Investing in Newburgh's Historic Streetscape
Liberty Street has been one of Newburgh's most important corridors - a place where people live, work, shop, gather, and celebrate the city's history and culture. Lined with historic buildings, local businesses, community institutions, and civic destinations, the corridor serves as both a transportation route and a center of community life.
The Liberty Street Reconstruction Project represents a significant investment in the future of this corridor. By modernizing aging underground infrastructure while improving the streetscape, the project will create a safer, more accessible, and more resilient Liberty Street that better serves residents, businesses, and visitors for generations to come.
Why Liberty Street?
The City of Newburgh (City) is under an Order on Consent with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) related to the City’s combined sewer system (CSS) compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy. Providing a new separate storm sewer on Liberty Street will remove a portion of the stormwater collected along Liberty Street between Ann Street and Renwick Street from the combined sewer, decreasing the amount of combined sewage conveyed to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and reducing combined sewage overflows to the Hudson River. The addition of green infrastructure (GI) practices in this project corridor will further mitigate stormwater peak flows and also will improve stormwater quality before discharge to the Hudson River by removing nutrients.
In addition, the existing water mains will be replaced and upgraded while construction for the new storm sewer occurs. The existing water mains that service Liberty Street are reaching the end of their useful lives. The new water mains will be sized to accommodate future development. Existing lead service lines in the project area will be replaced in the interest of public health.
Following utility construction, the streetscape will be restored into a pedestrian friendly, ADA compliant, and more accessible area for the local community. Liberty Street has served as one of Newburgh’s primary commercial, civic, and cultural corridors. Historic buildings, neighborhood businesses, places of worship, community organizations, restaurants, and gathering spaces line each side of the street. Liberty Street reflects the city’s rich architectural heritage and diverse community.
Liberty Street is where daily life happens. It connects neighborhoods, supports local businesses, and provides access to essential destinations. The project seeks to preserve the character and identity of Liberty Street while investing in the infrastructure needed to support the corridor for generations to come.
Project Area
The project focuses on the stretch of Liberty Street between Renwick Street and Ann Street, with related improvements on adjacent streets where infrastructure connections and upgrades are necessary. The map on this page highlights the project area and key areas throughout the corridor.
Coordinated Public Investments
This project is made possible through a combination of federal, state, and local funding sources that support improvements to critical infrastructure, streetscape enhancements, environmental sustainability, and community revitalization.
These investments allow the City to coordinate improvements that might otherwise occur over many years into a single, comprehensive project, thus minimizing future disruptions while maximizing long-term community benefits.
Total Investments
Total Investment: $18,720,000 million
Funding Partners:
o Environmental Facilities Corporation
o New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
o Empire State Development
Investing Above and Below Ground
Much of the infrastructure beneath Liberty Street has served the community for decades and is ready for replacement or rehabilitation. The City is taking a comprehensive approach that upgrades underground infrastructure while improving the streetscape.
Above Ground:
Roadway reconstruction and paving
Sidewalk reconstruction, curb bump outs, and ADA curb ramps
Safer pedestrian crossings
Street trees and landscaping
Decorative lighting
Designated on-street parking
Below Ground:
Replacement of aging water infrastructure
Sanitary sewer rehabilitation
New, separate stormwater infrastructure
Green infrastructure for improved stormwater management
These improvements will create a safer, more accessible, and more resilient Liberty Street. Replacing aging underground utilities and adding a separate storm sewer system will help reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in the Hudson River.
Reconstructed sidewalks, shorter pedestrian crossings, improved accessibility, new landscaping, and enhanced streetscape features will create a corridor that is more enticing for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
Project Timeline
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Fall 2026
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Mid 2027
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2027-2030
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2030
