PARKSVILLE — With the announcement of a $650,000 New York State grant via the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) for the Parksville Main Street Revitalization 2 Project as a part of the Restore NY initiative, two deteriorating properties at 2 Main Street and 29 Main Street are expected to see redevelopment.

According to the project summary listed in a letter announcing the awarding of the grant from ESD’s Linda Malave, Regional Director of the Mid-Hudson Region, 2 Main Street was an abandoned synagogue that was purchased to house The Parksville Arts Center. 29 Main Street is being redeveloped into a commercial property to house local retailers. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1,419,749. 

As the Town of Liberty awaits contact from Project Manager Lauren Barrett to assist in the steps towards finalizing their grant application after updates were made to the revised timeline, State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and the State Historic Preservation Office (“SHPO”) review information. Following finalization, Liberty’s Restore NY project will be presented to the ESD Board of Directors for approval.

In alignment with ESD’s Contractor and Supplier Diversity policies, the goal of the project is to see at least 30 percent of project participation from minority and women-owned businesses and 6 percent participation from service-disabled Veteran-owned businesses. ESD is expected to contact the town for a detailed scope of work, budget and information on additional sources of funding in order to reach these goals.

“After board approval, all Restore NY projects must go through ESD’s public hearing process and subsequently be approved by the Public Authorities Control Board. Once these final steps are achieved, your project manager will send you a signed Grant Disbursement Agreement (“GDA”) for execution,” wrote Malave.

“Project disbursements may occur after ESD’s receipt of the executed GDA and with the submission of the appropriate supporting documentation. As mentioned throughout the application process, payments will be made in a lump sum upon project completion on a reimbursable basis. However, highly or moderately distressed communities may, upon request, receive pro rata progress payments throughout the Restore NY project.”

Additionally, the ESD encourages grantees to adopt sustainable construction practices as part of their project, such as recycling of construction and demolition materials, reusing recovered materials and building with recycled content. 

The town has two years to commence the project before the award is terminated.