DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE – DOWNTOWN TEMPLATE CLICK HERE FOR A FORM FILLABLE VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT THIS TEMPLATE IS PROVIDED AS GENERAL GUIDANCE AND THE MINIMUM CRITERIA NECESSARY FOR THE REDCS TO EVALUATE AND SELECT A DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. INDIVIDUAL REDCS MAY REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS PART OF THEIR SELECTION PROCESS. PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPECIFIC REGIONAL COUNCILS WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL CRITERIA. WWW .REGIONALCOUNCILS.NY.GOV BASIC INFORMATION Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Region: Southern Tier Municipality Name: City of Elmira, NY Downtown Name: Elmira Refresh County: Chemung Downtown Description - Provide an overview of the downtown and summarize the rationale behind nominating this downtown for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award): The City of Elmira is pleased to submit this request for designation as the recipient of the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for the Southern Tier region. We believe Elmira is in a position to leverage numerous opportunities with the resources available through the DRI program that will enable it to transform the City's downtown and make Elmira a diversified and vibrant community where tomorrow's workforce will want to live, work, and raise their families. The City’s goals are to: 1. 2. 3. 4. Create an active, desirable downtown with a strong sense of place Attract new businesses, high-paying jobs, and skilled workers Enhance and strengthen the arts and cultural attractions Create a thriving environment that is a framework and stimulus for a diverse population, with residents and workers supported by complementary housing and employment opportunities 5. Increase the local property tax base 6. Develop amenities to support and enhance downtown living and quality of life Below are highlights of this proposal. • The framework for a successful downtown revitalization strategy has been created. Elmira's “threeprong strategy” for revitalization of the City’s downtown rests upon the objectives of (1) establishing a Dynamic College Community; (2) strengthening Elmira's role as the eastern anchor community of the I86 Innovation Corridor plan through the provision of "supportive community infrastructure" essential to business and entrepreneurial growth; and (3) re-establishing Elmira as a vibrant community by reversing the trends of poverty and blight. Details of this strategy are provided in Attachment B. Elmira Refresh: Elmira Refresh: A Strong Anchor of the I86 Innovation Corridor Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods: Reversing1the Trends of Blight and Poverty Dynamic College Community • Elmira's downtown is compact, with welldefined boundaries. Elmira's 595.5-acre DRI target area, known as Elmira Refresh, includes 8,735 residents representing a diverse ethnic composition as well as the highest levels of economic distress within Chemung County. This DRI target area is compact and is bounded by major downtown corridors. The Chemung River, considered a major asset to the downtown, will be a focal point for redevelopment both on the east and west sides of the target area. Also within the DRI target area is a critical link between the business district and college district along the newly established N. Main Street Cultural Connector Corridor. • The DRI target area is of sufficient size and composition to support a year-round vibrant downtown. The DRI target area includes the city’s existing central business district, a business improvement district, three designated historic districts, adjoining neighborhoods, shopping, weekly farmers market, three grocery stores in or close proximity, two colleges, churches, governmental offices, arts education center, cultural institutions, and two major entertainment venues with regional draw. Together the assets provide a mix of housing options for various socioeconomic groups, as well as services, arts, entertainment and recreational resources. • The City of Elmira's future is being driven by new economic and social factors such as: (1) designation as the eastern anchor of the I86 Innovation Corridor; (2) the continued growth of the region's health care industry; (3) increase in the education sector with anticipation of the new Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and significant expansion of Elmira College, which will require off-campus student housing as well as new faculty hires; (4) new business development and entrepreneurial activities in vacant downtown buildings, with an active business recruitment program underway; (5) expansion of several manufacturing businesses in the immediate area such as Hardinge, Cameron Mfg, DeMet’s and (6) creation of 1,145 new jobs within the next 1-2 years in the immediate area within and surrounding the downtown; (7) documented demand for 330-400 market rate housing units in the downtown by 2022 and a total of 500 by 2027. In addition, a demand analysis completed in April of 2016 demonstrated that by 2021 Elmira is expected to have no less than 500 new downtown residents, including professionals, students, physicians, college faculty, retirees and other persons. By 2027, 800 or more new residents are expected to reside within Elmira's downtown area. 2 • Elmira’s DRI program will be coordinated with other New York State initiatives including its recent designation as a participating city in the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative, Governor Cuomo’s Healthy Schools and Communities, Housing and Community Renewal housing programs, NYS Department of State BOA Program, DOS Local Waterfront Development Program, NYSDERDA’s Cleaner/Greener Initiative, NYS Land Bank Program, SHPO’S Certified Local Government Program, NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program for Commercial Properties, and Chemung County’s Age Friendly Communities and other community enrichment programs to maximize the overall livability of the City’s downtown area. • Elmira is prepared to capitalize on recent public and private investments in its downtown area. The DRI program resources will serve as a catalyst for additional future investments in Elmira’s downtown. During the past five years $26,299,268 in REDC and other Federal and State grant funds have been awarded in the Elmira area, which have leveraged an estimated $105,197,072 in additional funds. Over $11.6 million in Federal, State, and City investments in infrastructure upgrades within Elmira's downtown area are scheduled for implementation beginning in 2016. Preliminary commitments have also been made by the private sector to invest an estimated $26,157,000 in property revitalization and new business development in Elmira's downtown area over the next five years. • The City of Elmira, Chemung County, Southern Tier Economic Growth, Inc. (STEG), and other community organizations have formed a collaborative relationship and are actively engaged in planning activities to support the revitalization of Elmira's downtown. For example, the City initiated a comprehensive master plan update project in 2015 that is expected to be adopted in September of 2016. The City of Elmira, Chemung County, and STEG, have also created a working committee with multiple community partners to design and implement an effective revitalization program for Elmira’s downtown. The committee has developed a framework for development of a downtown revitalization strategy that would be supported by the DRI program. The group is now engaged in the analysis of needs and opportunities for successful downtown revitalization, including a recently completed assessment of demand for market rate housing and an evaluation of redevelopment designs for specific target properties and corridors within the City’s downtown. The committee is also actively preparing for the City‘s participation in New York’s new Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative. • Elmira embraces policies and best practices that will foster increased livability and quality-of-life features for residents of Elmira’s downtown. Elmira’s updated comprehensive master plan, which is expected to be adopted in September of 2016, will incorporate a number of modern downtown development principles and suggested tools, such as a complete streets policy, form-based zoning for particular downtown corridors, age-friendly and pedestrian-friendly design standards, bikeability, efficient downtown parking design standards, energy efficiency, attractive streetscaping, public art aesthetics and similar Smart Growth principles. The City of Elmira continues to be served by an active downtown improvement district, and an application to create a Chemung County Land Bank has been submitted. • The City of Elmira and Southern Tier Economic Growth, Inc. (STEG) are prepared to assume the lead local role in the implementation of Elmira’s downtown revitalization effort. The DRI implementation committee created by STEG will provide an effective implementation mechanism that brings together all key downtown stakeholders, program managers, planners, engineers, funding officers, urban design consultants, and elected officials. 