The City of New Rochelle is going all in on community engagement with residents of the Lincoln Avenue community and beyond as the City, in partnership with the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency (IDA), RFW Consultants and Team 914, host a series of activations through the rest of the year in an effort to engage residents and hear feedback relating to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) currently underway.

After winning the Governor’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award in 2018, the City has focused on six key projects that will revive the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and ensure the neighborhood benefits from adjacent redevelopment. The DRI will transform the corridor and connect it to the economic, cultural and social heartbeat of Downtown New Rochelle and provide equitable opportunities and connections to the transit-oriented downtown, a growing arts & culture scene, workforce development opportunities and more.

The first activation is this Friday night, September 24, 5 PM to 9 PM, at the Lincoln Avenue basketball courts at Prince St. where the city will host a basketball tournament and summer movie night featuring Space Jam 2: A New Legacy.  There will also be a Q & A with the film’s Director and New Rochelle resident Malcolm Lee, hosted by New Rochelle youths who will have an opportunity to engage with Mr. Lee about his career and experiences. Local officials are also expected to attend, including Westchester County Legislator Damon Maher, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and New Rochelle Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert. Residents will have the opportunity to provide valuable feedback about the DRI projects and how they can contribute to the City’s future. 

“As New Rochelle makes historic investments in the Lincoln Avenue corridor through the DRI, we are committed to working closely with and listening to residents to ensure that these projects reflect community needs and goals and provide equitable opportunities for everyone. We hope these activations will provide a fun, informative and interactive vehicle for contributing to our City’s future,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.

The six DRI projects include a new playground with Heritage Park- the first DRI project to break ground earlier this Spring, traffic and pedestrian infrastructure improvements to increase mobility and connectivity, a new Black Box Theatre and most notably the LINC, which converts the northbound lanes of Memorial Highway into a 21st century pedestrian oasis and open space with easier, direct connections to the vibrant city center.

“These exciting and diverse activations will encourage residents to participate in the future of our community and create a forum for neighbors to learn about the Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects and share their thoughts and ideas,” said Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert. 

Additional activations this year intended to engage the community about the ongoing DRI and provide a forum to solicit input include:

•    Queen City of the Sound International Jazz Festival at Ruby Dee Park (October 9)

•    New Rochelle Holiday Market at the NR Metro North Train Station (November 27 to December 11)

•    Light the Night celebration of lights at Lincoln Park (December 9)

Additional activations will be announced for 2022 in the near future, along with project updates around the DRI. For more information on the City of New Rochelle, visit www.ideallynewrochelle.com. For more information on the DRI and to provide project feedback, visit https://www.newrochelledri.com/.