Capital Region
Greenwich
The Village of Greenwich envisions a vibrant, sustainable downtown corridor that serves as the heart of the community and a regional destination. Building on the area’s rich historical character and strong community identity, the Greenwich NY Forward project area will evolve into a walkable, connected district offering a range of commercial, residential and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The revitalization efforts will focus on enhancing connectivity along the Route 29/Main Street corridor and encouraging transformative infill development that strengthens the local economy. Housing diversity will be expanded to accommodate people of all ages and incomes, supporting Greenwich’s status as a Pro-Housing Community. The NY Forward area also falls within the designated Greenwich Brownfield Opportunity Area, ensuring alignment with long-term planning and community input. This vision preserves Greenwich’s historic charm while embracing modern development opportunities, creating a thriving, inclusive environment where businesses flourish, residents enjoy a high quality of life and visitors are drawn to the area’s unique blend of history, natural beauty and community spirit.
Athens
Athens is a quintessentially charming village with a unique laid-back vibe that sits on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is connected to world class art, culture, recreation and choice of housing that attracts visitors, boaters and artists. The Village has already worked to make downtown more walkable, welcoming, resilient and climate adaptive – making it primed for the NY Forward program. The community’s vision is to remain a welcoming village that celebrates family and community. They plan to do this by upgrading Second Street at the heart of downtown by improving ADA compliance, increasing foot traffic to local businesses and supporting arts and culture; increasing river access; and increasing choice of residences, homes and apartments that are accessible and affordable.
Central New York
Chittenango
The Village of Chittenango has a rich history — it is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and gets its name from the Oneida Nation, who first settled on this land. The connection to the Old Erie Canal and Empire State Trail via the Chittenango Creekwalk has increased both walkability in the Village and economic potential as a historic tourist site. Interest and pride in the Village run deep and potential for rebirth is not difficult to imagine. Like many Upstate New York villages, Chittenango’s industrial history is unique and its historic connection to the Erie Canal offers potential for further economic development. The Village envisions a vibrant and welcoming community that celebrates its unique heritage, embraces sustainability and fosters innovation.
Marathon
The Village of Marathon, home of the CNY Maple Festival, cherishes its rural character and will build upon its idyllic setting on the banks of the Tioughnioga River to spur investment and growth in the community. Marathon is one of the smaller communities in the Central New York Region, but its location on Exit 38 of Interstate 81 has ensured that its downtown is maintained as an active, highly visited and vibrant commercial corridor. The Village seeks to create a vibrant, welcoming downtown that supports the needs of its citizens, residents of neighboring rural towns and visitors to the area. They also plan to continue its efforts to connect the riverfront to its Main Street, restore historic properties, grow the retail sector and leverage its cultural assets.
Finger Lakes
Brockport
The Village of Brockport is an Erie Canal town, college town and central hub of activity for its own residents and those of other nearby small towns and villages. Brockport prioritizes living its history and bridging it to a thriving and culturally rich future in the Finger Lakes region. The Village’s downtown focus area centers on Main Street and adjacent side streets that offer several attractions for residents and visitors. This area highlights Brockport’s historic downtown corridor, canal front parcels and portions of historic districts on the Village’s west and east sides. The Village seeks to transform its historic downtown corridor into an accessible tourist destination and a home where visitors, residents and people of all abilities can recreate, socialize, live and age in comfort.
Phelps
The Village of Phelps, a historically significant community with a population of 1,900 residents, is strategically positioned near major transportation routes, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors. The Village’s walkable downtown area encompasses municipal parks, cultural and recreational attractions, museums and the multi-use community center. Its application is focused on streetscaping and aesthetic upgrades, so that no matter what route a resident or visitor might take through downtown, the path from one destination to the next will be interesting and attractive.
Long Island
Farmingdale
The Village of Farmingdale’s downtown is a compact area mixed with small parcels and dense building coverage, mixed land uses and charming architecture. It is situated among some of the most popular tourist destinations in New York State. Due to the Village’s characteristics, Farmingdale is focusing on projects that will yield dramatic and positive effects, thereby advancing an active downtown with a strong sense of place. The Village seeks to attract new businesses, encourage a diverse population, improve downtown living and quality of life and enhance the pedestrian walkability and cyclability of the downtown.
Mid-Hudson
Nyack
Nyack has the energy and diversity of a small city and the intimacy of a small country town. Its historic downtown is home to an economically and culturally diverse population. Nyack’s high concentration of subsidized housing ensures a stable working-class population amidst a steadily more expensive housing market driven by proximity to New York City. Nyack’s downtown area benefits from its prime geographical location near New York City and overlooking the spectacular Hudson River. This setting enhances the village’s appeal as a vibrant destination, drawing visitors and residents alike to experience the natural beauty and urban convenience it offers. Ample cultural resources and waterfront parks make Nyack a popular tourist destination and a great place to live. Nyack seeks to leverage its unique history and geography through investments in business growth, affordable housing, gateway improvement and equitable access to the waterfront, catalyzing further private investment and leading to increased employment and an improved tax base. Taken together, these investments will make Nyack exemplify the “live, work, play” ideal.
Dobbs Ferry
Downtown Dobbs Ferry is a traditional historic, walkable downtown located along the Hudson River. The Village is a dynamic hub of activity, culture and opportunity that is home to a diverse population and a bustling array of businesses. From key municipal services to thriving local establishments, Dobbs Ferry’s downtown plays a pivotal role in the daily lives of its community members. With its proximity to schools, colleges and other significant institutions, the area has become a central gathering place for both residents and visitors alike. The Village seeks to fully realize its potential by redeveloping and improving key properties and opening space in the downtown area and the pedestrian corridor linking the Metro-North station to the downtown. The Village will also expand economic opportunities and create a more sustainable, walkable and vibrant downtown.
