Public funding and community support for the Liberty Street Corridor (Phase 1) was secured to initiate priority deliverables outlined in the LiveWorkLearnPlay implementation plan. Within 6 months, over 5 new businesses opened in the Corridor, including an organic market, a fresh bakery and a comfort-food restaurant.

THE PLACE

The City of Newburgh is a place of unheralded natural beauty, unequaled location, and great diversity. Located 60 miles north of New York City, Newburgh has direct access to Stewart International Airport, Interstate 87 and the ferry service that links to Metro North train station (with service to Grand Central Station in Manhattan.) However, much like so many industrial river front towns with big-box shopping located outside their core, Newburgh was in great need of a major Downtown revitalization effort.

OUR FOCUS

In early 2007, LiveWorkLearnPlay began working with the City of Newburgh to nurture a commercial mixed-use revitalization process. Phase by phase and block by block, LiveWorkLearnPlay worked through the programming, phasing, physical and design fundamentals, a sound business plan, land ownership issues, and safety and security measures in order to revive the Downtown and enrich the quality of life for its users.

WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED

•    Developed a vision and action plan that initiated the commercial revitalization of the City’s Downtown core
•    Led the establishment of a community-led advisory group, known as Newburgh 2020, consisting of vested stakeholders (i.e. property owners, public officials, commercial businesses, and other community leaders). Newburgh 2020 assumed the role of working with the City to implement the vision and plans. The group’s mission is “to create a vision for neighborhood development, life and commerce on America’s historic main street
•    Concluded a viable Commercial Implementation Strategy (CIS) report to guide the commercial revitalization of Downtown Newburgh. The report includes the following content:

• Strategic assessment and SWOT analysis of Downtown
• Demand-based Target Market Analysis
• A detailed 5-year strategic plan for the Liberty Street Corridor (Phase 1 of the Downtown commercial revitalization)
• A targeted vision and story for the Liberty Street Corridor, along with a targeted program of commercial uses to attract a critical mass of visitors and spending in the neighborhood
• Targeted marketing and leasing strategies to facilitate the opening of quality commercial businesses
• Programs and strategies to promote investment into Downtown (such as crime reduction strategies and funding programs)