On Tuesday, March 26, 2018, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the awardees of Round 5 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative through Empire State Development. Of the 71 municipalities statewide to receive approximately $81 million in funding, the Village of Port Chester received $1,000,000 to support the redevelopment of 16-18 North Main Street in downtown Port Chester.

“Downtown communities are vital to keeping our economies thriving and to attracting businesses and families to put down their roots in New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Restore New York Communities Initiative recognizes communities teeming with potential and invests in their transformation and their future, and turns them into neighborhoods New Yorkers are proud to call home.”

Funding will go to 16-18 North Main Street, a project which received site plan approval in early 2017 from the Village’s Planning Commission. The project calls for the historic Mutual Bank & Trust Co. building at 16 North Main Street to be preserved and adaptively reused as a restaurant, and for 18 North Main Street to be razed and reconstructed as a 5-story building that will house six one-bedroom apartments. The project is being led by Post Road Iron Works, who stated: “The developer credits a large part of this project’s success to the support received from the Village of Port Chester Department of Planning & Economic Development, and their tremendous assistance in acquiring a one million dollar Restore New York Grant. This assistance, in combination with the support received from the Board of Trustees and other agencies within the Village, was the deciding difference in the success of this project.”

The project represents a critical component of the Village’s ongoing downtown revitalization effort, aimed at bringing new residents downtown to support local businesses and encourage transit-oriented development. The Village’s recently-adopted Strategic Plan identifies one short-term strategy of achieving the goal of “Smart Growth” by helping to prepare shovel-ready development projects, like the one at 16-18 North Main Street.

Port Chester Mayor Richard Falanka commented, “This project represents the Board’s blueprint for our downtown: protecting the integrity of our historic past, while also looking towards a bright and better future for the community. The project at 16-18 North Main Street will accomplish both of these things.”

Assemblyman Steve Otis remarked, “Restore NY is an innovative program for restoring downtowns in need of revitalization. I am thrilled that the Village of Port Chester will receive Restore NY funding this year, building on growth and economic energy that is reshaping our downtown. By targeting grants to these revitalization efforts Governor Cuomo and New York’s economic development team are helping communities like Port Chester advance community projects envisioned by local officials and business leaders. Congratulations to Mayor Falanka and the Village Board for seeking and winning this grant.”

The application was prepared with assistance from the Village’s grant consultant, Millennium Strategies. Dave Jenkins, Director of Client Services, stated “This award represents yet another big win for Mayor Falanka and his administration. Their commitment to a strategic and aggressive pursuit of public and private grant funding is driving the continued development of Port Chester’s downtown, all while providing major relief to local taxpayers.”