3 DOWNTOWN IDENTIFICATION This section should be filled out with reference to the criteria set forth in the DRI Guidelines. 1) Boundaries of the Downtown Neighborhood. Detail the boundaries of the targeted neighborhood, keeping in mind that there is no minimum or maximum size, but that the neighborhood should be compact and well-defined. Core neighborhoods beyond a traditional downtown or central business district are eligible, if they can meet other criteria making them ripe for investment. Elmira's 595.5-acre DRI target area, known as Elmira Refresh, includes the city’s existing central business district, shopping and grocery stores, a business improvement district, three designated historic districts, two colleges, churches, governmental offices, arts education center, cultural institutions, and two major entertainment venues with regional draw. The DRI target area is compact and bounded by major downtown corridors, including Washington Avenue on the north, West Henry Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on the south, Madison Avenue on the east and Davis Street on the west. The Chemung River and the Mark Twain Riverfront Park, considered major assets to the downtown, will be focal points for redevelopment both on the east and west sides of the target area. The Elmira Refresh DRI target area is displayed in the attached maps contained in Attachment A. Figure 1 - Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area Boundaries Figure 2 - Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area by Census Tract Boundaries: 6, 7 and 10 Figure 3 - Current Land Uses within the DRI Target Area Figure 4 - Properties Targeted for Redevelopment Within the Elmira Refresh DRI Figure 5 - City of Elmira Poverty Rates by Census Tract Figure 6 - Park and Open Space in Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area The DRI target area also provides for a critical link between the downtown core and college district along the newly established N. Main Street Cultural Connector Corridor. The corridor will become an essential component of the downtown revitalization as the academic institutions grow off of the traditional campus into the downtown, extending to the Creative Corridor where arts and cultural institutions are primed for building connective identity. Within these boundaries are a variety of rental and homeownership options for a wide range of socioeconomic groups, grocery stores and a weekly farmers market, medical services, education ranging from early childhood to medical school, parks and recreation, neighborhood businesses, mass-transit, walking and biking options, ample parking for downtown residents and workers, and community services for both downtown workers and residents in all socio-economic categories. The Elmira Refresh DRI target area includes Census tracts 6, 7, and 10, whose 8,735 residents represent a diverse ethnic composition as well as the highest levels of economic distress within Chemung County. US Census Bureau records indicate that the poverty rate within these tracts is 47.3%; the annual per capita income level is $13,095, and the mean household income level is $31,086. The percentage of high school 4 graduates is 80.10%, and the unemployment rate among residents is substantially higher than that recorded for other residents of the City. Elmira Refresh Socio-economic Conditions DRI Targeted Census Tracts (6, 7, 10) City of Elmira Population 8,735 29,046 Poverty Rate 47.30% 30.40% Persons in Poverty in Family Households 42.00% 27.40% Per Capita Income $13,095 $17,460 $31,086 $45,552 Percent high school graduate or higher 80.10% 82.90% Percent bachelor's degree or higher 9.03% 14.10% Unemployment Rate 9.83% 9.20% Residents lacking health insurance 10.57% 10.30% Mean Household Income (All Families) Educational Attainment Source: 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates 5 2) Size. Outline why the downtown, or its catchment area, is of a size sufficient to support a vibrant, year-round downtown, with consideration of whether there is a sizeable existing, or increasing, population within easy reach for whom this would be the primary downtown. Elmira’s existing catchment area provides sufficient numbers of residents and visitors to support a vibrant, year-round downtown in the years ahead. Elmira’s downtown currently serves as the principal downtown destination for a regional population of over 125,000 persons who reside throughout Chemung County and its bordering communities. Elmira offers immediate access to the I86 corridor, is located in close proximity to a regional airport, and benefits from an active mass transit service. Elmira is also the central service location for many governmental, medical care, and business services provided to residents throughout the central Southern Tier and the Northern Tier regions in New York and Pennsylvania. The City established criteria and underwent an extensive process to define the specific DRI target area to make certain it was sufficient in size and composition to support a vibrant and year-round downtown. Based on the following information, the City determined that the combination of its strategic geographic location, service as a regional hub for a large catchment area extending 20 miles, ability to accommodate a diverse housing mix for many different household income levels, known future job growth of an estimated 1,200 in the immediate area , and physical capacity to accommodate downtown workers and an increase of no less than 800 new residents living in the downtown and demand for 300+ market rate housing units would be sufficient to support a vibrant, year-round downtown. Driving factors include the following. • The strategic geographic location of Elmira’s downtown is a significant asset.  Location at a major I86 exit (Exit 56) provides easy and convenient access to east-west destinations, and has a daily traffic volume (AADT) of 22,909 vehicles.  Distance from other downtowns: 15 miles from Corning, 33 miles from Ithaca and 19 miles from Sayre, PA where the Guthrie Healthcare campus is located.  Location on the Chemung River.  As the County seat Elmira is the central location for county, state and federal programs for a 25mile radius.  Regional hub for major healthcare services, banking, legal and other professional services.  Primary residential option for major employers such as Arnot Health based in Elmira; as well as, Guthrie Healthcare System with its main campus located within a 20-minute drive to Sayre, PA and includes Robert Packer Hospital and Guthrie Clinic, as well as the administrative offices for system. Together they recruit more than 50 physicians per year.  Hub for an extensive transportation infrastructure, including the Chemung County Transit System, which is a public transportation service that operates routes within the City of Elmira and towns in Chemung County, as well as a Shopper Shuttle to area malls and commuter routes to Ithaca, Corning, Owego and Sayre, PA.  The Elmira-Corning Regional Airport is within a 10-minute drive from downtown Elmira.  