Envision Scotia is a planning effort to attract investment and funding opportunities through the development of a comprehensive vision for the Village’s future. The goal of this effort is to develop a community vision, identify strategic sites for redevelopment through an in-depth analysis of the area, and develop an implementation strategy.
This project is funded through the NYS Department of State (DOS) Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program.
What is the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program?
This program has been used across the state to assist communities in attracting investment since 2005. NYS DOS has distributed over $45 million for planning and pre-development activities. While historically the program was focused on brownfield sites, the program has evolved over time to more generally look at opportunities for investment and revitalization of underutilized sites. Through this program, underutilized sites are transformed from liabilities to community assets.
The intent of the BOA program is to undertake neighborhood-scale plans, rather than focusing on a single underutilized property. While not all properties in the BOA study area are brownfields, vacant, underutilized, or abandoned, by looking at the neighborhood-scale, the program acknowledges that the presence of these nearby sites may be impacting investment in the larger community.
Tools & Incentives that Stimulate Reinvestment in Underutilized Sites:
Support
The NYS DOS is committed to providing ongoing support to pursue implementation of BOA Plans in designated BOAs.
Priority and Preference
Projects within a designated BOA receive priority and preference in some state grant programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), NY Forward, Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Environmental Restoration Program.
Predictability
Designation of a BOA demonstrates community endorsement of the Plan’s goals. This removes the risk and uncertainty associated with investment in a transitional or marginal market.
Brownfield Cleanup Program Tax Credit
Developers participating in the Brownfield Cleanup Program to remediate and redevelop sites in a designated BOA are eligible for a tax credit “bump-up” of 5% if the development advances the BOA Plan.
