The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program couples strategic planning with prompt implementation
The DRI is led by the Department of State (DOS), in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
DRI communities are paired with a consultant team and a project lead from the DOS who guide them through a targeted community-based planning process. For East Williamsburg DRI, the consultant team is led by Metropolitan Urban Design (MUD) Workshop.
The DRI process begins with a six-to-eight-month planning effort leading to the creation of a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) that identifies community Priority Projects that can help a community achieve its vision and revitalize its downtown. Priority projects are recommended to the State for funding within the awarded DRI amount. This process is led by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) with input from the East Williamsburg community. You can find out more about the DRI program, including past community SIPs and projects funded from those communities on the NYS Department of State’s website.
DRI Program Goals
The DRI process and development of the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) broadly include the following steps
1/ Local Planning
Committee
For every winning DRI community, the State establishes a Local Planning Committee (LPC), which is always led by two co-chairs: a member of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), and in NYC, the local Borough President. For East Williamsburg, the LPC co-chairs are Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Faith Corbett. The co-chairs represent the REDC and the community and guide the LPC as it provides input and feedback on the consultant’s work and recommends the ultimate priority projects to the State.
The East Williamsburg LPC is comprised of local leaders, businesses, residents, organizations, and other community stakeholders. As the steering body of the process, the LPC meets monthly to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to the consultant team, review planning products, discuss potential projects, and prioritize actions. These meetings are open to the public and ten minutes at the end of each meeting is reserved for public comment. More information can be found on this website under the “MEETINGS & EVENTS” tab on the menu bar.
LPC Members
Antonio Reynoso
(
LPC CO-CHAIR
)
Brooklyn Borough President
Faith Corbett
(LPC CO-CHAIR)
Assistant VP of
Public Affairs & Partnerships,
CUNY/ REDC
Alberto Valentin
Executive Director,
Graham Avenue BID
Clifford Miller
COO,
Woodhul Hospital
Dianne Morales
Executive Director,
El Puente
Dr. David Cintron
Superintendent,
Community School District 14
Eneida Martino
President,
Moore Street Merchant Association
Francesca Bruce
Executive Director,
Grand Street BID
Kendra Chiu
Executive Director,
North Brooklyn Angels
Leah Archibald
Executive Director,
Evergreen Exchange /
North Brooklyn IBZ
Ligia Guallpa
Executive Director,
Workers Justice Project /
Deliveristas
Lloyd Feng
3rd Vice Chair,
Brooklyn CB 1
Lucas Greer
Tenant Association President,
NYCHA Williamsburg PACT
Michael Rochford
Executive Director,
St Nicks Alliance
Rabbi David Niedeman
Executive Director,
United Jewish Organizations (UJO)
2/ Public Engagement
The DRI process is meant to be transparent and inclusive. Throughout the planning process, the public is invited to proactively contribute ideas that guide the LPC, the State, and the consultant team in the development of the SIP. There are multiple ways for community members to be involved. Notices of LPC meetings, public workshops, local outreach activities, and other opportunities to provide input will be posted on this website and publicized through print, media, and online channels. Please check back regularly for updates. You may also reach out directly to the State and its consultants at: eastwilliamsburgdri@gmail.com
3/ Vision, Goals, and Strategies
Based on community input, the LPC develops a guiding framework including a community vision, action-oriented goals to support the vision, and measurable strategies to guide the implementation. These coordinated actions, objectives, and planning approach are the guiding framework for the SIP and for identifying Priority Projects.
4/ Priority Projects
The DRI is unique in that communities identify their key transformative projects to advance their community vision and goals. These Priority Projects are intended to transform the physical environment of the DRI area’s downtown in ways that will benefit current residents and future generations. In some cases, they may also include non-capital projects that can lead to capital investment which in turn will revitalize the downtown. All Priority Projects need to fit within the DRI eligibility criteria and must be able to be implemented within a five-year window.
5/ Strategic
Investment Plan
Towards the end of the DRI process, consultants, along with the LPC and State team, prepare a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). The SIP describes the unique challenges and opportunities for the revitalization of the DRI area, presents the community's vision for the future of the downtown, and proposes transformative Priority Projects that may be realized with an investment of DRI funds.
6/ Implementation
Priority Projects from each community are evaluated by the State, which, after its due diligence, identifies those projects best suited for DRI funding. Announcements on the funded projects are made by the Governor and/or Secretary of State. Once projects are announced, the State will enter into separate contracts with the different entities responsible for implementing each project. All State procurement procedures must be followed, and DRI funding is provided on a reimbursable basis.
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