Close proximity to several venues of national and regional significance located within close proximity of downtown Elmira such as the Corning Museum of Glass, the National Soaring Museum, Clemens Performing Arts Center and Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum. • Elmira is the eastern anchor of the new I86 Innovation Corridor Initiative, which extends from Elmira to Hornell. There are twenty-two anchor employers with 10,450 workers within a 15-minute drive of downtown Elmira such as Arnot Health, CAF USA, Chemung Canal Bank, Community Bank, DeMet’s Candy, Five Star Bank, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Hardinge, Hilliard Corporation, General Revenue Corporation, DePuy Synthes, Anchor Glass Container Corporation, Kennedy Valve, F.M. Howell, Emhart Glass, Cameron Manufacturing, Travelers Insurance, Swift Glass and Guthrie Healthcare and Robert 6 Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. • Elmira is the home of several major regional destinations including: The Clemens Center, a regional performing arts center that attracts nationally recognized performers; First Arena home of the Jackal’s ECHL Ice Hockey Team and other regional sporting activities; Dunn Field Stadium, home of the Elmira Pioneers collegiate baseball team; the Mark Twain Study and Exhibit on the Elmira College campus, one of only two Mark Twain Studies centers in the world; the Arnot Art Museum and the Chemung Valley History Museum; and a schedule of regional events and activities held in downtown Elmira such as the weekly Wisner Farmers Market and annual Elmira Street Painting Festival that attracts more than 5,000 people. • The City of Elmira offers a wide range of housing options for all levels of household income. In particular, the Elmira Refresh DRI target area has the capacity to accommodate low and moderate income housing, college student housing, upper story market rate housing, and single-family housing. For example, the DRI target area currently includes 136 LIH rental units, and construction of an additional 45 units is in the final approval stages. In addition, a demand analysis and building inventory study shows that there are buildings poised for redevelopment that have the capacity to accommodate 220 market rate units in the immediate downtown core. It has been demonstrated that over the next five years the demand will exceed 300 market rate units. Attachment A, Figure 4 is a map of existing properties within the downtown that are developable for housing and mixed use projects. • Downtown Elmira offers accessibility and convenience with a wide-range of services and resources within a four-block radius of the center of downtown that are destinations for residents and employees. These include a retail shopping, grocery stores, regional transportation center, US Post Office, a central public library, Elmira City Hall, Chemung County Seat Offices, churches, banks and credit unions, New York State services, and professional services ranging from insurance to legal offices. • Elmira is committed to Governor Cuomo’s Health Foods/Healthy Communities initiative, and will make certain its ongoing efforts are a key component of the DRI program. Examples of the many existing programs to support and promote healthy communities include the following.  Arnot Health leads a joint effort of 30 community service providers and businesses to create healthy places in Chemung County that includes development of parks and playgrounds, sustainable community gardens, restaurants with healthy choices. Many of these are in the DRI target area.  Arnot Health and the EOP CFJP Bistro host a food training for medical residents on nutrition and healthy meal choices & prep. The program adapted from a Tulane Medical School public health model provides nutrition and food prep training to residents so they will be able to pass it on to their community patients.  Chemung County Food Bank has a mobile food unit that goes into Elmira neighborhoods.  Elmira’s EOP also operates a summer feeding program. • Elmira’s downtown and surrounding area offers many options for groceries, as well as purchasing fresh and healthy foods. Wisner Farmers Market has been operating in downtown Elmira for twenty years from June to September. In addition, Wegman’s, Weis Markets, TOPS Markets and Save-a-Lot are located in or immediately adjacent to the DRI target area. And through Elmira’s Poverty Reduction Initiative, it is expected that programs such as a co-op grocery store will be created to address the 'food deserts' of the community, including sections of Elmira’s DRI. 7 • Within walking distance or a short car ride of the DRI target area are located the Arnot Ogden Medical Center, ancillary medical services, physician offices and administrative offices. In addition, Guthrie Healthcare System’s main campus is located within a 20-minute drive to Sayre, PA and includes Robert Packer Hospital and Guthrie Clinic, as well as the administrative offices for system. • An important recent development has been the announcement of plans by two colleges to develop new facilities on sites adjoining Elmira's central business district. The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), in partnership with Elmira College, has selected Elmira to establish a new medical school campus for the training of primary care physicians. Initially this facility will provide training for 80 medical students, growing to more than 300 students within five years. In addition, Elmira College has launched an aggressive recruitment campaign and estimates that its student enrollment level will increase from the current 1,100 students to 1,800 students between 2018 and 2027, with a corresponding increase of 80 to 90 faculty members during that period. The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council has pointed out that these two institutions' projects "…will result in a major infusion of young talent and investments in housing and revitalized space for retail and commercial services." • The City of Elmira’s business base is stable and diverse, and does not rely on a single industry. For example, the banking industry has a significant presence in downtown Elmira, with main offices for Chemung Canal Bank, Community Bank, Elmira Savings Bank, and Five Star Bank. This contingency employs an estimated 300 in their downtown Elmira offices. These businesses have stable employment bases, and provides foot traffic for retail and service businesses. Manufacturing has a long history and stable presence within the city boundaries with major companies such as F.M Howell, Kennedy Valve and Hilliard Corporation. The healthcare industry has a significant presence in the city with two hospitals in the Arnot Health system, including Arnot Ogden Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital. 3) Past Investments & Future Investment Potential. Describe how this downtown will be able to capitalize on prior, and catalyze future, private and public investment in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas. Elmira’s proposed downtown target area has great potential for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative because it is well positioned to leverage Federal, State County and private sector investments. The result will be enhanced local property taxes, increased sales tax revenue, significant streetscape improvements, infill development, rehabilitation of vacant buildings and conversion to mixed-use developments in response to demand, and an enhanced quality of life. • A total of $2,210,000 in Federal, State, County, and City funds have been expended for public infrastructure within the target area since 2012. An additional $11,720,000 is currently committed to road and bridge improvements, fiber installation, streetscape enhancement, transit facility upgrades, and other infrastructure improvement projects in the target area during the next three to five years. • Elmira's existing cultural institutions invested approximately $571,308 to complete capital improvements of their facilities during the past three years, and an additional $500,000 in facility improvements or expansions are planned. • Elmira's medical institutions have committed approximately $6 million for major improvements during the next three years. 