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“Peekskill is financially sound,” Foster told those on hand at Monday’s Common Council meeting. “Based on smart financial planning we are maintaining a prudent fund balance while also continuing to invest in Peekskill’s future. And this is contributing to great confidence in our city and our future. There is greater investment. And, this will mean more business, more jobs and more opportunity for all of Peekskill’s residents.”
Foster said the city had been streamlining administrative operations while keeping a focus on public safety, economic development and city services. She also touted new hires such as a new city engineer, new corporation counsel, a new police chief, a new human resource director, and said a new director of planning and economic development would be hired soon.
Peekskill is a hot city for economic growth, Foster said, and is successfully attracting new families and businesses with a variety of interests and from a variety of backgrounds and income levels.
“Starting next month you can get inked by (R&B artist) Rihanna’s tattoo artist and raise four chickens in a coop-friendly environment,” Foster said. “Starting next month you can visit the Yellow Brick Road Café while you gaze out at the permanent installation of 'The Diver' on the riverfront.”
Foster went on to list 13 projects that the city planned to see movement on in the city later this year:
-Reopening of The Paramount Center for the Arts -The opening of the Holiday Inn Express -The groundbreaking for Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing -The groundbreaking for the Southern riverfront park improvements -The groundbreaking for the new central firehouse -The welcoming of a new year-round docking facility for Trinity Cruise Line ‘Evening Star’ on the southern riverfront green -The securing of a developer for lower South Street -Planning for new residential development along Central Avenue -Improving the safety of the Bear Mountain Parkway by the DOT at Highland Avenue, North Division Street and Carhart Avenue and center median improvements from N. Division Street and Carhart Ave. to Route 202. -Improved, dedicated parking for library patrons in the parking lot next to city hall -A public meeting on the Route 6 Streetscape Improvement Design Report -Planning for the Charles Point Trail connecting the Fleishman Pier with the Charles Point Marina and Lent’s Cove using grant funding -Updating Peekskill’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan to include docking facilities, piers, watercraft launches and water related uses using grant funding.
Foster said state grants and public-private partnerships would allow the city to continue infrastructure improvements such as creating second and third floor residential units for properties along S. Division Street and Brown Street; historic lights and sidewalk improvements begin on South Street, Brown Street, South Division Street; improvements and enhancements to the Nelson Avenue garage; construction on the new Main Street Commons and physical improvements to Crossroads Shopping Center.
Video of Foster’s entire speech can be viewed above.
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