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DRI Announcement 2022

Gloversville DRI

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.

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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:

  1. 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. 

  2. 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. 

  3. 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. 

  4. 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.

These completed projects have helped revitalize public life in downtown and encourage pedestrian activity and community events.

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Near-Completion Project

  • Glove City Lofts
    A 75-unit mixed-income residential development near City Hall is nearing completion in 2025. Designed to bring new downtown residents and include an art gallery space, this major housing project leverages DRI support alongside other funding sources. 

 

Looking Ahead to 2026

  • Former City Hall / Thee Ole City Hall Eats & Sweets LLC
    Plans are in place to revive the former City Hall building as a new dining destination known as Thee Ole City Hall Eats & Sweets LLC. Construction is slated to begin in January 2026, initiating another phase of downtown investment and reuse of a historic structure.
     

Impact & Vision

Together, these projects and more (The Glove Theatre, Carriage House, and Daniel Hayes) illustrate tangible progress from the DRI in Gloversville, turning long-time vision into physical improvements that support housing, arts, community gathering spaces, and pedestrian-friendly environments. The DRI continues to serve as a catalyst for private investment and long-term downtown transformation.

St. Thomas Square
Schine Memorial Hall
Glove City Lofts
Former City Hall
31 Spring St
21 N Main St

​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. 

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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. 

 

Other GRIP Projects — Timeline to Completion

  • 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:

    • 31 N. Main St.​

    • 21 N. Main St.

    • 37 S. Main St.

    • 18 E. Fulton St.

    • 58 E. Fulton St.

    • 53 Church St.

  • 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.

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