BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The Village of Brockport received $4.5 million as part of the New York Forward Program. To help determine how the funds should be spent, a Local Planning Committee (LPC) was formed and has spent weeks gathering input from residents and sending projects to the state for approval, but residents disagree with the approved projects overall.
Following extensive public feedback, the LPC approved a $1.5 million project which would see streetscape improvement for Clinton Street at the final Brockport Forward meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
This is the second project Brockport will be submitting to the state for approval. The first was a separate $1.5 million proposal to build a new 25,000 square feet low-income housing development at 60–90 Clinton Street.
At a recent Village Board meeting, residents raised concerns about the Clinton Street housing project, questioning whether it aligns with the community’s most pressing needs.
One person who disagreed is Brockport resident Carol Hannan. Hannan said that low incoming housing shouldn’t be the focus.
“It’s a difficult proposition to say we don’t want to help people find a place to live but look at what we are dealing with now with this much low-income housing in Brockport,” Hannan said. “We are giving hundreds of thousands of dollars of that New York forward grant for more low-incoming housing, I don’t think it’s appropriate”
(Sharvani Regmi)
Using a map, Hannan illustrated her point, arguing that Clinton Street already has a high concentration of low-income housing and that further investment in rentals does not benefit the community.
“Brockport already has an overwhelming number of low-income rentals in the village, which the village government has tried and failed successfully to deal with for the last 40 years or more,” Hannan said. “Nobody can honestly say that Brockport isn’t already providing low-income housing choices.”
Hannan is not the only one dissatisfied with the low-income housing project, according to Brockport Mayor Ben Reed.
“There has been some (people who are) upset over the income-based housing proposed on Clinton Street. The state has to approve the slate, but it has already been proposed. The proposed slate includes replacing the fire department garage doors and more,” Reed said.
In September, the Village launched a public survey asking residents how they’d like to see the grant money spent. The responses reflect a wide range of priorities.
Communication specialist Bree Davis, who recently moved to Brockport, wants to see the grant invested in transportation.
Brockport resident Jermaine Cheatham says he would like new businesses in the area.
“I would like to see more retail stores we don’t have a lot of clothing stores.” Cheatham said, “Right now, all we have is a Walmart, some more mom and pop shops would help benefit the town.”
The New York Forward program was created to help revitalize downtown areas in New York state. In 2025, the program is expected to invest over $100 million, which makes a total of $1.2 billion invested since its creation in 2022.
The Village launched the Brockport Forward website for the program, offering residents information about the proposed plans, upcoming meeting schedules, and the latest updates.
According to the site, the planning process includes five key steps:
- Public Engagement: Taking feedback and suggestions from the residents.
- Area Analysis: Analyzing the grant area to understand community needs.
- Vision Statement: Outlining the community’s shared priorities and goals.
- Project Selection: Consultants assist LPC members in choosing investments.
- Strategic Investment Plan: Finalizing the roadmap for growth and risk management.
Brockport has officially entered the final stage of its New York Forward journey. LPC has approved the Clinton Street streetscape improvement plan. The plan will now be submitted to the state for final approval. If accepted, the village is expected to receive its $4.5 million grant funding in spring 2026, setting the stage for construction and long-term revitalization.
