10/04/2025
πππππ¬π©π¨π«π ππ«π¨π©π¨π¬ππ¬ ππ ππ«π¨π£ππππ¬ π’π§ ππππ¨π§π ππ«π² ππ¨π« $πππ ππ ππ¨π°π§ππ¨π°π§ ππ«ππ§π
Robert Harding/The Citizen
In its second try for the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, the village of Weedsport has improved its application while maintaining some of the major projects that were on the list last year.
Working with the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, the village has released a draft application that will be the focus of a public meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Weedsport High School cafeteria.
At the meeting, there will be an overview of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative program and the county planning department will detail Weedsport's downtown vision. The proposed projects will also be discussed.
The draft application includes 22 potential projects that would generate more than $25.5 million in investment into the village of Weedsport. The initial list seeks more DRI funding ($13.7 million) than would be awarded, but a local committee would narrow the list of projects should the village receive the $10 million prize.
The major projects include $2.5 million for the former Weedsport Skirt & Waist Co. building, which was on the list in 2024. The village is also seeking $1.2 million for a new mixed-use building that would be constructed on a vacant lot at 2685 Erie Drive and $1.1 million to restore the Potters Pub building. Another $1.1 million would be used to renovate The Sub Shop building.
Weedsport included a few larger public projects on the list, one of which is $1.7 million for the construction of a town of Brutus community center on Erie Drive. The community center would be part of the town's planned municipal complex, according to the project description. A similar project would use more than $1.6 million in DRI funds to build a village community center between Trolley Park and the Weedsport Fire Department.
The village is also requesting $1.2 million for Trolley Park improvements.
There are several smaller private and public projects on the list, ranging from $360,000 to renovate the former Old Erie Restaurant to $185,000 for downtown streetscape improvements. The draft application also includes $600,000 for a small project fund, which is typically part of a final DRI plan.
Nathaniel Rogers, a planner with the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, said the project could transform downtown Weedsport.
"We are confident in this year's application, and we appreciate the great feedback we have heard throughout the application process from local residents who are interested in seeing their community grow and thrive," Rogers added.
Weedsport submitted a DRI application in 2024, but was not selected by the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. Although the village did not win, other municipalities have been successful on second or third tries.
In 2018, the city of Auburn won a $10 million DRI grant in the third year of the competition. The villages of Aurora, Cayuga and Union Springs received $10 million for their joint application in 2024.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or [email protected]. Follow him on X .
The village of Weedsport has a list of 22 projects that could benefit from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
