Downtown Gloversville
Gloversville DRI
5th DRI Project Update:
Certificate of Occupancy Issued for Glove City Lofts
Gloversville, NY — Glove City Lofts, a cornerstone project of the City’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), received its Certificate of Occupancy in December 2025, marking a major milestone in downtown housing and economic revitalization. Glove City Lofts is now advancing into its leasing phase and actively interviewing potential renters who applied through the official lottery process last fall as part of its transition into a vibrant mixed-use residential development.
Gloversville was selected as a Mohawk Valley winner of the State’s fifth-round DRI, receiving a $10 million award through the initiative to fund catalytic projects across the downtown district designed to spur economic growth, enhance public spaces, and expand housing opportunities.
Glove City Lofts was one of the Signature Projects identified in Gloversville’s DRI Strategic Investment Plan and was allocated $1,250,000 in DRI funding to support its construction — bringing approximately 75 loft-style, mixed-income residential units to a previously vacant downtown site near City Hall. The project also includes an integrated arts gallery.
The residential complex offers modern, affordable housing options, with a portion of units prioritized for artists and creative professionals in alignment with the City’s economic development and cultural activation goals, leveraging a broader mix of public and private investments.
Complementing the housing development, the on-site gallery space — administered by the Glove City Arts Alliance — has already begun programming. The Alliance hosted the first exhibit opening in the new space on January 8, 2026, drawing artists, residents, and community partners to celebrate downtown activation and creative reuse of the facility.
Gloversville’s successful implementation of the DRI reflects the City’s commitment to sustainable economic growth, inclusive housing, and enhanced cultural amenities. Additional DRI-funded projects — ranging from public space improvements to historic building renovations — continue to advance with community and stakeholder engagement.
For more information on Glove City Lofts, visit www.glovecitylofts.com
Gloversville DRI Overview
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is a New York State grant program that provides targeted investments to transform downtowns into vibrant, mixed-use community cores. Gloversville was selected as the Mohawk Valley winner in Round 5 and received $10 million to fund catalytic projects designed to spur economic growth, enhance public spaces, and expand housing opportunities in its historic downtown.
2025 Completed Projects
In 2025, Gloversville marked the completion of four major DRI-funded projects, all aimed at activating downtown public spaces, arts and culture, and outdoor amenities:
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Schine Memorial Hall Renovation
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The historic Schine building’s third floor was renovated to house a museum, a cultural arts center and provide co-working/art space for creatives.
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St. Thomas Square Activation
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An underutilized area was transformed into a vibrant public square with pedestrian amenities, landscaping, and a space connected to the farmers market and community events.
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South Main Street Piazza
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A vacant parcel was reimagined as an urban piazza—a public gathering space designed for concerts, markets, food carts, and community programming.
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Trail Station Park Expansion
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The park was expanded with new public amenities including a splash pad, pavilion, restrooms, picnic areas, walking trails, and enhanced greenspace, boosting recreational opportunities.
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These completed projects have helped revitalize public life in downtown and encourage pedestrian activity and community events.
Gloversville Revitalization & Improvement Program (GRIP)
The Gloversville Revitalization and Improvement Program (GRIP) is a competitive grant program created as part of the Gloversville Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). It was established to support property owners and businesses within the DRI Zone by providing funding for rehabilitation, improvements to commercial and mixed-use buildings, upper-story residential enhancements, façade work, and other property upgrades that contribute to downtown revitalization. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and are specifically reserved for properties located within the DRI boundary. GRIP’s establishment itself is a funded component of the Gloversville DRI, helping catalyze private investment alongside the public-facing DRI projects.
31 Spring Street – Completed GRIP Project (2024)
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One GRIP project completed in 2024 was at 31 Spring St., where exterior masonry work was finished. This building houses The Shoeleather Express — a local square and round dance center and community gathering place offering dance lessons, workshops, and social dance events. The Shoeleather Express is known for keeping traditional American dance alive and drawing enthusiasts not just locally but from other states including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and farther afield for special events like callers workshops and conferences, making it a regional cultural draw.
Other GRIP Projects — Timeline to Completion
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In addition to 31 Spring St., multiple GRIP investments are underway at other downtown properties to improve storefronts, rehabilitate historic buildings, and support mixed-use redevelopment. Projects include:
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31 N. Main St.
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21 N. Main St.
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37 S. Main St.
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18 E. Fulton St.
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58 E. Fulton St.
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53 Church St.
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Most of these remaining GRIP projects are expected to be completed in early to mid-2026, bringing additional improved spaces online to support Gloversville’s downtown resurgence.
GRIP plays a complementary role to the larger DRI by focusing on individual private property improvements, which help activate downtown buildings, attract businesses and residents, and strengthen the overall economic and social fabric of Gloversville’s core.