The City of New Rochelle has been awarded $1.5 million in Regional Economic Development Funding for the reclamation of the Echo Bay Waterfront, Governor Cuomo announced today. The funding, received through New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative, will assist the City in transforming contaminated and inaccessible land into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront community featuring more than 5 acres of open space, market rate and affordable rental housing, and retail.
The Regional Economic Development Councils were created in 2011 by Governor Cuomo to redesign the state’s approach to economic development from a top-down model to a community-based, performance-driven approach. The initiative empowers community, business, and academic leaders, as well as members of the public in each region of the state, to develop strategic plans specifically tailored to their region’s unique strengths and resources in order create jobs and support economic growth. New Rochelle was the only Westchester municipality to receive a grant award in this round.
“This grant will help achieve a dramatic, positive transformation along New Rochelle’s waterfront, including significant new public access to the shoreline,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. “I am delighted that the state recognized the significance and economic potential of this exciting project”
“For the second year in a row, the Regional Councils have been on the forefront of rebuilding New York State’s economy,” Governor Cuomo said. “For too many years, top-down economic development policies have failed communities across the state and not truly invested in the unique resources and strengths of each of New York’s regions. The strategic plans created during this process have given each region a comprehensive, locally created plan for future economic growth. With this second round of Regional Economic Development Council awards, the state is recognizing the creativity and innovation of each strategic plan, while investing hundreds of millions of dollars to put New Yorkers back to work and rebuild our economy.”
Final piece of the SCAM
This is the final piece of the Forest City-Noam Bramson SCAM! This grant will surely be diverted to cleanup the old city yard site and benefit Forest City. Forest City will get the land for nothing and use the $1.5 million towards cleanup. This will surely pass 6-1 with Trangucci the lone dissenting vote.
This was a SCAM from the start as the city intentionally acquired inadequate acreage on Beechwood Ave. to justify their mantra of “cheaper to build a new city yard”. Now, after SCAMMING the Veterans out of the NR Armory, they will SCAM the citizenry to again line the pockets of a private developer.
How many school children are predicted to materialize from this project? Probably 3 compounding the Avalons once again on the backs of taxpayers.
I think Bramson should run for Governor of California. He can hug trees, ban guns, eliminate cars and recycle banana peels!
good point
“the city intentionally acquired inadequate acreage on Beechwood Ave. to justify their mantra of “cheaper to build a new city yard”.”
At the time the City Council voted to bond they simply declared they were would acquire additional property.
No mention of the cost of acquire the property just “confidence” that they could do it and do so within the $25 million price tag they bonded for.
Always recall this project went from $13mm to $19mm to $25mm within 30 days. No new details were offered to justify the spending and they still do not have a written plan or the property.
Be sensible, what can 1.5 million dollars do?
This is only a drop in the bucket for this contaminated area.