SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (NCC News) – The town will be receiving a $10 million grant to revitalize and attract people to the town by filling available storefronts, creating new homes and improving the canals.
Currently, many storefronts are vacant and so are their upstairs. A big problem according to Menzo Case, a member of the Seneca Falls Development Corporation, is the lack of available housing downtown. He hopes that with an increase of new homes, the young people who have left the town for college and jobs will return.
“Many young folks are coming back and they want to be apart of a community, be a part of something bigger then themselves so we can offer that,” said Case.
One property included the one on top of Robinette Jewellers. Mark Robinette has been in the business for forty years and said his property has been vacant for nearly 20 years. The property is in need of many renovations but he is hopeful the grant may be able to help him transform his vacant space into a new home.
“As a landlord to one of the larger buildings downtown of Seneca Falls, I hope that it will enhance our building, our second floor has virtually been untouched,” said Robinette.
As a longtime shop owner and Seneca falls native, Robinette hopes to see a better downtown and an increase in people traffic for local businesses.
“I am most excited about actually just being able to improve the downtown, getting people to really show up and shop locally, I think they will be surprised on what we can offer, ” said Robinette.
