It is obvious that downtowns across upstate New York are desperate to reinvent themselves. Small stores are in short supply and without foot traffic, restaurants can suffer.

Then there is Westfield, an energetic village that has seen a renaissance in recent years. This weekend, its traditional Christmas event will take place that will add plenty of joy and cheer to Main Street.

A bigger picture includes the effort at the former CE Welch building that took another step to bring added apartments and commercial space by 2027.

Samuel Savarino, chief executive officer of Savarino Companies, was at the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting this week. Savarino’s original proposal was to have 46 apartments, with a portion of those being for lower income residents. There would also be commercial space on the first floor.

With the apartments, Savarino said three of them will be studios and others will be two bedroom units. Because they’re remodeling an older building, all of the apartments will be unique.

“If we want to strengthen and grow the economy in Chautauqua County, we need to be able to provide up-to-date housing units with modern amenities for working professionals,” said County Executive PJ Wendel. “This adaptive, reuse and mixed-use project in Westfield is an example of how we are capitalizing on the rich history of our towns and villages across the county to provide new and attractive housing for our residents. I am excited that 2 Portage, LLC will breathe new life into this iconic building that has been an important part of our local history.”

Westfield has done a lot of things right in building its reputation, including the summer Farmers’ Market and First Fridays. Apartments downtown are another sign of greater things to come.