Downtown Revitalization Initiative
Now in its fourth year, Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), is transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise families. Participating communities are nominated by the state’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) based on the downtown’s potential for transformation, and each community is awarded $10 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.
The City of Rome was selected as a DRI community for the Mohawk Valley Region in 2017. Rome’s compact, walkable downtown has all of the pieces necessary to become a thriving retail, dining, cultural, and entertainment destination and a vibrant place to live and work.
The City’s DRI goals are focused around providing a sustainable and diverse range of housing, developing a high quality public realm, creating an environment that attracts and fosters economic opportunity and celebrates diversity, leveraging existing historic and cultural resources, and establishing downtown as an arts and cultural hub. The Downtown Rome Strategic Investment Plan Area encompasses the central business district of the City, and extends 160 acres from Madison Street to the west, Court Street to the north, Black River Boulevard to the east, and Ridge Street to the south. The DRI Area encompasses a number of the City’s tourist attractions, key corridors, and public services including: historic Fort Stanwix, the Capitol Theatre, the West Dominick Arts and Cultural District, City Hall, and the Erie Boulevard commercial corridor.
Click here to view the Rome DRI Plan and Award Booklet.
Past Public Engagement
Public Meeting #1: November 1, 2017
Public Meeting #2: December 19, 2017
Meeting Summary & Meeting Presentation
Public Meeting #3: March 22, 2018