Projects
Civicure’s founders have long been involved in the Hoosick community and have worked on such precursor projects as Art in the Park with work by internationally-known sculptors such as George Rickey and Jose de Creeft. In 2004 Civicure was awarded $200,000 by the New York Main Street Grant that resulted in streetscape enhancement and significant architectural renovations for more than 10 buildings in downtown Hoosick Falls. Developing opportunities for heritage and recreational tourism, including art and history exhibitions, are all part of Civicure’s plans, with the ultimate goal of creating the Grandma Moses Heritage Center.
- 1978 Art in the Park exhibition in Wood Park, with works by internationally-renowned artists including Jules Olitski and sculpture by George Rickey and Isaac Witkin.
- 1976-1979 Successful Campaign to place the Guardian sculpture by artist José de Creeft in Wood Park in Hoosick Falls.
- 1980 Hoosick Falls Historic District is designated by the National Register of Historic Places. Includes approximately 40 buildings on 8 acres in the central commercial district.
- 1983 Mural of Grandma Moses’s painting The Blacksmith’s Shop created to celebrate the close ties of this internationally-known artist to Hoosick Falls.
- 1999 Artists Carol Haerer and Philip Wofford gift works of art to CiviCure.
- 2000 Non-profit tax [501 c 3] status granted in August.
- 2000 Conceptual Plan for Downtown Hoosick Falls by Argus Architects and Preservation working with the Downtown Revitalization Committee of Hoosick Chamber of Commerce.
- 2001 Bake Sale at the October Farmer’s Market at Wood Park to benefit Wood Block restoration.
- 2003 Village of Hoosick Falls completes Community Strategic Plan.
- 2004 Town of Hoosick completes a Comprehensive Plan.
- CiviCure sponsors a local competitive grant program providing $1,000 grants to property owners who improve the exterior appearance of their homes.
- Main Street, New York grant application submitted with the support of the Hoosick Falls Village Board.
- 2005-2009 Main Street New York Grant of $200,000 received and administered
- Grants in the amount of $180,000 and $20,000 with the second sum used for streetscape enhancement. The funds were used to revitalize the 3-block target area of Main, John and Classic Streets.
- The grant funded projects in the categories of building Renovation, facade Improvement and energy efficiency, improved public access, stabilization and correction of modern changes. These included: 60 Classic Street, 5 John Street, 8-10 John Street, 11-15 John Street, 14 John Street, and 24 Church Street.
- 2006-2007 Riverfront Study: AQC Architects, NYC collaborate with students and faculty from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture and Columbia University’s Urban Design Lab on the development of plans for the restoration of Classic Street along the Hoosic River. Public meetings, including local and state government leaders result in a business plan and schematic drawings for the proposed Grandma Moses Heritage Center.
- 2006 Visitor Kiosk Design Project.
- 2008 Meetings of Civicure and The Persistence Foundation (TPF) with state legislative representatives about the creation of the Grandma Moses heritage district to include sites that represent Hoosick’s agricultural heritage such as TPF’s restored Historic Barns of Nipmoose in West Hoosick and art and architectural heritage efforts pursued by Civicure.
- 2009 Request to the office of the Governor of the State of New York for Economic Development Funding in Partnership with ASA, HooRWA, Persistence Foundation, Barnett Homestead and Bennington Battlefield Living History Museum.
- 2009-2011 $50,000 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Legislative Initiative Grant to further creation of the Grandma Moses Heritage Center through website and program development.
- 2010 Application made to the New York Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund for further development of the Wood Block upper floors for artist’s studios, gallery and living space.
- 1976-1980 Civicure Co-founder, Rolf Sternberg is Chair of the Town of Hoosick Housing Authority, which obtains funding for Hoosac Meadows public housing and Wood Park Senior Housing. Also obtained Community Development Block Grant to renovate downtown public amenities including sidewalks and street lighting.
Plans and Work In Progress
Hoosick Heritage: Visiting Grandma Moses Country
To develop heritage and recreational tourism by creating a unified source of information about abundant Hoosick region resources of historical, cultural, agricultural, and natural interest and creating an information and exhibition center as the starting point for a regional driving/biking/hiking tour.
Portrait of Hoosick: an exhibition of portraits of people and places that capture the historical, cultural and natural resources of Hoosick, NY.
A Catalogue of Artists of the Hoosick and Taconic River/Range
With the results of the 2006-2007 architectural charette by Syracuse and Columbia Universities in hand, CiviCure continues to work towards the realization of the Grandma Moses Heritage Center.