Cortland
Downtown Cortland was selected as the winner of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative in Central New York.
As a gateway to both Central New York and the Finger Lakes, the City of Cortland is a magnet for hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. It also serves county residents and SUNY Cortland students as the primary shopping area in the county. The central business district is at the core of the area designated for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, consisting primarily of commercial and residential mixed-use attached buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Land currently used for surface parking could accommodate new development, creating a denser downtown with additional economic and property tax benefits. Cortland envisions new space for community activities and additional housing to accommodate an expanding residential and tourism population. The city plans to guide the redevelopment of its downtown through the expansion of the creative economy, building a complete downtown neighborhood, and re-imagining its infrastructure for the 21st century.