With one Downtown Revitalization Initiative project not moving forward, the city of Auburn has shifted the funds to the ongoing West End Arts Campus project involving the Cayuga Museum of History & Art and the Schweinfurth Art Center.听
Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino said Thursday that an additional $385,000 will be provided to the arts campus project. More than $1.8 million has already been allocated for the $4.7 million project.听
The extra funding was available because one of Auburn's DRI projects, a $385,000 investment for renovations at Health Central, has been canceled. The project was affected by delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.听
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The state contacted the city to discuss reallocating the funds, according to a news release. The city recommended using the funds for the arts campus project.听
"The DRI has helped to bring an exciting reinvestment in all of Auburn's art and cultural institutions," Giannettino said. "The city views our cultural sites as vital to our local economy and these additional DRI funds provide major economic investment in our city's future."聽
The West End Arts Campus project aims to unite the art gallery and museum. It includes various improvements, such as new lighting, signage, walkways and more parking. Both facilities will also have new entrances.听
Kirsten Gosch, executive director of the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, and Donna Lamb, executive director of the Schweinfurth Art Center, thanked the city and state for the additional funding. Both organizations noted the project would not have advanced without the DRI funding.听
"With construction well underway we are more excited every day about the improvements at the Cayuga Museum and the Schweinfurth Art Center and what it will mean for the community," Lamb said.听
Gosch added, "The evolution of the Cayuga Museum and Schweinfurth grounds will positively impact our West End community, creating a space where our two arts organizations can serve as economic drivers, increasing health and educational outcomes in the neighborhood."
The arts campus is one of the few DRI projects that hasn't been completed. The finished DRI projects include the new Auburn Fire Department station, the Cayuga Culinary Institute and the State Street Plaza.听
Auburn won the $10 million DRI grant in 2018.听
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.
Robert Harding
Online producer/politics reporter
