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Nine Of the Fourteen Proposed Projects Were Selected; Focus Was On Arts, Culture, and Improvement Of Downtown Including Waterfront Restaurant Site
Last week, New York State selected nine projects in Nyack to receive funding as part of the NY Forward Program. The program provides funding to revitalize downtowns in smaller, rural and suburban communities. It is designed to support the creation of vibrant, walkable downtowns that attract investment and support local economies in accordance with priorities set by the recipient.
The nine Nyack NY Forward projects, include:
- Renovation of the Angel Nyack Sanctuary Space to Expand Use for Arts and Events Programming ($951,000): Renovate the building’s former sanctuary space to include new HVAC system, flooring, millwork, and electrical upgrades to facilitate use for arts and performance programs, weddings and other events.
- Activation of the Waterfront by Constructing a Restaurant and Open Space ($1,250,000): Construct a one-story casual restaurant building with outdoor dining deck and public open space with seating, landscaping, and game areas to activate waterfront and provide connections to the marina.
- Improve and Restore Downtown Buildings with a Small Project Fund ($540,000): Establish a Small Project Fund dedicated to revitalizing building facades, upgrading building interiors, purchasing permanent equipment or installing public art.
- Connect Downtown Nyack and Boost Tourism with a Comprehensive Branding, Marketing, and Wayfinding Initiative ($450,000): Develop a new brand for downtown Nyack accompanied by a marketing strategy and wayfinding signage to encourage visitation to and circulation within downtown.
- Renovation of the Nyack Center to Enhance Use of the Auditorium ($138,000): Modernize the auditorium’s stage and sound and lighting systems to create a professional-grade space and upgrade outdoor lighting.
- Renovation of the Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center to Expand Programming ($305,000): Restore the Edward Hopper House exterior, upgrade garden theater and infrastructure, and renovate the art lab to expand programming.
- Modernization of the Elmwood Community Playhouse ($305,000): Conduct an exterior facade renovation and technical upgrade of the existing lighting and sound systems to enable expansion of programming.
- Improving Pedestrian Experience in Downtown Nyack with Lighting and Sidewalk Upgrades ($480,000): Add approximately antique light poles along North and South Broadway and enhance a portion of Main Street slightly east of Broadway with a widened sidewalk and two tree pits.
- Creation of a Mural on the Rockland County Pride Center to Celebrate the History of Nyack ($81,000): Celebrate the history of Nyack by engaging the community in the creation of a mural on three sides of the Rockland County Pride Center building.
Each project sponsor has to fund the balance of their project’s costs not funded by the grant.
“Everyone in Nyack is immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State for this transformational NY Forward investment. Receiving this award is truly game-changing for a village the size of Nyack,” said Village of Nyack Mayor Joseph Rand. “These investments will help enhance our downtown and waterfront while preserving the unique character that makes Nyack so special for generations to come.”
NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $400 million to 77 communities across every region of the State.
The Nyack projects that were not selected for funding by the state are:
- Rezoning the Nyack Gateway into a mixed-use district to encourage new development. The total project cost was presented as $200,000, of which state funding would provide $180,000 (or 90% of the cost).
- Construction of a housing and training facility for the Nyack General Fire Protection Company #2. The total project cost was presented as $1,175,000, of which state funding would provide $950,000 (or 81% of the cost).
- Restoration of the exterior of the historic John Green House to support future activities. The total project cost was presented as $341,000, of which state funding would provide $324,000 (or 95% of the cost).
- Construction of a second floor expansion of Maura’s Kitchen with outdoor dining. The total project cost was presented as $1,035,000, of which state funding would provide $673,000 (or 65% of the cost). This was the only privately owned project submitted. All of the others are either village-owned or owned by local not-for-profit entities.
Launched in 2022, New York State’s NY Forward program builds on the success of the larger Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program. NY Forward focuses on invigorating and revitalizing downtowns in smaller and rural communities, including villages, hamlets, and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers.
The Village of Dobbs Ferry also received a $4.5 million NY Forward award. The City of Poughkeepsie received $9.7 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants.
The Governor has proposed another $100 million for the program in her 2026-2027 Executive Budget.
