DEMOLITION MARKS PROGRESS FOR HARBOR POINT PROJECT

 MAYOR PALMIERI & UHPDC CHAIRMAN VINCENT GILROY ANNOUNCE MAJOR MILESTONE IN DEVELOPMENT OF UTICA HARBOR

DEMOLITION MARKS PROGRESS FOR HARBOR POINT PROJECT

Mayor Palmieri and UHPDC Chairman Vin Gilroy today announced that 105 Genesee Street, a building located at the forefront of the Utica Harbor, will undergo demolition marking another milestone in a catalyst project of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan for Revitalization.   The demolition will enable the City of Utica’s once hidden Harbor Point to be on full display.  The development of the Utica Harbor is a priority project for the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council (MVREDC) and has received millions of dollars in funding from Empire State Development and the Department of State.  

“The demolition of the 105 Building offers more evidence that the City of Utica and the Utica Harbor are moving in the right direction.” said Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri. “This project is a complete team effort and wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the UHPDC and many other partners.  In addition, I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for his unwavering support in making this project a reality.”

“While significant achievements have been made behind the scenes, public excitement about this area’s potential continues to grow as we see physical and tangible progress at Harbor Point,“ said Vincent J. Gilroy, Jr., Chairman of the Utica Harbor Point Development Corporation (UHPDC).
“Residents who attended our public meeting had the opportunity to view concept drawings of the project and offer input, and now they will see that it is one step closer to reality.”

New York State Canal Corp Director Brian Stratton stated, “Nearly 200 years ago, the Erie Canal transformed a young nation and made New York the Empire State.  Governor Cuomo knows that in the future, a fully redeveloped and vibrant Harbor Point area will transform the inner harbor and will allow the city to harness the continued potential of America’s most storied and enduring waterway.”

In order to create the most effective use of the land and waterfront at Harbor Point, information was gathered from market studies, various engineering analyses, and interviews with local businesses and other stakeholders to create a master plan for the harbor area. Concepts identified in the Harbor Point master plan include:

• Waking up with a view of the Harbor from waterfront lofts
• Shopping through a variety of boutiques and shops
• Eating at unique restaurants near all of the action
• Watching recreational sports, such as soccer or baseball

The UHPDC is currently in the process of completing a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) that will evaluate potential environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with the Utica Harbor Point Master Plan. To review the Scoping Document, which outlines the various components of the DGEIS, visit www.uticaharborpoint.org

Harbor Point has been an important area of Utica for almost 100 years. In 2008, New York State legislation allowed for the transfer of approximately 20 acres of land to the UHPDC. Based upon the City of Utica Master Plan, Utica secured $250,000 in funding from the New York Department of State for development of a Master Plan specific to Harbor Point. The UHPDC, City of Utica, and a consultant team led by Elan Planning, Design, and Landscape Architecture, PLLC have developed this plan to reinvigorate the City’s waterfront at Harbor Point. The Master Plan was advanced in December 2013 when Utica received grants through the New York State Regional Economic Development Council (NYSREDC) totaling $5.5 million. The NYSREDC awarded an additional $750,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Harbor in its most recent round of funding.

For more information about this project, visit www.uticaharborpoint.org. Questions regarding the project may be referred to Brian Thomas, City of Utica, Commissioner of Urban and Economic Development, at 792‐0181.

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