Homer discusses idea for DRI sketch plan

Village historian Martin Sweeney talk to the village Board of Trustees on Tuesday about monument proposal honoring three Homer natives who had a historical impact on Abraham Lincoln’s life. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith/Cortland Voice).

The village of Homer Board of Trustees on Tuesday discussed plans of action for its application submission for the 2021 New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative -- and a project idea by the village historian could be the focal point of it.

When it comes time for the village to submit its DRI application before its Sept. 15 deadline, a monument proposal by historian Martin Sweeney would potentially be the centerpiece of Homer’s transformative vision of its downtown area. If the application is selected, it would result in Homer receiving $10 million near the end of the year.

The monument was pitched by Sweeney, honors three Homer natives from their history that played an integral role in Abraham Lincoln’s life (16th President of the United States): Francis Carpenter, William Osburn Stoddard and Eli DeVoe. It would include paintings, plaques and statues

Carpenter painted the portrait of Lincoln’s first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation; Stoddard was a personal security guard for Lincoln; and DeVoe was a detective who thwarted an assassination attempt on Lincoln.

Sweeney, who said he has spent close to a decade on the monument proposal, said the project cost about $420,000 near the beginning of the proposal. Sweeney is waiting to hear what the cost would be today, but knows “prices have certainly gone up” in every facet of the project.

Sweeney’s proposal notes the placement of the monument at the town hall entrance on North Main Street, due to the building being constructed in 1908.

Mayor Hal McCabe, however, thinks the monument proposal could be centrally located where development in the village would be and “make it sort of the hub of everything it’s built around.”

One idea McCabe had was placing the monument behind buildings on Main Street, near Pine Street and towards the back of the Tioughnioga River. McCabe noted that while it’s only an idea at the moment, the board still needs to consider the best placement for it.

The state looks for DRI applications that could attract travel and tourism to municipalities. McCabe said the monument proposal could help the village’s cause for its submission.

“If we make that the focal point of our entire DRI application, and sort of a public art initiative, it stands a chance of being funded better than anything else,” he said.

McCabe added, “Even if the state says we’ll chip in for half, I’m sure we can find a way to cover the other half somehow.”

The village received $300,000 over two years from the American Rescue Plan Act. If needed, the village can use funds from it for travel and tourism attractions, said treasurer Tanya Digennaro.

Board member Ed Finkbeiner said the monument would not only be an attraction for tourism, but could potentially bring in sales tax revenue for the village.

“People could go kayaking on the river or go on the bike trail and stop in to see the monument,” he said.

The village board is planning to pay $15,000 through its ARPA funds to Keystone Associates, LLC of Binghamton to rewrite Homer’s DRI application. Homer lost its bid for DRI funds in 2019.

McCabe noted the village would give Keystone Associates $15,000 more through ARPA funds for any potential architectural renderings.

“Since we’re on a short timeline, we’ve got to be on top of this,” said deputy mayor Pat Clune.