Greater
Morris Park

Downtown Revitalization Initiative

Downtown Revitalization Initiative Process

The DRI program couples strategic planning with prompt implementation. DRI communities are paired with a consultant team and a project lead from the Department of State (DOS) who guide them through a targeted community-based planning process. For Greater Morris Park, the consultant team is led by Metropolitan Urban Design (MUD) Workshop.

The DRI process begins with a six-to-eight-month planning effort leading to the creation of a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) that identifies community Priority Projects that can help a community achieve its vision and revitalize its downtown. Priority projects are recommended to the State for funding within the awarded DRI amount. This process is led by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) with input from the Greater Morris Park (GMP) community. You can find out more about the DRI program, including past community SIPs and projects funded from those communities on the NYS Department of State’s website.

Local Planning Committee Members

A Local Planning Committee formed of local and regional community leaders appointed by the State will lead the DRI process. The LPC, co-chaired by Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Lisa Sorin of the New York City Region Economic Development Council (REDC), will recommend a slate of capital projects that advance revitalization and improve quality of life in the Greater Morris Park DRI, for the State's review and ultimate funding. The LPC will meet every six times between May-October 2025, with meetings open to the public. Time for public comment is included at the end of each meeting. Please check the meetings page for LPC meeting dates, venue, and meeting presentations.

LPC CO-CHAIRS
Vanessa Gibson
Bronx Borough President

Amr Abozaid
Yemeni American Merchants Association

Viviana Bianchi
Bronx Council of Arts

Yasmin Cruz
Westchester Square BID

Matthew Cruz
Community Board 10

Bernadette Ferrara
Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance

William (Bill) Foster
Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation (NIDC)

Francina Frias
NY Public Library, Morris Park Branch

Lisa Sorin
Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Megan Guy
Simone Development Corporation

Dr. Camelia Tepelus
Morris Park BID

Anderson Torres
R.A.I.N. Total Care Inc

Frank Vignali
Morris Park Community Association

Rob Walsh
Bronx Economic Development Corporation

Jeremy H. Warneke
Community Board 11

DRI process

The DRI process and development of SIP broadly includes the following steps.

1/
Local Planning Committee

For every winning DRI community the State establishes a Local Planning Committee (LPC), which is always led by two co-chairs: a member of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), and in NYC, the local Borough President. For GMP the LPC co-chairs are Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and Lisa Sorin. The co-chairs represent the REDC and the community and guide the LPC as it provides input and feedback on the consultant’s work and recommends the ultimate priority projects to the State.

The GMP LPC is comprised of local leaders, businesses, residents, organizations, and other community stakeholders. As the steering body of the process, the LPC meets monthly to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to the consultant team, review planning products, discuss potential projects, and prioritize actions. These meetings are open to the public and ten minutes at the end of each meeting is reserved for public comment. More information can be found on this website under the “MEETINGS” tab on the menu bar.

2/
Public Engagement

The DRI process is meant to be transparent and inclusive. Throughout the planning process, the public is invited to proactively contribute ideas that guide the LPC, the State, and the consultant team in the development of the SIP. There are multiple ways for community members to be involved. Notices of LPC meetings, public workshops, local outreach activities, and other opportunities to provide input will be posted on this website and publicized through print, media, and online channels. Please check back regularly for updates. You may also reach out directly to the State and its consultants at: gmpdri2025@gmail.com

3/
Visions,
Goals, and Revitalization Strategies

Based on community input, the LPC develops a guiding framework including a community vision, action-oriented goals to support the vision, and measurable strategies to guide the implementation. These coordinated actions, objectives, and planning approach are the guiding framework for the SIP and for identifying Priority Projects.

4/
Priority
Projects

The DRI is unique in that communities identify their key transformative projects to advance their community vision and goals. These Priority Projects are intended to transform the physical environment of the DRI area’s downtown in ways that will benefit current residents and future generations. In some cases, they may also include non-capital projects that can lead to capital investment which in turn will revitalize the downtown. All Priority Projects need to fit within the DRI eligibility criteria and must be able to be implemented within a five-year window.

5/
Strategic Investment
Plan

Towards the end of the DRI process, consultants along with the LPC and State team prepare a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). The SIP describes the unique challenges and opportunities for the revitalization of the DRI area, presents the community's vision for the future of the downtown, and proposes transformative Priority Projects that may be realized with an investment of DRI funds.

6/
Implementation

Priority Projects from each community are evaluated by the State, which after its due diligence, identifies those projects best suited for DRI funding. Announcements on the funded projects are made by the Governor and/or Secretary of State. Once projects are announced, the State will enter into separate contracts with the different entities responsible for implementing each project. All State procurement procedures must be followed and DRI funding is provided on a reimbursable basis.

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Greater Morris Park

Downtown Revitalization Initiative