City of Little Falls

Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)

01

Rethink

Our Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is about rethinking the heart of Little Falls as an integrated district and seeking bold, innovative opportunities to propel the City into the most desirable residential community in the region…attracting a diverse population supported with commercial and residential development, quality-of-life amenities, redevelopment of historic properties, and a tax base that provides sustainable prosperity for future generations.
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02

Rebuild

When you consider the City’s 2,445 acres of prime real estate with assets like the 19th-century iconic downtown, the picturesque Mohawk River’s whitewater rapids, the Erie Canal, running through the center, it’s easy to visualize how these treasured resources hold the key to rebuilding our community. With twenty proposed projects, the City is well-positioned to support visitors, residents as well as businesses seeking a safe, healthy, small city lifestyle for their families and employees.
03

Reconnect

Actualizing our DRI vision requires reconnecting infrastructure that once connected neighborhoods to the downtown waterfront district. One of the plan’s priority projects is a “Pedestrian Overpass Bridge” connecting downtown to Canal Place and the waterfront, allowing safe pedestrian transit over Highway 5 and the railroad tracks. Another is an e-mobility project with e-bike and e-scooter stations on Main Street, Canal Place and the Harbor allowing people to access key attractions, restaurants, lodging, and shopping without ever getting into a motor vehicle.

About

What is the DRI?

Now in its fifth year, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is a New York State program designed to foster the transformation of urban centers with significant potential for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity, and opportunity. Ten communities are nominated annually by the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) based on a competitive application process. Each community receives $10 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.

Government Investment

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is a comprehensive approach to boosting local economies by transforming communities into vibrant neighborhoods where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family. Government leaders recognize that focusing investment in urban centers is also fiscally responsible. Compact development lowers the cost of delivering essential government services (police, fire, emergency medical) and reduces demand for costly new infrastructure, making local government budgets more efficient and reducing the burden on taxpayers.

Private Investment

Business and development leaders recognize that downtown communities that offer a high quality-of-life and a critical mass of diverse public amenities and activities can serve as catalysts for increased and sustainable local economic development. Investments that re-energize urban cores attract a diverse population of new residents and visitors of varying ages, incomes, and interests, which strengthens the customer base for local businesses and provides the reliable workforce needed to attract and retain employers and grow the regional economy.

Stats

By the Numbers

Little Falls is a city that was born of water and raised with multiculturalism and diversity as its much-celebrated identity. Preserving these proud traditions can be seen throughout the city in its people, foods, and languages that continue to be passed on from one generation to the next.

Median Age

Population

Acres

Zip Code

Infrastructure:

DRI Proposed Projects:

Pedestrian Overpass (Albany to Canal Place)
Main Street Canopy w/ fire escapes
Main Street Underground Utilities
Main Street Diagonal Parking
Main Street Streetscaping & Public Art
Wayfaring Signage Main, Canal Place & Harbor
Albany Street Two-way Traffic Conversion
Additional Parking on Main Street & Canal Place
City Hall Renovation
Public WiFi
e-Mobility Bikes/Scooters

Public/Private

DRI Proposed Projects:

Youth Center Renovations
Brew-Pub Redevelopment
Chocolate Factory & Osteria Redevelopment
Lodging Expansion
Workspace Expansion Redevelopment
Bourbon Distillery Green Tourism
Shopping Mall remodel
Main Street Business Enhancement Fund

Arts & Culture

DRI Proposed Projects:

Sterzner Park Stage, Lighting & Electric
Event Hall Renovation: Handicap Accessibility
Workspace for Re-locating & Resident Artists
Kinetic Public Art Fund: Main & Canal Place

Why Little Falls?

We come from big cities – Miami and Houston. They’re not ideal for families – a lot of people, a lot of crime. We wanted to give our son a more wholesome environment where he could just be a kid. There’s very little traffic here, and believe it or not, traffic is a huge stress factor. It’s just a very different lifestyle. People don’t understand that. They’re so concerned with moving from a big city to a little town because they think there might be nothing to do. We have more to do here than we did in Houston. And that’s saying a lot. But we find ourselves more fulfilled here and that we have better friendships and richer relationships.

Orlando and Rachelle Guitian

After living in Manhattan for the last nine years, I returned to Little Falls with my daughter so that she could have a stress-free childhood full of opportunities similar to the one I had. So many of my friends either stayed after high school or returned after experiencing other cities in order to create an idyllic life here. The schools here are fantastic, and there are plenty of activities and events. This is also a true sense of community that I haven’t found anywhere else. Little Falls and the surrounding areas have so much to offer, and I can’t wait to experience it all again through my daughter’s eyes.

Erynn Lowery

Little Falls is a wonderful community, looking at real property over the last couple of years. We’ve really ticked up with the events and festivals, Garlic and Cheese Festivals just to mention two. It’s really created a true sense of community and people have really come together, understanding that it creates a place where people want to come and live. Now we have this great problem where everyone wants to move here and nobody wants to move out. We have a wonderful mixture of prosperity, new businesses coming into town, and just that close knit feel with a small town community that’s starting to show fantastic growth.

Brandon Mosher

Our Office

659 E Main St
Little Falls NY 13365

Contact Us

(315) 508-5310
info@littlefallsdri.com

Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat-Sun: Closed

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