8 • Other private investments by Elmira's existing industries, businesses, and homeowners for renovations or expansion of existing properties within the target area have exceeded $10,719,800. • The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is moving forward with its plan to launch a medical school in Elmira with an initial commitment to invest $8 – 10 million. • The City of Elmira recently received formal approval to move forward with its partnership with the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and Housing Visions Consultants, Inc., to undertake the $14 million Chemung Crossing Neighborhood Revitalization project within the proposed DRI target area. This project will include the historic rehabilitation of two properties and the construction of new buildings resulting in 45 high-quality, energy efficient, and affordable residential units and 5,500 square feet of commercial space. • Elmira College plans to take collegiate sports team practice/competition activities to the downtown by moving its hockey program off-campus to First Arena beginning in the 2017-2018 season. In addition, its athletic programs will be in downtown with construction of a new community athletic field house. • A number of downtown street reconstruction and streetscape improvement projects totaling more than $6.8 million are funded and scheduled to get underway beginning in 2017 to enhance the City's downtown environment and establish a "cultural connector" corridor linking Elmira College and the planned LECOM facility to the City's central business district. These include the $4.2 million North Main Street Cultural Connector project, the $1.2 million West Water Street improvement project, the $1.4 million Main Street Bridge rehabilitation project and the Chemung River Development and Lake Street Pedestrian Bridge Renovation project that is in the planning stages. • A plan for in-fill development of a vacant segment of Water Street located at the center of Elmira's proposed revitalization target area has been completed. The plan envisions a much more inviting and functional community hub with attractive outdoor landscaping, premium new retail space, 49 market rate apartment units, walkable connections among buildings, and supporting enhancements. The City of Elmira and STEG are in discussions with local developers and contractors to determine the potential financing requirements and timeframes associated with this plan. The City of Elmira also has $2.3 million in Restore NY funding that was awarded to this site. • An inventory of retail and commercial businesses was conducted and a gap analysis completed, which resulted in a preliminary determination of the types of businesses needed to support the expanded downtown population. A Product and Positioning Strategy has been developed and an implementation plan is ready for execution. • In the first quarter of 2016 a detailed market rate housing demand study for Elmira’s downtown was completed. The demand study included direct input from 15 major employers and plans for expansion 9 of two colleges, together with an analysis of target market groups. The study clearly documented the demand for 320 market rate housing units in the next five years. • An assessment of vacant or underutilized buildings in the downtown was completed and the Elmira Refresh Property Development Plan prepared in early 2016, which includes one infill development and 19 anchor buildings targeted for rehabilitation. Maps and property descriptions are included in Attachment D. The plan calls for 16 properties to be mixed use developments and 3 properties will be rehabilitated for commercial and high-tech operations. Of these buildings, 11 are located in historic districts and have received designation that allows them to be eligible for Federal and State Historic Tax Credits for Commercial Properties. Properties in historic districts: Cluster #4 (North Main- Water Commercial Historic District) 227-229 W. Water Street Cluster #1 (N. Main- Water Commercial Historic District) Cluster #5 (Elmira Civic Historic District) 200-208 E. Church Street 214-216 Church Street 121 W. Church Street 110-120 Main Street 150-152 N. Main Street 111-115 N. Main Street Cluster #2 (Elmira Civic Historic District) 112-114 Lake Street 116 Lake Street 118-122 Lake Street 124-126 Lake Street 10 4) Job Growth. Describe how recent or impending job growth within, or in close proximity to, the downtown will attract professionals to an active life in the downtown, support redevelopment, and make growth sustainable in the long-term. New job creation in the downtown and immediate surrounding area is projected to be at least 715 within the next two years, and grow to a total of 1,145 within five years. These estimates are based on a study completed by STEG in early 2016, which documents growth in higher education, healthcare, manufacturing, high-tech businesses, downtown retail and support services. It is important to note that ALL of the new jobs would be accessible to and from the downtown by foot or via public transit, and there is a diversity of job opportunities with different salaries/entry levels ranging from service jobs to highly skilled professionals. Education Industry Elmira College: Elmira College is positioning itself to return to a primary choice by college students and their parents seeking a quality education in a private liberal arts college similar to Bryn Mawr, Hobart, Union College, Skidmore and the like. A recruitment campaign is underway and the vision is to increase enrollment from the current 1,100 to a target of 1,800 over the period 2018-2027. The Elmira College physical plant is too expansive for its current enrollment, and with the exception of on-campus housing, has the capacity to accommodate a total student enrollment of 1,800 - 2,000. Consequently, there will be a demand for off-campus housing to accommodate the additional student enrollment. In addition, the increased enrollment would require an additional 80-90 faculty to be hired during this same period; that is, increasing the total faculty count to 150 by 2027. In addition, the college rules regarding oncampus residency are changing, and beginning in the fall 2017 junior and senior level students will be permitted to live off-campus. This is expected to result in an estimated 100 students seeking off-campus housing as early as the fall of 2018, and potentially reaching a maximum of 500 students by 2027 when the college reaches it enrollment goals. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM): The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has announced its plan to establish a campus in Elmira for the training of primary care physicians and is working to secure the necessary state and local approvals. Initially there will be 80 medical students, growing to more than 300 over a five- year period. In addition, it is projected that 15-20 faculty positions will be created over the same five-year period. LECOM intends to make an initial investment of $8-10 million. Downtown Business Development Supporting Mixed Use Development A study involving one-on-one interviews with major employers and anchor institutions in the area determined that no less than 800 new residents will be living in the downtown in the next five years. The retail and support services required to support this population increase is expected to result in the creation of 150 jobs. New Major Downtown Employers There are active discussions with two major employers that would occupy two vacant buildings and bring no less than 250 jobs to the downtown. Healthcare Industry The New York State Department of Labor predicts that employment within the health care business sector will continue to grow by 14% annually within the Southern Tier region through 2022. Arnot Healthcare, including St. Joseph Hospital and Arnot Ogden Hospital, is located in the City of Elmira. Guthrie Healthcare 11 has medical facilities within 20 minutes of downtown Elmira; including Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA and the new Guthrie Corning Hospital in the Town of Corning. In addition, there