Monday, December 30, 2013

Community Investment Presentation January 8 at 7pm

Trustee Alan Chamberlin invites the public to a presentation on community reinvestment with architect and Mayor of Perry, NY, Rick Hauser. Anyone interested in downtown revitalization or those who want to help, but don't know how, should attend. The presentation will be held Wednesday, January 8 at 7pm at The Village Court, 65 Franklin Street (above the old firehall), Springville. Six years ago Hauser developed an anti-blight tool called "Main Street LLC" - a community-wide development corporation. The concept has been tested and proven with Perry New York LLC, which has renovated several broadly-owned downtown projects using the model, and Rick has since helped communities across the state evaluate its potential use in their towns. Chamberlin said, "We have encountered many people who want to see downtown succeed but very few have the capital to buy and rehabilitate an older house or commercial building themselves. This concept provides a way for the average citizen to invest in downtown and help preserve the area." Rick Hauser started In. Site: Architecture in 2001, and soon co-founded a sister business to buy and rehab downtown buildings. He taught architecture for twelve years at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, where his firm now maintains a second office. He has also helped launch, and manages, several regional events including a farmers' market, an annual First Night celebration, and a chalk art festival. He began Perry Main Street Association, a volunteer-led, downtown advocacy and action organization in 2006. His firm's "Downtowns Studio" includes revitalization consulting for villages, small cities and neighborhoods. In March, he became Perry's mayor.