Renderings Available Here
New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley today announced the groundbreaking of the $2.8 million Champlin Beach Pier project, part of the Town of Urbana’s and the Village of Hammondsport’s NY Forward and Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). This project will increase access to Keuka Lake by building a new pier that will attract residents and visitors to the waterfront and encourage boaters to patronize local businesses by providing additional docking access. Along with the $1.35 million in NY Forward award, the project also received $1.47 million in LWRP funding.
“Investments like the Champlin Beach Pier project are helping communities across New York make the most of their waterfronts while creating places that are welcoming and accessible to everyone,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “This new pier will give residents and visitors greater access to Keuka Lake and bring more people downtown to support local businesses, strengthening Urbana’s waterfront as a place to gather, enjoy and experience all that this community has to offer.”
The project will see the removal of the old pier and installation of a new, fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant dock system with a gazebo, tour boat and other amenities on the water.
This new pier is an important piece of the overall plan to transform the waterfront in Urbana and Hammondsport for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. In May, as part of the 2015 Keuka Lake Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan, the State announced the completion of the Glenn H. Curtiss Park in Hammondsport, which was funded by $1.26 million from LWRP.
In addition to the Champlin Beach Pier, the following projects are also being funded by NY Forward in Urbana and Hammondsport:
- Reconstruct Liberty Street and Mill Street to be Pedestrian Friendly and Improve Existing Drainage Issues ($1,606,000): Increase recreational and economic activity by improving pedestrian access between downtown and the waterfront.
- Renovate the Historic Curtiss School into Rental Housing and Multi-Purpose Community Space ($885,000): Develop a new housing and community space while preserving and upgrading a historic building.
- Create a Branding and Marketing Plan and a Historic Heritage Trail with Wayfinding Signage ($362,000): Create a local branding and marketing plan and develop a historic heritage trail that captures and promotes the unique character of the community and helps connect visitors to area attractions.
- Establish a Bike-Friendly Neighborhood Coffee Shop and Café at a Former Service Station ($172,000): Create a community facility that serves as a destination, rest stop and service station for cyclists.
- Renovate 31 Shethar Street to Include Additional Means of Egress to Support a Restaurant and Bar on the Lower Level ($118,000): Sustain local tourism base by renovating an underutilized historic building to support a restaurant and bar, new kitchen and new wine cellar.
The Village of Hammondsport and the Town of Urbana were named the Southern Tier’s NY Forward winner for the second round in 2024. Other NY Forward winners in the region include Montour Falls, Waverly, Groton, Bath, Dryden, Stamford and Margaretville.
Jean Jensen, Mayor of Hammondsport said, “The replacement of the Champlin Pier has been a dream for many years. The Village Board and Hammondsport residents are excited about the reconstruction of the Champlin Pier made possible from NY Forward and LWRP grants and the Town of Urbana. This project will expand public access to Keuka Lake with additional docking for boaters and access to the Champlin swim beach and picnic area. The new pier will benefit the Village economic base by providing visitors and boaters easy access to the downtown restaurants, stores and attractions.”
Town of Urbana Supervisor K. David Durepo said, “After many years, the dream of replacing the pier has finally arrived. Since the inception of the Keuka Lake Waterfront Plan, crafted in 2015, the replacement of the pier has been one of the Town of Urbana’s primary goals. Thank you, New York State DOS, in making this dream come true. Thank you to Governor Hochul for having the vision to invest money in New York State’s greatest assets - it’s natural beauty and great recreational opportunities.”
Town of Urbana Grants Administrator David Oliver said, “As a resident of this community since 1975, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch this project grow from an idea into a reality that future generations will enjoy. We appreciate the State for helping us make this goal a reality.”
Steuben County IDA Executive Director James Johnson said, “The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency is proud to be part of today’s ribbon-cutting celebration for the Urbana Pier project. This milestone represents the culmination of nearly a decade of dedicated work to expand public access to the Keuka Lake waterfront and support the continued growth and vitality of downtown Hammondsport. We are excited to see this vision become a reality and look forward to continuing our support of initiatives that strengthen our waterfront communities, enhance quality of life, and create new opportunities for residents, visitors, and local businesses alike.”
About the NY Forward Program
First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.
NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $340 million to 77 communities across every region of the State.
About the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) provides grants to communities to develop community-driven waterfront revitalization plans that cultivate a vision for their waterfront; identify projects to implement that vision; and provide coastal policies to guide future planning, development and infrastructure. LWRP also funds Watershed Management Plans (WMPs), which protect and restore water quality and watersheds as well as address watershed-wide resiliency. LWRP projects help communities expand public access to their waterfronts and protect the environment, while also boosting tourism, economic development and community resiliency.
