GENEVA — The city is inviting community members to participate in a series of “engagement opportunities” this Thursday and Friday for Geneva’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Sage Gerling, the city’s director of neighborhood initiatives, said Bergmann Associates, lead consultant for Geneva’s DRI, have crafted a “robust schedule,” including focus groups, storefront chats, a community workshop, downtown site visits and the second Local Planning Committee meeting.
“The Geneva DRI planning process builds on the comprehensive plan’s foundation, and we are excited to provide a variety of meaningful ways community members can contribute to the initiative,” said Gerling.
Downtown Geneva was selected as the winner of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative in the Finger Lakes region through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $100 million initiative.
Under Geneva’s DRI, the city will focus on the rehabilitation of key buildings; diversification of housing and retail options; access to healthy food; and building entrepreneurship in the downtown area.
There are a number of ways residents can participate in the process:
• Community workshops: The public can attend the first workshop to learn more about the DRI process and project outcomes. Participants will be asked to share ideas on projects and initiatives in the downtown area in small group settings. The first workshop will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Scandling Center’s Vandervort Room at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney St.
Additional community workshops are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 29 and Jan. 25.
• Focus groups: Groups of up to 15 will meet on six different topics for 1 1/2-hour sessions at City Hall, 47 Castle St., on Thursday. Contact Gerling at sgerling@gen eva.ny.us or (315) 828-6585 to sign up.
Additional focus group sessions are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 29 and Jan. 25.
Here are the sessions:
Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to noon sessions
Focus Group 1 — Civic Amenities and Greenspace: This group will review current plans for civic infrastructure and identify opportunities to accelerate investment in parks, greenspace and other civic amenities.
Focus Group 2 — Arts and Culture: This team will evaluate Geneva’s current and potential arts and cultural assets and make recommendations for improvements.
Thursday, 1 to 2:30 p.m. sessions
Focus Group 3 — Connectivity/Transportation: The connection of downtown with the lakefront is a linchpin of the city’s proposal for DRI investment, said Gerling. This group will review existing recommendations for making this connection, as well as enhancing the streetscape in the downtown district and make improvement recommendations.
Focus Group 4 — Finance: It is widely accepted that the $10 million state investment is a small part of what is needed for a comprehensive revitalization effort, Gerling said. This team will identify other opportunities for investment, including other grant opportunities, private sector infusion, traditional financing and leveraging DRI funds as revolving loan opportunities.
Thursday, 2:30 to 4 p.m. sessions
Focus Group 5 — Private Investment: The greatest opportunity to leverage additional resources from the DRI allocation is investment in private development projects, according to Gerling. This team will develop priorities for “infill” (filling open spots between buildings) and adaptive-use opportunities for existing buildings and discuss potential criteria for Downtown Initiative investments in private sector projects.
Focus Group 6 — Economic Opportunity: Of critical importance to the city in this effort is the assurance that revitalization does not occur in such a manner as to displace long-standing, economically disadvantaged populations, Gerling said. This group will identify opportunities for workforce development, employment, education and other support elements toward improving the economic status of those in poverty and identifying inclusive housing, access to fresh, healthy food and other elements critical to supporting impoverished residents, she said.
• Talk to the consultant team or city staff at the storefront: Go to the DRI storefront at 425 Exchange St. to chat one-on-one with one of the consultant team members or city staff to learn more about the DRI and discuss your ideas. Storefront hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
Additional evening storefront hours will be available from November through January. Times will be posted soon at the storefront or by contacting Gerling.
• Attend and listen to the second Local Planning Committee meeting: The committee will hold its second meeting to review and provide feedback on information and comments obtained during the previous day’s focus group sessions, stakeholder meetings and public workshop on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Geneva Housing Authority Conference Room, 41 Lewis St. Lunch will be provided.
Additional Local Planning Committee meetings are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 30, Jan. 5, Jan. 26 and Feb. 23.
• Submit your ideas, questions and comments: At any time during the DRI planning process, you can provide your input to Gerling, [email protected] or (315) 828-6585.
• Follow progress: Go to cityofgenevany.com/downtown-revitalization-initiative/ or www.ny.gov/downtown-revitalization-initiative/finger-lakes-geneva.
