Downtown Gloversville
Gloversville DRI
Gloversville Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Senior Center Renovations as Downtown Momentum Builds
GLOVERSVILLE, NY — A major transformation is taking shape on Church Street. On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the community gathered to celebrate the grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Senior Citizens Service Center of Gloversville and Fulton County, located at 53 Church Street.
The event kicked off with a formal ribbon-cutting presentation at 1:00 p.m., followed by community tours and refreshments. The celebration marked the successful completion of an extensive interior and exterior modernization of the facility. The upgrades were funded through a collaborative blend of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Dormitory Authority of New York (DASNY), and Gloversville Revitalization and Improvement Program (GRIP) grants.
A Milestone for GRIP and Downtown Revitalization
The completion of the Senior Center represents a significant milestone for the city's economic development strategies. Including this one, there are three projects that have officially cross the finish line under the GRIP initiative, a specialized fund created through New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program.
"The corridor from the FJ&G Rail Trail to Main Street is being transformed thanks to the DRI," said Jennifer Donovan, Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist at the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (CRG). "Between the expansion of Trail Station Park and the nearby St. Thomas Square project, we are seeing a true revitalization of this neighborhood."
Enhancing the Church Street Corridor
The modernized Senior Center sits across from the new Glove City Lofts apartments and both projects are part of the rapidly evolving downtown core. Visitors coming off the FJ&G Rail Trail can now experience a seamless, revitalized pathway heading north toward Main Street. This corridor features the recently expanded Trail Station Park—which received a new splash pad and pavilion through DRI and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) grants—and connects directly past the Senior Center to the newly created St. Thomas Square public space.
The successful completion of the Senior Center renovations ensures that local seniors have a state-of-the-art, updated space to gather, while simultaneously contributing to the vibrant energy and rapid, state-funded revitalization of the entire neighborhood.
31 Spring Street – Completed GRIP Project (2024)
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.
18 E. Fulton Street - Completed GRIP Project (2026)
This project involved extensive interior and exterior restorations designed to breathe new life into the property. Key improvements included meticulous exterior masonry work to preserve the building’s structural integrity, alongside the installation of brand-new floors and modern doors on the main entrance and the first-floor interior. These comprehensive upgrades have successfully converted the building into premium, turn-key office space tailored for companies relocating to our revitalized downtown corridor.
Other GRIP Projects
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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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58 E. Fulton St.
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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.
Completed Projects
Gloversville marked the completion of five major DRI-funded projects, all aimed at activating downtown public spaces, arts and culture, housing, and outdoor amenities:
Glove City Lofts (52 Church St.)
The site was transformed into a modern mixed-use development featuring affordable artist housing and creative workspaces, helping to draw working artists and new residents directly into the downtown core.
Schine Memorial Hall Renovation
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.
St. Thomas Square Activation
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.
South Main Street Piazza
A vacant parcel was reimagined as an urban piazza—a public gathering space designed for concerts, markets, food carts, and community programming.
Trail Station Park Expansion
The park was expanded with new public amenities including a splash pad, pavilion, restrooms, picnic areas, walking trails, and enhanced greenspace, boosting recreational opportunities.
Streetscapes (Church Street)
This project links key revitalization efforts through an upgraded corridor.This project featured the extensive repaving of Church Street alongside the installation of a bike lane to improve multi-modal downtown transit. On either side of the newly paved street, Glove City Lofts (DRI) and the Gloversville Senior Center (GRIP), complemented the streetscape work by improving their exterior footprints and sidewalks. ADA-compliant curbs were also installed at the corners.
