City of Batavia
County: Genesee County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (585) 345-6300

In 1999 the City of Batavia and the New York State Department of Transportation entered into a partnering agreement to rebuild Main Street, known officially as New York State Route 5. The initial purpose of the project was addressing safety and capacity concerns, providing a structurally adequate driving surface, and improving accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. After receiving business and citizen input, community leaders realized the enormous opportunity the reconstruction could provide. Main Street had the potential to once again become the center of Batavia's commercial district. The autonomy given in the partnering agreement allowed Batavia to structure the Main Street project to meet the needs of Batavia residents and businesses and focus on improving aesthetics and enhancing economic viability in the Main Street corridor.

City of White Plains (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (914) 422-1200

Renaissance Plaza, a 21st Century water feature and open space incubator, serves as the centerpiece of the Downtown district of White Plains. The area of the water fountain prior to the construction of Renaissance Plaza was dangerous, unsightly, and discouraged pedestrian activity in the downtown. Renaissance Plaza creates open space linkages throughout the city and serves to unite different commercial areas, activating an area once barren and unsafe, and is home to a state of the art water feature with choreographed music, lights, and leaping fountains. The $3.5 million redesigned fountain and plaza was constructed with funds raised from public sources and private developer contributions, and is a stunning example of the power of public and private partnerships. Renaissance Plaza employed Urban Renewal Agency resources and private developer financing, which allowed for the development of the project without using local tax dollars.

Village of South Glens Falls
County: Saratoga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 793-1455

The Village of South Glens Falls lies in the middle of a very active tourism region, yet its economic climate had been weakening for the last several decades. In 2002, with financial assistance from the Small Cities Technical Assistance Program, the Village leaders agreed to coordinate a revitalization of the Village's waterfront and Main Street business district with a focus on the tourism industry.

Village of Pittsford
County: Monroe County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (585) 586-4332

In August of 2004, the village completed Phase III of its Erie Canal Waterfront Improvement Project. The project culminated a decade long effort by the village to transform its historic waterfront into a regional destination. Schoen Place, a narrow village street running parallel to the north bank of the Erie Canal, bisects the village's waterfront district.