NORWICH – The City of Norwich has taken the first step towards identifying underutilized sites on the east side of the city and determining their potential for future use.
The city held a public meeting Monday as the first of a three-part planning study funded through the Brownfield Opportunity Areas Grant Program, provided by New York State. The goal of the project is to determine a plan for revitalization and a way to implement the plan in underutilized, abandoned or polluted sites.
Scott LaMountain, a representative from Shelter Planning in Queensbury, presented a powerpoint presentation showing areas that had been identified and could be included in the program.
LaMountain pointed out areas of consideration, including the Borden Avenue site, which has a large chunk of underutilized land; the Chenango County Department of Public Works site; the Lee Avenue site, which has seen several rounds of contamination investigation by the Department of Environmental Conservation; the Mitchell Street site; the State Street site, where the Norwich Shoe Company was previously located; the East Main Street School, which is an older unoccupied building; the NYSEG site located near the tops plaza, which is currently undergoing remediation by the DEC; and the Hosbach site.
City Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence asked that the Unguentine Building and a property on the corner of Prentice Street and O’Hara Drive be added to the list.
LaMountain then asked those in attendance what they would like to see happen to some of the properties in the long run.
“Agriculture is the biggest industry in New York State. Would any of these properties be viable for an agricultural basis?” asked Plymouth resident Giff Foster. Foster explained that his interest would be in creating a facility for the creation of a renewable energy source. Foster currently runs his Plymouth area farm on bio-diesel. He explained he would like to see an urban agricultural center that was educational and productive at the same time.
Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey asked about the possibility of turning some sites into senior housing areas. “I want to see private investors creating retirement type homes,” Jeffrey said. Jeffrey pointed out that as more of baby-boomers are reaching retirement age, they are looking for places to retire near their families, and nice homes with easy access to the downtown area would be in demand.
Another community member at the meeting said he was on the opposite side of the spectrum. “I want to see growth in the community, and more technological advancements, more technology type jobs,” he said.
Lawrence pointed out that a city-owned campground might be a good idea for seasonal campers who spend their winters in the south.
LaMountain explained that it may be possible to implement several of the goals, but it may take years before the plans begin to take off.
City Emergency Management Officer A. Wesley Jones explained that the program was for identifying areas for revitalization, but that the city would be seeking private investors for the actual construction of buildings. “It’s not our intent for Norwich to turn around and build something. Our intent is for private development to get properties on the tax roll or to return them to the tax roll,” Jones said.
Since many of the underutilized or potentially contaminated sites are privately owned, the city is working to contact the site owners to see if they are interested in participating in the study. LaMountain said he hopes the next meeting will take place within a month’s time. The city plans to keep updated information about the Opportunities to Norwich Program on its web site at www.norwichnewyork.net.