Montour Falls & Waverly receives $9 million in project funding

SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) – The Southern Tier will be seeing 15 different projects that are set to improve the community in both Waverly and Montour Falls after receiving funding from the NY Forward program.

This afternoon, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that both villages will be receiving $4.5 million each in funding from the taxpayer-funded program, for a total of $9 million. This program comes as a part of the Governor’s efforts to revitalize the economy and create more opportunities in the Southern Tier.

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Out of the 15 projects coming to the region, nine of the projects will be for the Village of Waverly and the other six will be for the Village of Montour Falls.

A breakdown of the projects and the funding delegated for each can be found below.

Projects in Waverly

• Enhance walkability and comfort on Broad Street through streetscape improvements – $960,000

  • Make physical streetscape improvements on Broad Street including but not limited to enhanced crosswalks, new sidewalks, pedestrian-level streetlighting with arms to hang flags or planters, curb bump-outs, signage, landscaping, street trees, benches and enhanced parking and open space.

• Renovate East Waverly Park – $1,196,000

  • Create a family and youth-focused recreation facility with pickleball courts, a splash pad, walking trails, fishing holes, a softball field, a basketball court, a playground, a new parking area and the rehabilitation of the existing restroom and kitchen.

• Establish Waverly Waterfront access and trails – $795,000

  • Create a new park on land bordered by the Chemung River to encourage paddling, boating, fishing, hiking and passive recreation in the village.

• Renovate Soprano’s Market and build an outdoor seating area – $420,000

  • Build a new outdoor patio, additional site lighting, new siding and insulation, as well as make a roof replacement and rehabilitate the parking lot.

• Upgrade historic building and create upper-level housing – $156,000

  • Build new fully furnished apartments on the vacant upper floors of a historic building on Broad Street above an existing sports bar and create an outdoor deck at the back of the building for residents.

• Convert a Victorian home into a multiuse residential and commercial space – $300,000

  • Complete the final phases of the conversion of a historic Victorian home and neighboring vacant lot into a mixed-use building with commercial space, an upper-floor apartment and green space for outdoor gatherings.

• Construct a multiuse commercial building in downtown Waverly – $317,000

  • Construct a new mixed-use commercial space on Cayuta Avenue which will hold a café, retail shop and a rentable conference room.

• Improve fitness center on Broad Street – $156,000

  • Raise the interior ceiling at a fitness center on Broad Street to allow for better air circulation in the gym, as well as other improvements including new glass doors and windows and new drainage onsite to prevent ice caused by flooding.

• Develop a small project fund to help local businesses – $200,000

  • Implement a grant fund for small projects in the NY Forward boundary that will support building renovations, facades, interior build-outs, permanent equipment, awnings and signage.

Projects in Montour Falls

• Enhance walkability and comfort on Main Street through streetscape improvements – $971,000

  • Improve walkability and pedestrian comfort along Main Street with enhanced crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb bump-outs and sidewalk extensions, as well as street trees, green infrastructure, benches, signage, public art installations and gateway arches.

• Build townhomes on vacant lot in downtown Montour Falls – $916,000

  • Construct new townhomes on a vacant plot of land on North Genesee Street. The townhomes will be long-term rentals in downtown Montour Falls.

• Build a new dental office and apartments on Catharine Street – $685,000

  • Construct a new building on a vacant property that will house an existing dental practice, space for a commercial business and new long-term apartments on Catharine Street. The building will include room to expand the dental practice.

• Preserve the historic Brick Tavern Museum and incorporate accessibility improvements – $792,000

  • Preserve the museum through interior and exterior improvements and a building extension to provide a space that will preserve the museum collection and ensure accessibility for all visitors.

• Develop a small project fund to help local businesses – $200,000

  • Implement a grant fund for small projects in the NY Forward boundary that will support building renovations, facades, interior build-outs, permanent equipment, awnings and signage.

• Improve street lighting on North Catharine Street – $936,000

  • Upgrade existing street lighting on Catharine Street to include infill pedestrian-level lighting to create a more comfortable environment for pedestrians at night.

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