Mohawk Valley
Canajoharie
Located along the banks of the Mohawk River, the Village of Canajoharie was once a thriving hub for transportation and industrial development. Most of the village is located within a historic district due to its abundance of well-preserved architecture from different eras. The Erie Canal trail — a popular destination for bicyclists as part of the Empire State trail — also traverses the downtown business district. With recent investments and its key location along major transportation routes, Canajoharie’s downtown has the potential to become a vibrant riverfront destination and local employment center.
Waterville
The Village of Waterville is located in southeastern Oneida County along the historic NYS Route 20 Scenic Byway. While less than 25 minutes south of Utica, the Village retains its pastoral, small town appeal, and is known as the garden spot of New York State. Home to just under 1,500 residents, Waterville developed as the center of the surrounding agricultural industry, primarily the growing and processing of hops. By 1875 Waterville was the “Hops Capital of the World”. This economic success gave rise to a bustling downtown that is now known as the “Waterville Triangle Historic District”. With high-quality infrastructure, a first-rate school system and a strong sense of place, Waterville is ripe to attract new residents. The Village is home to young professionals and families seeking a high-quality of life with a small-town atmosphere. People who choose to live in Waterville often work in Utica or Rome, as well as at the six local colleges. It is an ideal place for young families to grow and for older generations to age in place. With median home values, taxes and rents that are affordable to all, Waterville’s parks, tree-lined sidewalks and friendly neighborhoods make it a desirable small community to call home.
New York City
Bronx
Greater Morris Park is largely composed of Bronx Community District 11, as well as part of Community District 10. The neighborhood is home to many medical facilities, comprising one of the largest employment centers in the Bronx, and a top ten job center in all of New York City. This includes the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Calvary Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, and the Bronx Behavioral Health Center. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine made headlines this year by announcing a generous billion-dollar endowment guaranteeing free tuition to all medical students in perpetuity. The area expects growth in population and economic activity from planned zoning and infrastructure changes, including two new Metro-North stations in the area.
Morris Park’s vision is to transform the area into a premier transit-oriented development hub leveraging the addition of expanded Metro-North commuter rail service and rezoning, which will allow additional commercial and residential growth to bolster existing economic activity and drive future economic and employment growth. The community’s plan will also support Morris Park’s status as the second largest job center in The Bronx while maximizing the transformative impact of the new commuter rail service. This vision will enable Greater Morris Park to become a complete community that would feature safe streets, green public spaces, and intermodal connections. The Metro-North expansion presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put in motion transformative changes that will allow both residents and local businesses of Morris Park to thrive.
North Country
Keeseville
Situated where the Champlain Valley meets the Adirondack mountains and just three miles west of Lake Champlain, the hamlet of Keeseville offers tremendous recreational, commercial and residential opportunities. When Keeseville was founded in the 1800s its commercial and residential activity was closely tied to the Ausable River. The downtown includes a vibrant mixed-use development district framed by two historic bridges and three main streets, which create an accessible, walkable perimeter for residents and visitors to enjoy. It also acts as a bridge between two towns and counties uniting them into a single community. Keeseville’s vision for its future is to revitalize its historic and character-defining assets and to cultivate a vibrant and desirable community where current and future residents can live, work, play and thrive.
Gouverneur
The Village of Gouverneur is a charming historic community located along the Oswegatchie River. The Village embodies the feel of community with a beautiful downtown and park area. The Village is home to many festivals and events, including the St. Lawrence County Fair, that entertains residents and attracts visitors from across the region. Gouverneur will capitalize on its historical charm, vibrant and expanding downtown business community, safe, friendly, and walkable environment and its proximity to major regional employers to enhance quality of life, strengthen resilience and increase economic opportunities for both current and future residents. Additionally, Gouverneur aims to attract visitors to experience its rich recreational, cultural and retail assets, positioning the village as a regional destination.
Southern Tier
Bath
Situated along the scenic Cohocton River, the Village of Bath is a historic planned community that serves as a “Gateway” to Keuka Lake — renowned for its scenery, wineries and vineyards. The Village of Bath has experienced significant changes over the past decade and has recognized the need to strengthen its core and return to its role as the downtown neighborhood that people experience and enjoy. The Village’s Liberty Street Historic District revitalization is the next step in this journey. The Village seeks to bolster growth by creating an active downtown with enhanced public spaces, strategic placement of amenities and new housing opportunities that will attract visitors and foster an atmosphere that will retain and attract residents and businesses.
Dryden
Dryden is an ideal place for young families to grow and for older generations to age. Home to just over 2,000 residents, Dryden has developed over time as a small bedroom community to the nearby cities and universities and as an extremely high traveled and visited community. With median home values and rents that are affordable to all, Dryden’s parks, tree-lined sidewalks and friendly neighborhoods make it a desirable small community to live in, promoting a high quality of life. Dryden seeks to reinvest in its historic downtown by continuing to support an attractive and inviting Main Street with a robust mix of shopping, dining and residential spaces to foster a high quality of life for its residents. The Village will foster a welcoming and walkable downtown community where residents can live a sustainable lifestyle in friendly neighborhoods with convenient access to goods and services.