We are thrilled to announce that MJ has been selected to lead two Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects in the North Country as part of the program’s fifth round! The DRI has played a crucial role in creating sustainable and dynamic communities across our entire state. Our team will be working with the Village of Massena and Village of Tupper Lake, who were each awarded $10 million in funding to help boost their post-COVID-19 economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.
Massena Announcement: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-massena-one-10-million-north-country-winners-fifth-round-downtown
Tupper Lake Announcement: https://esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/press-releases/governor-hochul-announces-tupper-lake-second-10-million-north-country-dri-winner
At MJ, we believe that the bigger role of a vibrant downtown is to be a cornerstone of the local economy, the core of community, and to create a special experience for both residents and visitors. The revitalization of New York’s downtowns is crucial in preserving the authenticity of our state, while also creating something unique: a blend of the old and the new to form unforgettable experiences for anyone to enjoy.
“The entire MJ Team is excited to assist these two North Country communities through the DRI process. We will bring our previous DRI experience, technical expertise and enthusiasm to the process to ensure a successful, community-supported effort that will put each downtown in a position to continue building on their revitalization momentum.” -Jaclyn Hakes, AICP, Director of Planning
MJ has been involved in all four previous rounds of the DRI program, most recently working with the Village of Saranac Lake and Village of Potsdam in rounds three and four as the prime consultant. Round four in the Village of Potsdam occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and while that presented exceptional challenges, it did not hinder our team from working with the Village, state partners and the community to complete the project. The video below highlights the creative techniques used by our team to keep the momentum going in the Village of Potsdam and make the DRI effort a success.