are numerous clinics and physician practices within the PMA. Together the healthcare industry in Elmira’s catchment area employs an estimated 6,200 people. During interviews conducted in early 2016, these major healthcare providers stated there is a “significant” demand for quality market rate housing in Elmira’s urban setting is due to the current lack of market rate rental housing options in both Sayre and Elmira to support the 45 new physicians recruited annually, desire by some physicians and other healthcare professionals to live in an urban setting as opposed to the traditional apartment complex in a suburban setting, and commute time to the hospitals. Many physicians, particularly those working in Sayre, are forced to live in the Binghamton area due to lack of options currently available in Elmira that is located just 20 minutes away. In addition, there will be an increase in the number of medical residents at Arnot Ogden Hospital and other area hospitals within the next year. Specifically, it is forecasted that the number will increase from the current 65 to approximately 80 – 90 residents. Although many will elect to live in apartments in Horseheads and other rental options such as duplexes and rental houses in the Elmira area, it also is expected that 20-30 of these residents will prefer to rent an apartment located in an urban setting in Elmira’s downtown core and will reside in the downtown area on a 12-month basis during their training. Manufacturing and High-Technology Businesses STEG, the county’s economic development agency, conducted one-on-one interviews with employers during the first quarter of 2016 to determine job growth projections during the next 12-24 months. Conservatively, there will be no less than 560 new jobs created within a 10-mile radius of Elmira’s downtown core by companies including CAF USA, Cameron Manufacturing, De Met’s Candy, Corning Incorporated, General Revenue Corporation, Hilliard Corporation and SEPAC. 5) Attractiveness of the Downtown. Identify the properties or characteristics the downtown possesses that contribute or could contribute, if enhanced, to the attractiveness and livability of the downtown. Consider, for example, the presence of developable mixed-use spaces, housing at different levels of affordability and type, healthy and affordable food markets, walkability and bikeability, and public parks and gathering spaces. Notwithstanding its challenges, Elmira retains many exceptional resources for revitalization and future growth. These resources include Elmira’s rich historical and cultural heritage within the Southern Tier region and the fact that the City remains the home of multiple educational, higher educational, and medical care institutions, museums and cultural arts centers, live sports and entertainment venues, churches, restaurants, retail and commercial businesses, government offices and grocery stores serving residents of the City and the County. The City also continues to offer its residents and visitors an array of downtown services and attractions, including public parks, a scenic riverfront and Mark Twain Park, a library, an active mass transit service, seasonal farm and crafts markets, retail shopping, historic districts, and other critical community growth assets. Located in the heart of the downtown are the Steele Memorial Library, Elmira’s main post office building, Elmira’s City Hall, the Chemung County Courthouse, the Chemung County Transit Center, the Clemens Center, First Arena and the Elmira Promenade downtown walking route. In addition, Corning Community College has a presence in the downtown core with its Elmira Academic and Workforce Development Center. 12 From an infrastructure perspective, Elmira offers several important assets that make it attractive for mixeduse development including wide sidewalks, pocket parks and two parking structures that are in sound condition and have the capacity to accommodate 1,200 vehicles. The downtown also received high scores for its walkability and bikeability, within the downtown and connecting the downtown to surrounding open space networks and regional destinations. Southern Tier Network (STN) has created a fiber-optic backbone within the City of Elmira that creates the foundation for broadband accessibility. STN and ECC Technologies are now focused on expansion off the backbone and laterals or “Last Mile Development “and have had conversations with Elmira College, Hilliard, Chemung County Library District, Chemung County, Elmira Water Board, and the businesses at 227- 231 W. Water Street. Other broadband providers that exist are Time Warner Cable, Finger Lakes Technology Group, and Empire Access. A diverse mixture of other banking, health care, insurance, light industry, retail, telecommunications, professional services, transportation, and related businesses are located within the City. WETM TV’s broadcast studio and administrative offices are located at the center of the proposed target area. In addition, Wegman’s, Weis Markets, and TOPS Markets all operate large grocery stores within or immediately adjacent to the proposed downtown target area; and Save-a-Lot is an affordable grocery option located within the DRI target area. The City also hosts many distinctive historic properties and cultural and entertainment venues. These include the Clemens Performing Arts Center; Community Arts of Elmira, Inc.; the Arnot Art Museum; the First Arena hockey and entertainment facility, which hosts the Elmira Jackals ECHL professional hockey team; restored buildings and businesses located in Elmira’s Near Westside and Maple Avenue Historic Districts the Elmira Civic Historic District, and the North Main and W. Water Commercial Historic Distric;, Woodlawn National Cemetery, which includes the gravesite of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and his family; and the Dunn Field baseball stadium, which hosts the Elmira Pioneers collegiate and Elmira College Division III baseball teams. The Corning Museum of Glass is located 20 miles west of the City of Elmira, and the Newtown Battlefield Reservation is located just a few miles east of the City. Other regional attractions located in close proximity to the City include the National Soaring Museum at Harris Hill, the Tanglewood Community Nature Center and Museum, and the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies at Quarry Farm. Active sports and musical programs are also presented by Elmira’s various schools and churches, community arts centers and a succession of downtown events, festivals, farm and crafts markets, and holiday parades are presented throughout the year by Elmira Downtown Development, Inc., and by other community organizations. And, Community Arts holds a programmed schedule of open mics, cabarets, radio shows, recitals, jazz nights and more. There are ongoing festivals with large impacts on the city including Juneteenth, the Jazz Festival, the Elmira Street Painting Festival, and the Jewish Food Festival. 13 The City maintains more than 20 public parks within its boundaries. These include Eldridge Park with its restored carousel, walking trail, skateboard park, ball fields, and 15acre fishing lake. The Mark Twain Riverfront Park, which parallels the Chemung River along Water Street is at the center of Elmira’s proposed downtown target area. A new Lackawanna Rail Trail with a walking and biking surface, bicycle sheds, and exercise stations has been created along abandoned railroad rights of way linking Eldridge Park to the Chemung River within walking distance of the City’s downtown center. An extension of this Trail is planned that will extend along the Chemung River eastward to the Town of Chemung. Public fishing, boat launch, and kayaking portage areas have been created at several locations along the Chemung River. The Harris Hill amusement park and the City of Elmira’s Mark Twain municipal golf course are located within a short drive from the City’s downtown. Designated bicycle lanes, decorative banners, public artwork, and tourism wayfinding signage exist along the City’s major streets. Attachment A, Figure 6 is a detailed map of the parks and open spaces within the DRI boundaries. There are several projects that have the potential to dramatically change the character of Elmira’s downtown. For example: • Downtown street reconstruction and streetscape improvement projects totaling more than $6.8 million have been programmed to enhance the City's downtown environment and to establish a "cultural connector" corridor linking Elmira College and the proposed LECOM facility to the City's central business district. These include:  The North Main Street Cultural Connector, a $4.2 million federally funded project, is expected to start final design in the fall of 2016 and construction in 2018. The project includes three blocks of full-depth road reconstruction, streetscape improvement, and gateway treatments to further connect Elmira College with downtown from Clinton Street to Second Street. 14  A $1.2 million project using National Highway System (NHS) funding is anticipated in 2018 for the West Water Street upgrade project.  The Main Street Bridge rehabilitation project, slated for 2017 will utilize $1.4 million in Federal Highway System funding, which also includes biking and walking paths.  The Chemung River Development and Lake Street Pedestrian Bridge Renovation is being planned. • The City has recently provided active support for adaptive mixed reuse projects such as the former George Washington School project on West Washington Avenue that will result in 58 new housing units, and the Richards-Werdenberg building renovation at West Water and North Main Streets that received CFA Round 5 funding. • Community Arts of Elmira, Inc., is repurposing a historic mansion and city block in the Elmira Refresh target area for adaptive reuse and catalytic neighborhood revitalization. The organization is expanding interior working space to accommodate additional fine arts, community arts, performance arts practitioners and arts education, and is also developing plans for creation of new public arts spaces within Elmira's downtown target area. • The City of Elmira has recently partnered with the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and Housing Visions Consultants, Inc., to undertake a $14 million Chemung Crossing Neighborhood Revitalization project within the proposed DRI target area. This project will include the historic rehabilitation of two properties and the construction of new buildings on nine existing lots located on S. Main Street, Henry Street, and Harmon Street resulting in 45 high-quality, energy efficient, and affordable residential units and 5,500 square feet of commercial space. • In early 2016 a preliminary concept plan for redevelopment of a vacant segment of Water Street located at the center of Elmira's proposed revitalization target area was developed. The plan involves an in-fill development project on prime property facing the Chemung River in the heart of the downtown. The site was recently demolished to make room for this game-changing project that will launch Elmira’s downtown revitalization. The project involves new construction to accommodate premium new retail space, 49 market rate apartment units, walkable connections among buildings, and supporting enhancements. The City of Elmira and STEG have initiated discussions with local developers and contractors to determine the potential financing requirements and timeframes associated with this project. • Multiple properties located on West Water and North Main Streets in the center of Elmira’s proposed downtown target area have just been added this year to the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. In addition, the City of Elmira, Chemung County and Elmira City School District have within the last year adopted 444.a historic property tax exemption to further incentivize improvements. Ten of these properties are identified as priorities in the Downtown Property Redevelopment Plan and are eligible for possible tax credits. See Attachment A. Figure 4. • There is a new studio/gallery (Satavani Studio) on Water Street, and the Triple Talent Academy, an education oriented performance arts studio, is seeking space in Elmira. • Building on Elmira's ethnic communities, The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is developing an interactive map of traditional arts and culture in Elmira for use as both documentation of these cultures, and a tool for future programming. 15 • Elmira is a major destination on the Points of Inspiration driving tour, a collaborative project including The ARTS Council, the Chemung County Historical Society, and the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce. • Community Arts of Elmira has put forth a creative neighborhood unification proposal, the Creative Corridor, which includes a footprint in the Elmira Refresh Cultural District and will include arts, historic, educational, service and residential development projects. Eventually the Creative Corridor will extend north and south, east and west, simultaneously complementing the Cultural Connector Corridor, and also catalyzing off shoots through other projects such as the Elmira Landmark Trail that begins in the Refresh Elmira -­‐ Creative Corridor footprint. • A Public Arts Commission and the expansion of a Community Murals Project (arts education based) discussions/implementation are also underway with Elmira Second District Councilman (and BOCES) for whom Community Arts serves as a resource for public arts development in the Refresh Elmira target area. 6) Policies to Enhance Quality of Life. Articulate the policies in place that increase the livability and quality of life of the downtown. Examples include the use of local land banks, modern zoning codes, complete streets plans, or transit-oriented development. If policies achieving this goal are not currently in place, describe the ability of the municipality to create and implement such policies. The City of Elmira has a “City Manager” organizational structure. In addition, a Downtown Business Improvement District has been in existence since 1990. To support an aggressive revitalization strategy, the City of Elmira recently has assembled a “fast track” approval process for developers seeking to invest in infill development projects and adaptive reuse of downtown buildings. The City of Elmira, STEG, and Chemung County have submitted an application to create the Chemung County Land Bank. The creation of a land bank would provide an additional tool to address vacant, abandoned, and tax-foreclosed properties and return them to productive use. Once approved and formed, the land bank would focus efforts on the downtown target area. In June of 2015, the City of Elmira undertook a comprehensive master plan update project with funding through NYSERDA’s Cleaner, Greener Communities Program. This project has involved public visioning sessions, stakeholder meetings, and design charrettes and has identified opportunities to address the City's downtown revitalization needs. The City expects to adopt its new comprehensive master plan by September 2016, and a key planning recommendation will be to revise the City’s existing zoning law to establish the framework for a more vibrant, walkable, and aesthetically attractive downtown community in the years ahead. Specifically, Elmira’s updated comprehensive master plan will incorporate a number of modern downtown development principles including as a Complete Streets plan and policy, form-based zoning for particular downtown corridors, age-friendly and pedestrian-friendly design standards, bikeability, efficient downtown parking design standards, energy efficiency, attractive streetscaping, and similar Smart Growth principles. A key planning recommendation from the draft of the new comprehensive master plan will be to develop a new zoning code that would encourage mixed-use development and uphold traditional urban design principles to achieve a pedestrian-oriented environment within the downtown. The development of a formbased code or hybrid code would support increased density in the urban core. 16 Preliminary steps have been taken to institute Smart Cities innovations designed to lower government costs while improving service delivery. For example, costs associated with streetlights have been lowered with the use of funding through NYSERDA and U.S Department of Energy to convert to LED streetlights. In addition, the Comprehensive Master Plan update will recommend City-wide sustainability efforts through great urban design, green infrastructure, incorporating LEED-ND principals. Elmira offers an inclusive environment for New Americans in many different ways. In 2015 the data reports: • • • • • 4.4% (3,912) Chemung County residents speak a language other than English in their homes. Foreign born persons in Chemung County: 2.6% (2,301) 4.8% (7,735) Steuben County residents speak a language other than English in their homes. Foreign born persons in Steuben County: 2.5% (2,466) 3.3% (611) of Schuyler County residents speak a language other than English in their homes During the past year, Arnot Health Services has hired eleven physicians from foreign medical schools and provides them with support services to acclimate to this country and the Elmira area. In addition, EOP Literacy Volunteers of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, which is based in Elmira, provides English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for 40-50 ESL learners. In addition, an English Conversation Group is hosted creating an inclusive community for New Americans that facilitates a sense of self-sufficiency and creates deeper connections to the community. The EOP Literacy Volunteers student demographics are 70% ESL. They consistently have a wait list of ESL students. 7) Local Support. Set forth the local and community support that exists for the revitalization of this downtown and the commitment among local leaders and stakeholders to building and implementing a strategic investment plan. Identify an initial local lead for the program that will work with outside experts to convene a local DRI Planning Committee to oversee the plan. The Elmira City Council adopted a resolution at its May 16, 2016 meeting approving submission of this DRI application. A copy of the resolution is contained in Appendix C. Elmira City Council Resolution. During the fall of 2015 Southern Tier Economic Growth, Inc. (STEG), in cooperation with the City of Elmira, Chemung County, and various local community service organizations, assembled a working committee to develop and implement a strategic, multiyear community and economic development action plan supporting revitalization of the City of Elmira’s downtown core. The working committee is composed of representatives of the Southern Tier REDC, STEG (county-wide economic development agency), Chemung County IDA, City of Elmira, Chemung County, the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Elmira Downtown Development (BID), the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler County, Community Arts of Elmira, Inc., the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes; the Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council (ECTC); and the Chemung County Child Care Council. Upon designation as the Southern Tier’s DRI, the committee will be expanded to include neighborhood associations and homeowners, property owners and local developers, higher education, local advocacy organizations such as the YWCA, social and public service organizations, and faith-based organizations. The committee’s proposed downtown revitalization strategy for Elmira is premised upon the commitment of all participants and stakeholders to achieve a thriving, diverse, and sustainable downtown community within the next ten years, and it is intended to build upon those regional economic revitalization recommendations set forth in the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council’s Southern Tier Upstate Revitalization Initiative Plan. 17 Strong links also exist between Elmira’s proposed downtown revitalization strategy and the Regional Council’s emphases on (1) investment in entrepreneurship; (2) strengthening the advanced manufacturing industry sector; and (2) promotion of the Southern Tier’s innovative culture. Elmira’s proposed revitalization strategy is designed to reinforce Elmira’s standing as a strong eastern anchor of the I86 innovation corridor and as a dynamic college community with a rejuvenated downtown and vibrant neighborhoods. 8) Other. Provide any other information that informed the nomination of this downtown for a DRI award. Elmira envisions a future downtown area that is an attractive and livable community for diverse populations of all ages. The downtown revitalization effort planned will be undertaken in direct coordination with Elmira’s new Poverty Reduction Initiative partnership with New York State and with Chemung County’s Age Friendly Communities and other community enrichment programs to maximize the overall livability of the City’s downtown area. It is important to note that throughout the entire city of Elmira, 51% of the residents are low to moderate income; 65% are Medicaid eligible and 38.4% of the City's population consists of families with children under the age of 18 with 40.6% living below the poverty level (Census Bureau American Factfinder, 2010-2014). Of single female heads of households with children under 18, 59.7% live below poverty and for those with children under five, 71.9% live below poverty. Elmira’s aim is to achieve a continuously active and diverse downtown center offering additional housing options, a blend of retail, commercial, entertainment, arts and arts education, recreational uses, and attractive public spaces and streetscapes. The downtown envisioned will be highly walkable and will provide for maximum physical accessibility, with a complete range of supporting community business services and amenities (e.g., health care facilities, broadband service, library services, barber and hair care businesses, bicycling lanes and storage facilities, etc.). Elmira’s future downtown residential population will include families of all incomes, college students, physicians and hospital medical residents, young professionals and college faculty members, engineers, scientists, and IT professionals, executives, and "empty nest" retirees. The revitalization plan envisioned is intended to address a range of interrelated issues, including vacancies, deterioration, and disinvestment in the City’s historic central business district; elevated unemployment and limited personal income levels among residents of neighborhoods adjoining the City’s downtown core; an aged housing stock; scattered residential blight; property abandonment, crime, and property maintenance issues; outmigration of young adults and elevated high school dropout rates; a severely limited property tax revenue base; and a number of associated issues. The pre-DRI working committee has been utilizing the strategic planning framework that appears in Attachment A. to create an active and desirable downtown with a strong sense of place and that will attract businesses and private investment, and result in an enhanced local property tax base. The group’s principal goals in this proposed revitalization effort are as follows: • To design and implement a downtown revitalization program for the City of Elmira’s central business district. This effort, which has been captioned the “Elmira Refresh” downtown revitalization program, will include (1) the strategic redevelopment of vacant or underutilized downtown properties; (2) implementation of an area-wide streetscape and building façade enhancements program that will serve to establish a signature identity for the City’s central business district; and (3) promotion of new mixeduse residential, retail, commercial, service, and entertainment uses through-out the City’s downtown area and its adjoining neighborhoods. A key area of focus will be the potential for mixed use and 18 market rate rental housing development within the Elmira’s DRI target area through infill and restoration of historic buildings. • To leverage NYS programs and provide for the maximum local public incentives to attract and stimulate private investment within and neighboring Elmira’s downtown core area. • To strengthen the visual and cultural activity linkages between the Elmira College campus, the planned new Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the City of Elmira’s central business district through a coordinated program of public and private capital projects. This effort will capitalize upon efforts now underway to strengthen the ties between Elmira College and the First Arena facility in Elmira’s CBD. • To provide maximum public incentives for private investment and business development or expansion within and neighboring Elmira’s downtown core area. The City and the working committee intend to establish strong working partnerships with Federal and State development assistance agencies and local financial institutions to ensure the successful implementation of this proposed revitalization effort. Several major redevelopment projects within Elmira's proposed target area have recently been awarded funding under New York State's 2015-2016 Upstate Revitalization Initiative program. • To upgrade or redevelop the housing stock located within neighborhoods adjoining Elmira’s central business district and to implement a program addressing corresponding needs of residents for adequate housing, medical care, child care, work training, and related services. The working committee has submitted an application for membership in the Purpose Built Communities organization to obtain that organization’s guidance in this effort; and the City of Elmira also intends to participate actively in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative program (ESPRI) in 2016 and in succeeding years. 19 Attachment A. Maps Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 - Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area Boundaries Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area by Census Tract Boundaries: 6, 7 and 10 Current Land Uses within the DRI Target Area Properties Targeted for Redevelopment Within the Elmira Refresh DRI City of Elmira Poverty Rates by Census Tract Park and Open Space in Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area 20 Figure 1 - Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area Boundaries VIEEAGE OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS CITY OF ELMIRA TOWN OF HORSEHEADS TOWN OF ELMIRA REFRESH Elia I Ezwn s-r I ECHURCH I TOWN OF SOUTHPORT TOWN OF SOUTHPORT ELMIRA REFRESH FIGURE 01 DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE magi - TARGET AREA FQGGAN .5 AERIAL IMAGERY FROM 2014 CITY OF ELMIRA. CHEMUNG COUNTY. NEWYORK 0&5 Miles 21 1 inch 0.5 miles 8.5x11} PROJECT #1 2015-012 MAY18.2013 Figure 2 - Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area by Census Tract BoundariesErr-i - . FAG-AH manual-rm? - a - run-Hun mm? 9 up" ml mum 22 Figure 3 - Current Land Uses within the DRI Target Area ELM SI HAL NIL STOWELL PL IRVINE P- GRAND ST IL-MGEE 5 . Cheri-ism DICKENS 3m 31 THACV Pn TTFR 3RD ST FITZGERALD PI GRAY ST ELMIRA REFRESH BOUNDARY RIVER 'cRiDi OPE-lime .n-L . Hu . OATH LN mo" Sr EIIWE 5r PAR minefr?' pf. OW BRIEN CE- . n; no? JEFFERSON 51 ST 5T LOLUE Fl STANDISH ST TAYLOR JOHN ST ST HARRIET Land Use Classi?cation: Residential ?1 Unit (210200) l?l Residential Multi (230+ ti. 411} :1 Vacant [300) Parking Lats [438} :l Commercial (400) :l Rec: Entertainment a Social (500) :l Comm. Services (600) :l Industrial (700) :l Public Service (800) :l Cans. Lands Public Parks {900) FIGURE 03 ELMIRA REFRESH DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE CURRENT LAND USES within TARGET AREA AERIALIMAGERY FROM 2014 CITY OF ELMIRA, CHEMUNG COUNTY. NEWYORK Lope 20.0011 FAGAN . nmi inch 1.000 feet PROJECT #1 2015?012 MAY 20, 201E Figure 4 - Properties Targeted for Redevelopment Within the Elmira Refresh DRI ST FARN l-uAh-I FI LIN DDLN I. ELM ST POTTER PI Redevelopment Properties: Priority Properties for Adaptive Reuse Eligble for Federal Bi State Historic Tax Credits LORENZO PL GRAND RUE ST OW I I ?a'urELlLl l: PL PL STOWELL s'r CANAL ST ST pk.? Cm MEWS DICKINSON ST rn UlCKimsoN ST l' In LI (3 I: RNEH Iff CHEMUNG GHIDLEY pt LN 3T - 6 4' ?7(0 5. toe vL am 3.1515 ELMIRA REFRESH 5 $5 11' DISH ST PATTI MSDN ST 1 LIN DEN urba- e. IOHSI ECLIM JAY HIGH ST ELMIRA REFRESH BOUNDARY 3T STANDISH ST GEHMA ESTIISI 4% I PL 8 CIRC HARD ST FIGURE 04 FAGAN ENGINEERS 5N . :i l?k-l v-n-a. 4 DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE PROPERTIES TARGETED FOR REDEVELOPMENT within TARGET AREA AERIAL IMAGERY FROM 2014 CITY OF ELMIRA, CHEMUNG COUNTY. NEW YORK 1.000 20000inch 1000 feet (PRINTED PROJECT #2 2015-012 MAYEU. 2016 Figure 5 - City of Elmira Poverty Rates by Census Tract CEnsus TRACTqmuEHnCEHSIJ: THACTG HATE: ?515] . -I . M: _l IIC-EHEUE HATE: 113515] THE I I Ll - Iii-:3 ..- 1 ELIIRA REFRESH m" DDWIITUWH . FQEAH 9 n.5- -3- 25 Figure 6 - Park and Open Space in Elmira Refresh DRI Target Area LOR ENZO PL WE SB PL 31 OWELL BR IDG ST ST ATHLETIC FIELD IRVINE FL LINCOLN STUWELI. ST 1: I. GILDEA Iv Fl ST STI- ST rl PL L3le 5T MAGEE 5T SQUARE GROVE STREET BOAT LAUNCH LN JAMES a1 CHESTNUT ST . in. 9) STAND ISH ST HIGH ST HIGH ST ELMIRA REFRESH BOUNDARY EY PL . HUDSON ST 16 who? 09? - ~35" FITZG ERA PAI I INSOV ST PL LIN DE STANHISH ST GERMAN JCIH ST ELMIRA REFRESH DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE Hum Y. ..-- 0 OPEN SPACES, BIKE ROUTES, AND AERIAL IMAGERY FROM 2014 mu: I 26 TRAILS CITY OF ELMIRA: CHEMUNG COUNTY: NEW YORK 2.q00ft. FIGU RE 05 1 inch feet 3.5x11) 2015-012 MAY 20. 201E Attachment B. Elmira’s Revitalization Strategic Framework Attractive"Main Streets" Street reconstruction, streetscape improvements, building façade enhancements and strategic redevelopment of vacant downtown properties Infrastructure for New Business Development and Growth and Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Elmira Refresh: Diverse Housing and Vibrant Downtown to Attract Young Talent and Highly Qualified Workforce A Strong Anchor of the Attract and Build Pool of Entrepreneurs I86 Innovation Corridor Infrastructure Upgrades to Support Business Development Infrastructure Upgrades including street and reconstruction and streetscape enhancements Support Services; i.e. medical services and child care Workforce Training Job Creation Affordable Rental Housing Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods: Reversing the Trends of Blight and Poverty Home Ownership Mixed Use and Market Rate Rental Housing Developments; including infill development and restoration of historic buildings Physical, visual and cultural connectivity between the colleges and central business district College Presence in the Downtown Core Single-family Housing Upgrades Elmira Refresh: Dynamic College Community 27 Facilities for new Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Attachment C. Elmira City Council Resolution Min- i?lti HO. 3D IG- 1 F5- FRUM THE CITY MANAGER r'h?il'J MJTI TI TE RIJHMISSMN REQUEST FOR [113511.] NATION 515 TI IE Ul" 'l?llLi FUR 'l'iEH EMPIRE STATE DEVELDPMEHT AND THE SDUTI REGIONAL ECONOMIC EFF CLIU WHEREKS. Il'lv: Dunnluun Hot-initiation Initiative will invest Ell] in each of L'nmmun itirs ?m?m EhnlLi en' York 51m :1 and WHEREAS. Cily ui' Eimira's dmntuwn i5 rip: l'nr 1c: trnn?li'nrm it into L'nmmunity T?mnl'mu'? 'ukil] ?an: II: Iii-11. nurii. and ?ljSl.? :Lnd WHEREAS. the CiLy of Elmira. Chcmung Camry. Enumern 'l'ier (imw?t. Inc. and Ether community Drg?nizztlions have [amid a collaborative and an: aciiwly engaged in planning activities to- the revitalizmic-n nfEln'Iirn's dmmtowu; and Ell-:11 Rugiutnll EcununLiI: Council wil] mminatc cum: downtown in their Fagin? Pn?ilit?lliid [El Hike :idtellilugn: urn] EILI: 'Eiil}f Ellniru. dusims tr: bu tin: duwnluwn suit-51rd Li'll: Haw. THERE FURL BE IT RESGLVED. that Lin: City ni? EJmirais, Hcvimlimtinn Initiative Ruqm'h'l FIJI Dalmatian is hereby approve-2 for submission. Empire Stale Development and Llie Sc-ull'lern Tier Rugiunul Euununlic Council; and HP. FURTHER lilt: City Mumgcr is aulerizcd in submil 1.i'll: rcqucnt lu Empin': 5mm Till: Soutth Tiur Regional Ecunumils Cuu nL'i]. ADD-FIELD B?f VOTE BY THE FULLUWIHG a'h?r'EE HAVE Enumilmumhcr Simmer 5: Countilmemhe: Muss Cunmilmemhur Bumhuruur 2i: Cnunnilmumhar II: Councilmemher Eh'nms Councilmen-liner Maynr Manda? 3" CI Cih' Eli'ElmiiEI I: ll 31! Emu-d1 struct- ch 1-1-9?l Page if! leS ?rut amulernlra nEt - 28 Attachment D. Elmira Refresh Plan 29