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Comptroller Hears Updates On City’s Revitalization Plans

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Mayor Sam Teresi tour downtown Jamestown on Friday. DiNapoli was updated on several city projects. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

Though two years had passed since Thomas DiNapoli, New York state comptroller, last toured Jamestown, he was back on Friday to discuss the progress of the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

“It’s great to be back in Jamestown,” DiNapoli said. “I haven’t been here for a bit. It’s great to see the continued progress of this city.”

The initiative included $10 million awarded to the city of Jamestown last year. The initiative has provided $2.4 million to refurbishing the Hilton Double Tree Hotel; $1.5 million to upgrading the Robert H. Jackson Center; $1.5 million for the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts revitalization; $830,000 to the Jamestown Brewing Company development; $1 million for the redevelopment of the former Key Bank Building; $670,000 for the excursion train infrastructure and depot; $610,000 for streetscape and pedestrian improvements; $600,000 for downtown programming and activities; $325,000 for Greater Jamestown Revivals enhancements; and $265,000 for Little Theater upgrades.

In total, $9.7 million will be repurposed for the city, with $300,000 put toward consulting and administrative fees.

DiNapoli and Teresi started from city hall and worked their way to the project site of the new National Comedy Center. The two would frequently stop and discuss the current projects in progress in the city. DiNapoli was treated to a similar walking tour two years ago, and during his tour on Friday he noticed significant changes.

Mayor Sam Teresi, left, and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speak Friday in downtown Jamestown. “It’s great to see how far (Teresi’s) plans have advanced, it’s very exciting,” DiNapoli said. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

“It’s great to see how far (Teresi’s) plans have advanced, it’s very exciting,” DiNapoli said.

He acknowledged the attention that the National Comedy Center has garnered but wanted to shed light on the other projects such as the Hilton Double Tree Hotel.

As for the money that was allocated to Jamestown through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, DiNapoli said because of Jamestown’s importance, the state government is investing in the city, as well as other cities across the state.

“Jamestown is an important city and an important community in our state,” DiNapoli said. “Because of that, New York state, in fact, has been committing significant resources to help Jamestown implement the plans of the mayor and the city council have outlined.”

DiNapoli spoke highly of the mayor’s work within the city and said the city benefits greatly from a mayor who is “very thoughtful” and “very forward-thinking.”

Teresi said that the comptroller responded to the progress the city is making with positive feedback, something the mayor enjoyed hearing very much.

The last time DiNapoli was in Jamestown was when the revitalization plans were in development stages.

“This was kind of like a progress update trip for him,” Teresi said. “(DiNapoli) indicated that he was very impressed with the work being done and delivering on what, a couple of years ago, was in the talking and the planning stages.”

Teresi hoped that DiNapoli’s visit was worthwhile to his time and that the positive feedback he received gave him and the city government “a bounce to our step.”

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