NORWICH – The City of Norwich is moving forward on a largescale project to revitalize an historic part of downtown.

Plans to rejuvenate a part of the city known as the Heritage Block have been underway since 2013. The Heritage Block project is an initiative to assist private developers in the restoration of run-down properties at 42 and 44-46 North Broad St., and 15 and 17-19 Lackawanna Ave. The project also includes design and renovation of the parking lot shared by said properties as well as other properties at 8-12 Mechanic St. and 38-40 N. Broad St.

Last week, the Norwich Common Council moved to use state grant funds from multiple sources to pay administration fees to Shelter Planning and Development, Inc., a community development service based in Queensbury, NY. The agency was contracted by city officials in 2014 to apply for a series state grants which were awarded to the city late last year.

Shelter Planning was successful in being awarded three grants on behalf of the City of Norwich to help leverage investments from two private developers in the Heritage Block: Hercules Properties LLC (proprietor of 42 and 44-46 N. Broad) and The Hayworth Management Company (proprietor of 15 and 17-19 Lackawanna Ave.). The New York Main Street grant program through the NYS Office of Community Renewal awarded $250,000 for facade and building renovations; and another $120,000 was awarded through Empire State Development.