Updated 01/23/2009 06:27 AM
Ogdensburg looks to revitalize downtown area
OGDENSBURG, N.Y. -- Ogdensburg is looking for the light at the end of the economic downturn, with plans for improving its downtown area.
"It's the perfect time to do planning, because when it begins to be on the upswing, we'll have our plan ready and in place to implement when people are ready to start investing again," said J. Justin Woods, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Ogdensburg.
The city is using a $25,000 Community Planning Grant to create a strategy for helping Downtown Ogdensburg thrive. To help get it started, the city hired a consultant to assess its potential.
"It looked at what our strengths are, like we're on the river, we're the only city in the county, we have a traditional, walkable downtown and then it looks at some of the challenges. We have the remnants of urban renewal and some hard design challenges," said Woods.
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The city hopes to bring in new businesses to fill vacant buildings and help stimulate the local economy. And create an environment so current businesses can grow.
"Whenever you revitalize an area, you increase the traffic to that area and the businesses, whether it be a restaurant or a store, reap the benefits, or realtor trying to sell property," said Allison Chadwick, owner of Bruyere Chadwick Realty in Ogdensburg.
The city says the project will be a community effort and wants the people of Ogdensburg to come up with ideas to make the most of what their city has to offer.
"We have the river, we have the downtown, I think this is perfect timing. It's all going to come together," said Chadwick.
Once the Community Planning Grant is in place, the city will look to local businesses and residents for input as they create a strategy to achieve their goals.