Village of Canton will hold public hearing on grant for Midtown Plaza project

CANTON – The Village of Canton will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of hearing public comments on the Village of Canton’s Restore NY Round 7 funding applications for the Midtown Plaza Revitalization project at 19 Miner St.

The Restore New York Communities Initiative (“Restore NY”) provides municipalities with financial assistance for the revitalization of commercial and residential properties. The program encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures like the Midtown Plaza.

The village intends to seek grant funding under the Restore NY Communities Initiative to facilitate revitalizing urban and rural areas, disadvantaged communities, and stabilizing neighborhoods.

Pursuant to the requirement of the grant application, a description of the location, size, and nature of each property, whether the property is proposed to be demolished, deconstructed, rehabilitated, or reconstructed, and the status of the property is as follows:

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 1), 22,100 square feet, vacant commercial property, proposed for demolition

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 2), 2,300 square feet, vacant commercial property, proposed for demolition

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 3), 11,316 square feet, vacant commercial property, proposed for demolition

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 4), 5,350 square feet, vacant commercial property, proposed for demolition

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 1), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction of 19,486 square feet of commercial space

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 2), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction of 3,164 square feet of commercial space

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 1), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction of 38,972 square feet of residential space (37 units)

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 2), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction of 6,328 square feet of residential space (8 units)

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 3), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction

• 19 Miner Street (Parcel 4), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction

• Off Park Street (Parcel 5), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction

• 25, 27 Miner Street (Parcel 6), vacant commercial property, proposed for reconstruction

Plans for the property are a $14 to $16 million project that would create a multi-use property highlighted by SUNY Canton’s Entrepreneurship Center.

This project will take an underutilized and derelict shopping center in the heart of downtown Canton and transform it into three floors of much-needed commercial and residential space, including 44 residential units and the anchor of the project, the SUNY Canton Entrepreneurship Center. This project addresses three pressing needs in the North Country, increased economic development, commercial revitalization of city’s downtown, and access to quality downtown housing.

The village is hoping to be a recipient of Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding that will, in part, help with project costs. The project is a major component of the DRI application.