Geographic Area & Justification
The Village of Sherman's Main Street downtown business district, with its four eateries, is the center of the target area, running East and West on NY State Rte. 430, in proximity to I-86. To the north lies the cultural activities on Park Street and to the south there are outdoor recreational opportunities along French Creek including parks and the multi-use trail (Chautauqua Rails to Trails).
The Village of Sherman is known by its historic Downtown Main Street with its charming multi-story brick attached-row buildings with distinct architectural facades and covered walkway. It is surrounded by outdoor recreational opportunities at parks along French Creek, the Nature Center, and southern trailhead of Chautauqua Rails to Trails (CR2T). Sherman offers an affordable, family friendly, walkable and bikeable community for a healthy quality of life.
The quaint Village along the I-86 corridor and 13 miles from I-90 is centered between the cities of Jamestown, Dunkirk, and Erie, PA, and the metropolitan areas of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. Nearby attractions include Chautauqua Institution, National Comedy Center, Peek ’n Peak Resort and three beautiful recreational lakes within 20 minutes (Findley Lake, Chautauqua Lake, and Lake Erie). Chautauqua Rails to Trails and Westside Overland Trail in the Village and Town of Sherman connect the Village to some of the many blueways and greenways to experience in Chautauqua County. Together these position Sherman as a welcoming, accessible place to live and visit, whether commuting from the quiet bedroom community or traveling to this strategic location for regional tourism.
The focus area consists of commercial and mixed-use buildings, restoration and reuse projects, housing development, retail and façade improvements, public art and placemaking projects, with enhancements to parks, trails, and safe streets with traffic calming and wayfinding elements. Downtown Main Street is lined with multi-story, mixed-use attached row buildings containing retail establishments and restaurants on the first floors with residential units occupying the upper floors, some of which are vacant due to the 1991 fire and require rehabilitation. The downtown center is bookended with two vacant industrial buildings uniquely positioned to be transformed into recreational and community spaces that will draw visitors to the region.
The proposed projects at the museum, library, parks, and trail in the focus area complement the downtown projects with enriching educational, cultural, natural, and recreational improvements, providing ADA accessibility and safety elements.