver this venture to fruition and know it’s going to function a terrific asset for our area shifting ahead.”



Larger Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce Government Director Sara Broadwell mentioned, “The “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort creates jobs in Oswego however extra importantly it contributes to Oswego’s high quality of life. The state’s investments in Oswego via the DRI have helped create a extra dynamic neighborhood that everybody can take pleasure in. This helps all of Oswego’s small companies because it attracts new residents and vacationers to our metropolis every day. We stay up for supporting the brand new water park and guaranteeing its success in Oswego.”

Downtown Revitalization Initiative

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to speed up and increase the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten areas of the state to function facilities of exercise and catalysts for funding. Led by the Division of State with help from Empire State Improvement, Houses and Group Renewal and he New York State Power Analysis and Improvement Authority, the DRI represents an unprecedented and progressive “plan-then-act” technique that {couples} strategic planning with quick implementation and ends in compact, walkable downtowns which might be a key ingredient to serving to New York State rebuild its financial system from the results of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to to reaching the State’s daring local weather targets by selling the usage of public transit and decreasing dependence on non-public autos.

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