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

Governor Kathy Hochul immediately introduced the completion of Oswego’s closing Downtown Revitalization Initiative challenge at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort. The completion of this challenge makes Oswego the primary DRI group 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 change into a mannequin DRI group,” Governor Hochul mentioned. “Oswego’s expertise showcases the important 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 applications 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 while you go to Oswego. The town has masterfully chosen and built-in a wide range of tasks that exemplify the imaginative and prescient and objectives of the DRI, laying the groundwork for rather 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 important accomplishment.”

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

The DRI offered $500,000 for the challenge, which was applied by Shane Broadwell of the Broadwell Hospitality Group. Broadwell estimates that Splash will create 60-70 jobs in peak season. The water park may also help surrounding companies by attracting extra guests to the realm.

Oswego obtained a $10 million DRI award within the first spherical of this system in 2016. The Metropolis’s Strategic Funding Plan centered on rising downtown housing, increasing small companies, and offering leisure and eating choices for all ages, whereas maximizing entry to its treasured waterfront. Up to now, Oswego’s tasks have created over 200 items of housing for households of all earnings 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 Complete Challenge Price: Constructed the brand new “Splash” Indoor Water Park Resort to draw guests and create a four-season household vacation spot downtown, linked to an present resort and occasion/convention heart close to the waterfront.

Create Riverwalk, a Multi-Constructing Blended-Use Growth on West First Avenue – $2,000,000 DRI Award; $9,500,000 Complete Challenge Price: Created 32 market fee 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 impartial stylists beginning their very own enterprise within the Riverwalk Salon Suites.

Create Harbor View Sq., a Blended-Revenue Redevelopment – $740,000 DRI Award; $29,200,000 Complete Challenge Price: Accomplished a mixed-income redevelopment of brownfield website tasks, offering 75 housing items and eight,000 sq. ft. of economic area at 68 West First Avenue in Oswego.

Remodel Midtown Plaza into East Lake Commons, a Blended-Use Gateway Growth – $2,000,000 DRI Award; $25,200,000 Complete Challenge Price: Demolished the present buildings on the location, 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 Revenue.



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

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

Enhance the River Stroll & Create a Pocket Park – $680,000 DRI Award; $930,000 Complete Challenge Price: 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 location – with a versatile public area for group gatherings and public occasions area. This area now hosts a weekly summer time live performance sequence that’s effectively attended by the group.

Create the L.I.T.A.T.R.O. (Luck Is The Capacity To Acknowledge Alternative) Blended-Use Constructing with Residential Items, Retail House and a Restaurant – $1,000,000 DRI Award; $7,200,000 Complete Challenge Price: Redeveloped a single-story International Buffet constructing on the nook of W. First Avenue and W. Bridge Avenue 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 Complete Challenge Price: Actively supported native enterprise development, constructing renovation and outside programming by way of a revolving mortgage and mixed grant/mortgage fund.

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

The Oswego DRI exemplifies this system’s imaginative and prescient and objectives by making certain that every one tasks synergize with each other and leverage extra personal 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 extra personal sector investments — greater than a 6-to-1 return on funding. In consequence, 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 challenge of an amazing renaissance that has taken place within the Oswego group, because of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Our $5.6 million challenge would not have been attainable with out the help of the DRI and different State applications, and we’re really grateful for these partnerships. With the opening of our water park, now we have not solely seen the keenness of our visiting households, however Splash has additionally offered new alternatives throughout the group, creating 60-70 jobs throughout peak seasons, and bolstering the enchantment of our downtown as a enjoyable, family-friendly vacation spot.”



Empire State Growth President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight mentioned, “Financial improvement is extra than simply job and trade development – it is also about enhancing our group 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 challenge, Oswego has reimagined its waterfront right into a vibrant and engaging metropolis heart. Congratulations to the Metropolis of Oswego for hitting this thrilling milestone.”

Properties and Group Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas mentioned, “Right now’s ribbon slicing marks the completion of the State’s $10 million DRI dedication to Oswego, the primary municipality to achieve this milestone beneath this program. HCR is proud to have performed a job in an initiative that created new housing alternatives for residents throughout the earnings 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 Growth 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 performed precisely what it was designed to do. The $10 million in DRI funding helped to gas an array of focused tasks, selling financial development and making a vibrant downtown space the place folks need to reside, work, and play. This stunning waterfront group designed and has expertly executed its centered, community-driven strategic plan – one that can proceed to profit 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 change 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 successful 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 amazing 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 pleased with the laborious work that went into these tasks, and I’ve little doubt they may have an enduring influence on the standard of our communities and native economic 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 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 group as we will higher market ourselves as a real 12 months spherical vacation spot, whereas bettering 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 carry this challenge to fruition and know it’s going to function a fantastic asset for our area shifting ahead.”



Better 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 by way of the DRI have helped create a extra dynamic group that everybody can take pleasure in. This helps all of Oswego’s small companies because it attracts new residents and vacationers to our metropolis each day. We sit up for supporting the brand new water park and making certain 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 Growth, Properties and Group Renewal and he New York State Vitality Analysis and Growth Authority, the DRI represents an unprecedented and revolutionary “plan-then-act” technique that {couples} strategic planning with quick implementation and leads to compact, walkable downtowns which can be a key ingredient to serving to New York State rebuild its economic system from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to to reaching the State’s daring local weather objectives by selling the usage of public transit and decreasing dependence on personal autos.

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