Leaders update Lt. Gov. Hochul

WATKINS GLEN--Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Watkins Glen Thursday, Nov. 29 to get an update on the progress of the village's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects.
Hochul met with county and village officials in the Watkins Glen village board room. During the meeting the following downtown projects and key points were discussed:
Clute Park, Performing Arts Center: New pavilion, ice rink and bath house: Start February 2019 with completion by May 2021
Watkins Lighting Project: New lights (materials only) for downtown to be delivered within 12 weeks of contract execution.
Veterans of Foreign Wars building: Conversion for Harbor Hotel amenities and services.
Captain Bills: Contract has been signed by SCOPED for their new building at the same location.
15 North Franklin St.: Schuyler County Partnership leading the project.
Engineering bids received: selected a local engineer to assess the garage only.
All business plan information completed.
Next step: letter requiring commitment fee to be sent by Dec. 10, 2018.
Potential tenant is considering additional sites.
Fourth Street improvements, including park: Village leading this project
Economic Numbers:
$5.4 million allocated to public projects
$4.3 million allocated for private projects with an economic impact of $41.6 million.
The local officials joining Hochul for the meeting included:
Deputy Mayor Gary Schmidt
Tim O'Hearn, county administrator
Kristin VanHorn, director of county planning
Dr. Amanda Smith-Socaris, business owner, in-coming chairperson for the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce
Jackie Honsberger, business owner of Great Escape
Amanda Arnold Rodriguez, economic development specialist and county DRI grant administrator
Judy McKinney Cherry, executive director of the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development
Lonnie Childs, village clerk.