The local planners of Dunkirk’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative held a final public workshop Thursday to show off the projects they will suggest to state officials for the funding. The event in Dunkirk High School’s cafeteria featured posterboards describing the projects, and planning committee consultants further discussing them.

They reported that the grant awards will be announced late this year or early 2024. Winning projects will be assigned state agencies to oversee them. Officials in Albany administer the grants. Developers will pay for things up front and get paid back by the grants.

The local planning committee actually identified about $15 million in projects preferred for DRI funding. The idea is that if one or two of the projects fall through, the state will have other options to choose for the funding.

This is the full list of projects suggested by the local committee:

This map provided by the Dunkirk Downtown Revitalization Initiative’s local planning committee shows the sites of projects suggested by the committee for use of the grant money.

• Construction of 78 “affordable” apartments and a day care facility, on Washington Avenue and not far away near the Sav-a-Lot Plaza on Fourth Street.

• Erection of an amphitheater and welcome center in Memorial Park, to include public restrooms.

• Work on both the east and west sides of the marina, in separate proposals. The Chadwick Bay Marina on the west side would get new boat slips and boater amenities. The eastern side would get permanent docks, electrical upgrades and a closed-circuit security camera system.

• Expansion of the Central Station Restaurant on Central Avenue, to include creation of an apartment on the second floor.

• Interior and facade improvements to Demetri’s On The Lake.

• Demolition and reconstruction of 31 “affordable” housing units across seven sites, six on Second Street and the other on Park Avenue.

• Projects to redevelop the Ehler’s building at the corner of Fourth Street and Central Avenue, along with the unused bank building across the street.

• A refurbishment of the Graf Building, sought by Jamestown Community College, into a workforce training and development center.

• Expansion and renovation of the Stearns Court next to Central Station, to create a public gathering place.

• Renovation of the Macaroni Building at Washington Avenue and Lake Shore Drive into 13 “market-rate” apartments and medical offices.

• A plan to “restore and activate” Aida’s Cafe on Second Street.

• Updates to the Clarion Hotel building and grounds.

• Revival of the Adams, the former art gallery at Fifth Street and Central Avenue, to house arts and youth programming.

• Establishment of a Downtown Dunkirk Small Project Fund.

More information is available on the Dunkirk Downtown Revitalization Initiative website, dunkirkdri.com.