State and local officials announced significant progress on the Village of Watkins Glen’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, highlighting the completion of the Harborside Village Apartments and the groundbreaking for an ADA-accessible playground at Clute Park. The village, a winner of the state’s Southern Tier DRI program, has completed seven major projects with an additional 16 completed through the DRI’s small project fund, investing over $1.9 million to revitalize its historic assets and build a vibrant year-round economy.
“The Village of Watkins Glen started its DRI with a vision of creating a thriving, accessible community,” said Secretary Mosley. “With the Harborside Village Apartments completed and the Clute Park Playground underway, the village is well on its way to fulfilling its goal of a robust, year-round economy.”
Harborside Village Apartments: Breathing New Life into a Vacant Building
The newly completed Harborside Village Apartments repurposed a former medical building into five market-rate apartments, injecting new housing into the community. Additionally, a nearby Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building was renovated in 2022, transforming it into a fitness center with four upper-floor residential units. These two projects, supported by $250,000 from DRI funds, exemplify the village’s approach to revitalizing its historic properties while addressing modern housing needs.
Clute Park Playground: A New Space for Accessibility and Recreation
At Clute Park, construction has begun on an ADA-accessible playground featuring a 12,000-square-foot play area equipped with accessible swings, a wheelchair-friendly carousel, and special stormwater-friendly design elements. This new addition builds on recent improvements at Clute Park, which received nearly $5.9 million in combined funding from DRI, New York State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Prior upgrades included a splash pad, ice rink, event center, and landscaping enhancements.
A Broader Vision for Watkins Glen’s Revitalization
In addition to these achievements, Watkins Glen’s DRI has supported numerous projects, including the development of mixed-income housing, a childcare center, upgrades to Lafayette Park, and enhancements at Captain Bill’s Port of Seneca Lake. The village also invested nearly $2 million in DRI funds to improve local building facades, commercial units, and upper-floor apartments.
Empire State Development President Hope Knight praised the projects, saying, “Focused investments like the Harborside Apartments and Clute Park Playground are essential to breathing new life into Watkins Glen.” State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons echoed this sentiment, noting that these projects strengthen connections between Watkins Glen State Park and the Seneca Lake waterfront.
The initiative’s success has catalyzed local growth, said Village Mayor Laurie DeNardo: “These projects have exceeded all expectations and will serve the community for years to come.”
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced an additional $100 million for Round 8 of the DRI and another $100 million for Round 3 of NY Forward, expanding the state’s support for community development. To date, the state has invested $1.2 billion through both programs, awarding $800 million to 81 communities in the DRI’s first seven rounds and $200 million through NY Forward.
Watkins Glen’s progress highlights the transformative impact of the DRI program, which continues to enable communities across New York to reimagine their futures and build stronger economies.
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