What's happening
This bill establishes a New York Main Street development center to support downtown revitalization and affordable housing through technical assistance and resources.
Why it matters
Centralizes expertise and resources. By creating a dedicated Main Street development center, the bill makes it easier for communities, developers, and local organizations to navigate and access state, local, and federal programs for downtown revitalization and affordable housing projects.
Targets underutilized infrastructure. The initiative focuses specifically on Main Streets and downtown business districts, which often have existing but underused water, sewer, and public transportation infrastructure—potentially speeding up and lowering the cost of redevelopment.
Provides technical assistance and training. The center is tasked with offering hands-on help and training to local officials and organizations, aiming to reduce barriers and build expertise at the community level for tackling complex revitalization efforts.
Creates a comprehensive information hub. By establishing a web page and a library of best practices and development publications, the center aims to spread knowledge and successful models from across the U.S., potentially leading to more effective and innovative local projects.
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Who cares
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
The bill would require the division to establish a Main Street development center in coordination with state economic development, transportation, historic preservation and other agencies.
Downtown developers
The center would provide information and technical assistance on redeveloping existing commercial and residential Main Street buildings, including a website linking state, local and federal programs.
Community and local housing organizations
The center would serve as a resource for their downtown revitalization initiatives, with affordable housing opportunities among the bill’s stated goals.
Local officials
The center would provide technical and training assistance for local Main Street revitalization efforts.
Headline styles
Create Main Street Help Center
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Main Street Help Center
In Senate Committee · Housing, Construction And Community Development · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
955
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to establishing a New York Main Street development center
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new article 31 to read as follows:
ARTICLE XXXI
NEW YORK MAIN STREET
DEVELOPMENT CENTER Section 1300. Legislative intent.
1301. New York Main Street development center.
§ 1300. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that with affordable housing in increasingly short supply, the New York Main Street development center will not only be the catalyst for community renewal, but also address the critical need to provide affordable opportunities across the state. Main streets and downtown buildings could serve as the primary location for new housing opportunities throughout this state. Main streets and Downtown Business Districts, are uniquely equipped to serve this function since these areas boast underutilized water and sewer infrastructure, are the hubs of public transportation, and are the centers of commerce.
§ 1301. New York Main Street development center. The division of housing and community renewal shall work in coordination with the department of economic development, the department of state, the department of transportation, and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to establish a "New York Main Street development center" within such division. The Main Street development center shall have as its mission the dissemination of information related to existing state
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04145-01-9
S. 955 2
programs to address the redevelopment of existing commercial/residential "Main Street" buildings. The "New York Main Street development center" shall be located within the division of housing and community renewal and will serve as a technical assistance and resource center to provide information and technical assistance for any local main street revitalization efforts in the state. The center will establish a web page which will link together all state, local and federal programs which may be available to serve as a resource for both developers, and community and local housing organizations in their downtown revitalization initiatives. The center shall also lend technical and training assistance to community officials and provide a comprehensive library of main street development publications from throughout the United States which shall be accessible to the development community.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to estab- lishing a New York Main Street development center
Purpose
To provide a state sponsored Main Street Development Center within the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, which will provide assistance to local governments seeking to revitalize their downtown areas.
Summary of provisions
This bill directs that the New York State Division of Housing and Commu- nity Renewal work in coordination with the Empire State Development Corporation, the New York State Department of State, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation to develop a "New York Main Street Development Center" within the Division of Housing and Community. The Center would be available for providing resources and technical assistance to local government enti- ties and developers and for co-coordinating development efforts for the redevelopment of any local main street revitalization effort in New York.
Justification
The proposed New York Main Street Development Center will coordinate and guide main street downtown revitalization efforts and act as a clearing- house for communities looking for assistance with Main Street renewal. Many communities would like to entertain such projects, but are unknow- ledgeable about available resources and are uncertain with how to garner resources and attract development to their community. A coordinated state-wide approach to downtown revitalization will greatly enhance this type of redevelopment throughout the state and provide use of the exist- ing infrastructure system. Furthermore, it will provide assistance in obtaining a necessary catalyst to attract private sector development.
Legislative history
2018: S.3940-A Passed Senate 2017: S.3940 Passed Senate 2015-2016: S.2279 Passed Senate 2014: S.5506 Referred to Housing
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.