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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Maybrook applies for Downtown Revitalization Grant
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
The Village of Maybrook applied for the
New York State Downtown Revitalization
Initiative (DRI) Grant in an effort to fund
part of its downtown revitalization.
Ten grants, each $10 million, are awarded
to municipalities nominated by the state’s
ten Regional Economic Development
Councils. The municipalities are selected
based on the downtown’s potential for
transformation and each community
develops a downtown strategic investment
plan that implements key projects that
advance the community’s revitalization.
This is the second year the village is
applying for the grant, having not received
it last year.
“It sharpens your skills for next year,”
Deputy Mayor Robert Pritchard said.
The projects that make up Maybrook’s
Downtown
Revitalization
would
accomplish three goals: high tax
generation and employment, tourism
generation and catchment value (area
where clientele is drawn from) and place
making, comfort and pedestrian aesthetic
values.
The high tax generation and
employment category is meant to bring
890,000 sq ft of industrial space with the
Galaxy project and between 40,000 and
120,000 sq ft of new downtown commercial
and residential space online.
The village plans to create a pedestrian
tunnel, rail crossing at Main St., the
construction of New Haven Blvd. to
access the Galaxy project, a Main St.
extension across the tracks to New Haven
Blvd. and the construction of Murray
Ave. to connect Main St and Charles St.
New Haven Blvd is a 2-mile long road
that would service the Galaxy buildings
east of the railroad tracks and connect
the new Main St. and Henry Henning
Dr. Some funds for the New Haven Blvd.
and the rail crossing would come from
the DRI grant, while private investment
would fund the rest.
The Main St. extension and Murray
Ave. would be completed largely by the
village Department of Public Works and a
donation from private landowners.
“These two streets are not extensive in
length, but each serves critical purposes
for access, safety and a focal point for the
hiking, bicycling and point of the overall
revitalization plan,” Pritchard said.
Murray Ave. would also have nose-in
parking facing the railroad tracks. The
Main St. extension and pedestrian tunnel
would allow access to a proposed 2-mile
The downtown revitalization plan will encourage economic growth in Maybrook.
hike/bike path with access to Stewart
State Forest.
The Galaxy project would require more
than $100 million in private investment.
Engineering and SEQRA are expected to
be completed by Sept. and the project will
hopefully break ground in the spring,
Pritchard said.
The DRI grant would also fund a
portion of streets improvements, plazas,
lighting, curbs and intersections to be
built within the downtown revitalization
area. It would also partially fund two
municipal parking lots on Wallace Ave.
and Main St. with 64 spots total.
Coupled with the DRI grant, Pritchard
said the downtown revitalization plan
would bring about $124 million in
investments to the village.
The village will learn if they won
the grant in August. Pritchard said the
projects will eventually be completed
whether they receive the grant or not.
“If we don’t get funding it’s still going
to happen, it’s just probably going to take
considerably longer,” Pritchard said.
Four private investment groups
are waiting for the completion of the
extension of Main St., the construction of
New Haven Blvd. and the rail crossing.
With so many industrial and
distribution spaces and proximity to
rail access, Maybrook has the potential
to grow its industry and businesses,
Pritchard said.
Pritchard said creating a walkable
downtown will attract businesses,
provide a place for seniors to eat and
shop and revitalize the low-income area
of downtown. Economic revitalization of
the area across from the railroad tracks
will also increase the village’s tax base.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Contact: [email protected]
For Release: July 2018
STEWART AIR FORCE BASE
FORMERLY USED DEFENSE SITE
RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD ASSESSMENT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is required to assess community interest in forming a restoration advisory
board (RAB) at Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) every 2 years. USACE is investigating the former Stewart Air Force
Base (AFB), located at Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York, under the Defense Environmental Restoration
Program for FUDS. Construction of the site began in 1939. It was initially used by the Army Air Corps as Stewart Field, and
was transferred in 1947 to the Air Force to become Stewart AFB. USACE is issuing this notice to assess public interest at
this site and determine whether the formation of a RAB is appropriate.
A RAB is one of many methods USACE may use to facilitate public participation. Regardless of whether a RAB is formed,
USACE will continue to involve the community in accordance with FUDS regulations. The RAB provides a collaborative
forum for the community, government agencies, tribes, and property owners to discuss and identify the most efficient and
productive means to restore the environment. A RAB should be established when the following requirements are satisfied:
A) There is sufficient and sustained community interest in a FUDS property, and
B) One of the following:
1) At least 50 citizens petition the installation for the creation of a RAB;
2) Federal, state, tribal, or local government representatives request the formation of a RAB; or
3) USACE determines the need for a RAB based on community responses to a solicitation for input, correspondence,
media coverage, and other relevant information that show that there is sufficient and sustained community interest
in the establishment and operation of a RAB.
The former Stewart AFB comprised approximately 1,917 acres. As a result of historical operations, the former AFB site may
contain environmental and safety concerns. The site was declared excess and disposed of in 1970, and is now owned by the
New York State Department of Transportation as Stewart International Airport. The purpose of the ongoing Remedial
Investigation is to assess environmental hazards associated with the historical use of the former Stewart AFB. The work
being done by the USACE is not associated with the ongoing investigation of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) at the
Stewart Air National Guard Base.
The USACE-New England District welcomes public feedback regarding community interest in establishing a RAB for the
Stewart AFB site. Inquiries or questions should be submitted within 30 days of this notice via email to
[email protected] or via mail to USACE c/o ATI, Inc., 9220 Rumsey Road, Suite 100, Columbia, Maryland
21045. Within 60 days from publication of this notice, USACE will make a determination on whether a RAB will be formed.
Individuals who express interest will be notified via email or U.S. mail of USACE’s determination.
An Information Repository, which documents the rationale for all remedial action decisions, will be established during the
Remedial Investigation.
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT
696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil