Downtown Auburn BID Wraps Up New York Main Street Program

http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_6dccae70-5092-11e0-be9b-001cc4c002e0.html

Since 2005, the Downtown Auburn Business Improvement District (BID) was twice awarded NYS Office of Community Renewal NY Main Street Grants for building and streetscape improvements now completed along North Street, South Street, Market Street, William Street, Garden Street, Genesee Street, Dill Street, Arterial East, Exchange Street Mall, State Street and Market Street Park.

From the program’s inception, Main Street funds have greatly enhanced the structure and appearance of downtown Auburn’s buildings, roofs and interiors. BID staff embraced the opportunity to facilitate these State funds for use by downtown property owners. The Downtown BID did not retain any administrative fee for time spent in consultations with State representatives, contractors and property owners. BID also maintained all of the accounts, trafficking invoices and reimbursements, and produced very lengthy reports and paper trails for each project that was completed. Applications were approved by the State; BID did not decide which initiatives were awarded.

Since 2005, awarded property owners received financial assistance to improve their building facades, interiors and/or roofs for a total of $370,000. Yet, the amount spent on improvements was double this figure; since these were matching grants. The actual total invested in downtown properties during the past 5 years equals at least $740,000. This figure is conservative and very impressive considering the state of our economy during this time period.

Here are the list of participating projects, businesses and organizations:

10 East Garden Street: Trombley’s Automotive
75 North Street: Holiday Inn Auburn
76 North Street: Subway
13 Arterial East: Advanced Business Consulting
35 Market Street: Meyer’s Bookbinding
41 Market Street: Eliminator Auto
2 State Street: Stardust Foundation of CNY
33 William Street: Auburn Professional Building
8 South Street: Swaby’s
5 East Genesee Street: Liberty Store
66 Genesee Street: Fabric Fair
97 Genesee Street: Silbert Optical
103-105 Genesee Street: Bambino’s Bistro
108 Genesee Street: Auburn Public Theater
121 Genesee Street: Underground Ink
123 Genesee Street: Auburn Sherlock Homes Real Estate, Inc.
128-130 Genesee Street: Edward Jones Investments
131 Genesee Street: Cayuga County Office of Tourism

In addition, the BID purchased $25,000 worth of streetscape furnishings and fixtures for downtown. These items included benches, big basin flower pots and trash receptacles. The areas thereby improved for public use were Genesee Street, Loop Road, Market Street and Exchange Street.

BID worked very closely with the City’s Office of Planning & Economic Development, Code Enforcement and the Homsite Development Corp. on this program. Auburn’s third round of Main Street grants has been awarded to the City of Auburn, and will concentrate on projects located on State Street, coined the “Creative Corridor,” and future home to the Musical Theatre Festival and the Arts Education & Performance Center.

For more information on the next phase of Auburn’s New York Main Street Program, please contact the City’s Office of Planning & Economic Development 315-255-4115.