Richard Slingerland, Dennis DelBorgo, Gov. George Pataki and Maura O'Malley                       Richard Slingerland, Maura O'Malley and Staff of the Dept. of Community Renewal

STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL AWARDS  $200,000 GRANT TO THE PICTURE HOUSE REGIONAL FILM CENTER AND THE VILLAGE OF PELHAM.

The Picture House Regional Film Center and the Village of Pelham with partners including the Chamber of Commerce, the Pelham Architectural Review Board and the Pelham Preservation and Garden Society  have been awarded a $200,000 grant from the State of New York Division of Housing and Community Renewal.  The grant was made through the New York Main Street Program, an innovative initiative launched by Governor Pataki, designed to stimulate downtown revitalization in communities across New York State.  It provides funding for building renovations, streetscape enhancements and downtown business and cultural anchors. 

“New York’s downtown business districts are the lifeblood of its cities, towns and villages,” Governor Pataki said. “…these funds will provide much needed additional resources to reinvigorate the local business community.”  Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said, “Today is an historic day – a day filled with promise for better days. I am so proud to help deliver this $200,000 investment to Pelham Picture House Preservation Inc. that demonstrates our commitment to intelligent economic development and job creation along New York’s Main Streets.  State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner Judith A. Calogero said, “There is a new energy on our Main Streets that is real and palpable and is being fostered by local business and civic organizations around the state. The awards announced today are an effort to catalyze that energy and use it to propel communities forward. The unprecedented partnership between DHCR and our sister agencies has helped us fashion a program that will have a positive impact on the future of our downtowns.”

The Picture House Regional Film Center, a not-for-profit organization established to turn the Pelham Picture House into a three-screen, state of the art Film Center serving Southern Westchester, will administer the grant and receive $100,000 towards renovation and façade restoration of the historic theater. 

The Village of Pelham will administer $100,000, $75,000 to renovate up to 14 facades of commercial /residential properties on Wolf’s Lane/Fifth Avenue-Pelham’s main street.  The Pelham Picture House will receive an additional $10,000 for its façade restoration through this funding stream.   The remaining $25,000 will contribute to streetscape improvements for 5^th Avenue and Wolf’s Lane Park.  The grant’s collaborative planning and administrative structure will enhance the ability of the community to implement and sustain design-sensitive, historically respectful economic development projects in the future.

“We are pleased with the award of this grant for several reasons,” said Barbara Bratone the executive director of the Picture House project.  “It reconfirms the importance of cultural anchors in effecting economic change in a community and it shows how much can be accomplished when local organizations work together with government.”

Mayor Michael Clain stated, “ This grant is not just about money – it’s about recognition that a municipality and several local non-profits have joined together to improve the commercial district for everyone’s benefit. The grant will help the Village fulfill a pledge it made to the downtown merchants and property owners two years ago – that it will set aside a matching fund to help finance façade improvements - and will allow the Village to rejuvenate the wonderful greenspace along Wolfs Lane.”

The grant was researched and written by Maura O’Malley when she served as Executive Director of the Picture House project, with contributing assistance from Dennis DelBorgo, Administrative Aide, and Richard Slingerland, Village Administrator.  Pelham resident and Film Center Board member Richard Funess said, “We are grateful for Maura’s creativity in writing this grant proposal and for her dedicated effort on behalf of the Picture House Regional Film Center and the community.”

© 2004 Village of Pelham. All rights reserved