When the Highland Falls NY Forward Local Planning Committee (LPC) reviewed the 23 submitted Main Street projects on August 21, they felt that 11 of them met the qualifications and would move forward. It turns out they didn’t pick enough projects, so last week (on September 18) the committee met again to reconsider the projects.

The LPC’s goal is to come up with $6-8 million worth of ‘transformative’ projects for Main St. to send on to New York State. Then, the state whittles down that list to $4.5 million worth of projects.

When they met in August, the total requested amount of the 11 projects they chose was only about $5 million. When last week’s 3.5-hour meeting, the group had selected nearly $10 million worth of projects, so … the work will continue, Consultant Jill Gallant said. Initially the LPC had planned to have a public meeting to get input on the projects they’d selected in early October, but Gallant said the board will likely need another work session before they do that.

Many of the projects that were pushed through last week were with the condition that Gallant and New York State’s Susan Landfried’s team go back to the project sponsors and ask for either more information, or a “reduced ask”. One project sponsor was in the audience, and volunteered to do just that, he said he wasn’t fully aware of the parameters the group was working under.

Those parameters include finding project that will not only help the Main St. area of Highland Falls look better but thrive economically. Many of the projects included making both interior and exterior renovations to commercial and residential space. Others, specifically those sponsored by the village government, remake public space with, for instance, a major overhaul of Ladycliff Park.

Again this round there was just one non-profit project presented, from the Highland Falls Fire Department. The $571,230 request was again not pushed through, because, while a “great project” it doesn’t align with the goals of the grant. Gallant did say that it does align with a ‘small project fund’ that the village is hoping to get funded through NY Forward, and, quite possibly with other state funding.

LPC member Gabe O’Connell did make the argument that, economically, the request to renovate and raise the roof of the fire house to better fit modern apparatus, theoretically does help the village because if the municipality doesn’t have to buy specially made fire trucks, that saves taxpayer money.

The public projects were all again okayed to move forward, including the $600,000 small project fund; $500,000 for a marketing and branding campaign; $1 million for Main St. beautification (although that may have a revised estimate by the next meeting, Gallant said); and $1.5 million for a major remake of Ladycliff Park to (“conceptually”) include an amphitheater, seating area, playground and splashpad. While LPC members did ask if the price of that could be brought down because it is such a large piece of the overall funds, Gallant said she wasn’t sure it could.

Looking at an artist’s rendering of what the park could look at, O’Connell called it “transformative” and probably the most “impactful” of all the projects. Gallant agreed, saying it would bring people to Main St., and “hits the goal of economic transformation”. However, LPC member Dee Moreno argued that a playground and splashpad in that area “is not safe” due to traffic on both Main St. and West Point Highway.

One private project that was before the LPC in August has been removed from consideration by the project sponsor; that one is work at 307 Main St., Bear Mountain Bakery.

Those private projects that did receive a thumbs up to move forward included $336,600 for 209 Main St. (NAPA); $77.062 for 282-286 Main St. (West Point Pizza); $200,809 for 285 Main St. (formerly Lily’s of the Valley); $379,534 for 287 Main St. (Delizia’s) – with a request that the project be reduced to be more in line with the NY Forward goals; $285,914 for 293 Main St. (Benny Havens); $314,242 for 323 Main St. (Rafi’s Gyro Loco & Sushi King) – with clarification of the request funds and a possible reduction in the request; $420,000 for 327 Main St. (Main St. Grocery); $80,000 for 4 Webb Lane (a planned café); $750,000 for 341 Main St. (former United Methodist Church where a restaurant is planned) – also with a lowered request; $562,500 for 441 Main St. (World Class Grill and West Point Smoke Shop) – with a request to reduce the scope; $450,000 for 447 Main St. (Gracie Market) – after some clarifications, and a follow up with the owner who said a residential component of the project could be removed; $1.5 million for 470 Main St. (former Pentagon Federal Credit Union where a hotel is planned) – with more information; $227,400 for 501-503 Main St. (rented by Thayer Leadership); and $313,900 for 509 Main St. (South Gate Tavern).

Moreno, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce president, voted ‘yes’ on moving all the private projects forward, saying that she wants to see the businesses thrive. And, about the large amount requested for developer Rick Minicozzi’s two projects (341 Main St. and 470 Main St.), LPC member Todd Hulet (from the Orange County Arts Council) noted that it is “hard to argue they don’t meet our goals” and “we need to remember that this is someone who is willing to invest $50 million in your community”.