Owego Receives State Grant for Downtown Project

The Village of Owego plans to use $500,000 in state money to help enhance its downtown business district.

Village officials have been working to secure funding to construct a mixed-use building on the site of a structure that was destroyed by a fire in the summer of 2000.

Owego last year applied for state assistance for the Gateway Project in an effort to fill the gaping space that resulted on Front Street following demolition of the damaged building.

Plans for the project call for a three-story building that would protect and preserve neighboring historic structures which line the Susquehanna River. The new building would have retail space on the street level and eight apartments on the upper floors. It also is to have public bathrooms and a riverwalk overlook.

The village board has voted to support the $2.7 million project. In addition to the state money, $300,000 is to be provided by a private developer. The remaining $1.9 million is to be funded through low-interest loans and grants.

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