If you have driven through the village of Watkins Glen sometime in the last week, you have probably noticed the former Clifford Motors building at the corner of Second and Franklin Street has been demolished.
On Monday, the state awarded two million dollars for the redevelopment of the location by the International Motor Racing Research Center as a new, purpose-built building that will serve as an expansion to its South Decatur Street location.
A description of the project from the state: “Enabling the Future for the Next Generation of Watkins Glen.” This project will be constructed on the site of a vacant car dealership that will be demolished. A new, purpose-built building will welcome visitors with exhibits, and provide tours, educational programming, and other activities that document and share this history in new and innovative ways by creating an experiential history center that celebrates motor racing history worldwide, including the 75 years of racing history in the Village.
The Watkins Glen project was one of 70 projects to share in $112.9 million in funding awarded by the state through the Restore New York Communities Initiative.
“These Restore New York grants will help to reimagine downtowns across our state and transform vacant, blighted and underutilized buildings into vibrant community anchors,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Thanks to a more than $146 million state investment, we are breathing new life into communities from Hudson to North Hempstead, jumpstarting new economic activity and helping ensure that New York State continues to be a place where people come to live, work and raise their families.”
