Buro Happold has supported New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and its expansion through the NY Forward program, helping communities identify and advance transformative downtown investments.

Buro Happold has played a leading role in the NY Forward program, helping communities in New York State’s Capital Region transform state investment into actionable projects that strengthen local economies, public spaces and quality of life.

The DRI initiative, spearheaded by Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez, aims to rejuvenate smaller communities by leveraging their unique assets and fostering economic development. Working alongside the New York Department of State, Buro Happold supports community engagement, strategic planning and project development to ensure funding is directed toward catalytic initiatives that reflect local priorities.

Launched to revitalize downtowns across New York, DRI and NY Forward provide targeted funding to communities with the potential for growth and long-term vitality. Together, the programs combine community-led planning with implementation funding, helping cities, villages and rural communities advance projects ranging from streetscape improvements and housing investments to recreational amenities and historic restoration.

From streetscape improvements to new public spaces, the NY Forward program is helping reimagine the heart of New York communities.
Image: Stock Studios Photography.

The NY Forward initiative

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward are cornerstones of the state’s economic development policy.  Building on the success of five rounds of the DRI, which awarded $10 million to each of the 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, New York State launched the NY Forward program in 2022.

NY Forward was created to revitalize smaller and rural communities throughout the state so that all communities can benefit from the state’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges. Led by the Department of State – with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority the DRI and NY Forward represent an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation.

Both programs are creating a critical mass of vibrant downtowns in every region of the state that is enhancing economic developments, promoting quality of life, fostering community development and supporting the state’s bold climate goals. Buro Happold was selected as the prime consultant for the first five rounds of the Capital Region program, covering eight counties centered on the Albany-Troy metro area.

We’re making transformational investments in downtown revitalization efforts across the state – tapping into what makes each community unique and opening doors of opportunity for residents and businesses. By building a vibrant and robust environment for local residents, we are unlocking the potential for our communities to thrive while honoring the history and traditions that make them special.

Kathy Hochul, New York Governor

Buro Happold’s role on NY Forward

Buro Happold is collaborating with the State client team and various stakeholders to help each Local Planning Committee (LPC) allocate their grant money to the most transformative and catalytic projects. This involves significant coordination to ensure the program is well understood and seamlessly executed. Buro Happold is also working with potential project sponsors to develop their proposals, ensuring that the LPC will have a compelling slate of recommended projects to include in the Strategic Investment Plan to be submitted to the State by the end of the year.

Delivering impact across the Capital Region

The scale of the program’s impact is significant. Through its partnership with New York State, Buro Happold has supported 7 communities across the Capital Region, helping to develop their Strategic Investment Plans and allocate more than $13.5 million in targeted downtown investment. From riverfront villages and historic town centers to emerging commercial districts, these efforts are helping communities transform local aspirations into implementable projects that attract investment, strengthen economic resilience and improve quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

In the first round of NY Forward in 2023, Coxsackie received a $4.5 million award, while Cambridge and Kinderhook each received $2.25 million.

Drawing on lessons from transformative places like the High Line, Buro Happold is supporting New York communities in turning NY Forward investments into catalytic projects that revitalize downtowns and enhance quality of life. Image: Buro Happold.

Village of Cambridge

The Village of Cambridge, an economic, social, and cultural hub in rural Washington County, is focusing on projects that rehabilitate and update historic structures, create trails and connections among natural resources, address important infrastructure concerns, and expand housing options. Founded in 1761, Cambridge is lined with historic houses, shops, businesses, community gathering places, and the regional public K-12 school. The village aims to offer an excellent quality of life, celebrate its history and connections to the natural environment, and serve as an active space where diverse people of all ages and abilities live, work, innovate, play, explore, and connect.

The DRI and NY Forward programs rely on community voices to help identify transformative projects that support vibrant, thriving downtowns. Image: Buro Happold.

Village of Coxsackie

Coxsackie, a compact and walkable downtown community with direct access to the Hudson River, is leveraging its natural beauty and rural small-town feel to create a community where people want to live, work, and play. The village seeks to realize this vision through public improvement projects, arts and culture enhancements, and improved and expanded housing options. With a recent influx of new residents and job growth opportunities, Coxsackie is reviving its economy and making further investments in the arts, housing, entertainment, and recreation sectors.

Coxsackie is leveraging its natural beauty, walkable downtown, and small-town character to foster a vibrant community where people can live, work, and play, supported by investments in housing, arts and culture, public spaces, and economic growth. Image: Buro Happold.

Village of Kinderhook

Kinderhook offers its residents a quality of life defined by its local history and strong community ties. Recent local private and federal investment – notably the completion of The Empire State Trail that goes through the Village – has invigorated Kinderhook’s commercial resurgence and spurred job growth and opportunity. The village seeks to become a gateway community to the natural, cultural, and historic assets of Columbia County. Kinderhook’s vision includes improving accessibility and safety for bicycling and walking, re-energizing vacant storefronts, improving historic buildings and facilities, and expanding recreational amenities.

Powered by community pride, historic character, and new investment, Kinderhook is enhancing walkability, revitalizing downtown, and expanding access to the cultural and natural treasures of Columbia County. Image: Buro Happold.

The broader impact

New York’s downtowns are the heart and soul of the region, serving as economic anchors and catalysts for revitalization. After decades of disinvestment and decline, downtowns throughout the state are experiencing a dramatic resurgence. Communities are creatively marketing and leveraging their unique assets and proud heritage as beacons for a brighter, more prosperous future.

The DRI and NY Forward programs represent an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate and ongoing project implementation. These programs employ a combination of community-based strategic planning, inter-agency project support, inter-governmental collaboration, and public/private leveraging of outside investments.

Buro Happold’s partnership with the New York Department of State on the NY Forward project exemplifies our ability to work with smaller cities and benefit local communities. By helping to allocate grant money to transformative projects and coordinating with various stakeholders, Buro Happold is playing a crucial role in the revitalization of New York’s downtowns. This collaboration not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also fosters economic development and sustainability in these vibrant communities.