As New City Rehabs Downtown, Nyack Looks at its Options

As Clarkstown is in the process of rehabilitating its downtown, Nyack's Village Board has hired architecture and development firm HR&A of New York City to report on the economic feasibility of redeveloping Nyack's downtown.

The study's goal will be to determine the best possible use of the downtown "Superblock" site which consists of 3.65 acres downtown, the majority of which is village owned.

The $75,000 study will be paid for by a donation from entertainer and South Nyack resident Rosie O'Donnell, who is a former Nyack resident.

The Superblock is now occupied by the Riverspace theater building, which is owned by Millbrook Properties, a Long Island firm and which houses the theater and retail stores. An M&T bank branch and the village owned parking lots that surround the theater building complete the site.

Three years ago, Riverspace Arts in Nyack advanced an idea to establish a new arts center supported by a combination of retail, commercial and residential revenues. Despite a series of public meetings sponsored by Riverspace the concept stalled because of the fundraising challenges during the recession as well as community concerns about the economic viability of this approach among many other concerns.

Village officials, recognizing that the Superblock was possibly underutilized, began to examine redevelopment of the site and in 2008 established a committee to examine the issue. The Mayors' Whitepaper on The Redevelopment of the Superblock resulted from this work and recommendations were made to the village government. Out of these recommendations was the establishment of the Citizen's Committee to evaluate possible uses for the Superblock site.

After months of  work, the Citizen's Committee recommended that a feasibility study be undertaken. Based on this work the village issued a Request for Proposals for this study. In May 2010, following a search and selection process, the village board and a committee of local residents selected HR&A to determine what would be the best possible uses for that property with a focus on economic viability.

James Lima, a partner at HR&A, says the study will help the Nyack make an informed decision about the options available to enhance the economic and community development of the village.

"Nyack has a unique and special appeal to its residents and its many regional visitors," says Lima. "We're excited to work with the Village leadership to enhance the qualities that make Nyack an attractive cultural, leisure and shopping destination."

The feasibility study will analyze, among other things, whether an arts center makes economic sense, whether redevelopment should take place even without an arts component, and if so, how much green space, retail, office, residential as well as parking will be required. HR&A will also report on funding sources and the likelihood that the village will be able to get support for the project.

HR&A hopes to complete its report by the first week of September. Nyack officials sy they will post updates on the project the village web site, at http://nyack-ny.gov/2010-superblock-feasibility-study.