LIBERTY — The Town of Liberty has its eyes on state grant funding that could help restore a local landmark. 

The $2 million grant through the Restore New York Communities Initiative  could help breathe new life into the Green Building on the corner of Main Street and Chestnut Street. The Town filed an intent to apply form and the final application is due by January 27.  Town Supervisor Frank DeMayo said they would be working with the building’s owner, Abraham Mizrahi, to assemble the application. 

A public hearing regarding the Restore New York funding will take place in Liberty on December 19 at 6:50 p.m.   

The Restore New York Communities Initiative is a state program that helps provide municipalities with financial assistance for the revitalization of commercial and residential properties. The program encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures.

Councilman Vince McPhillips asked why the town of Liberty was applying for the grant if the building is in the village of Liberty. Confidential Secretary Nick Rusin has been working to apply for the grant. 

“If there are opportunities for us to help out we will and we are,” DeMayo said. “Any opportunity we can get to fix up these buildings here would be great.” 

DeMayo said the town already has a Restore NY Application pending for three buildings in Parksville. This other application, when filed, will be for the next round of grant funding. 

According to Sullivan County Historian, John Conway, the Green Building replaced the famous Liberty Music Hall building after it was destroyed in the Friday the thirteenth fire of June 13, 1913. 

Conway said the Music Hall, which had been built by the prominent businessman A.J.D. Wedemeyer, was purchased in 1904 by B. F. Green, who located his department store on the ground floor with the Music Hall being upstairs. 

After the fire destroyed the building, B.F. Green rebuilt it. Green was a Russian immigrant who was brought to the United States, and eventually to Liberty, by Nathan Federgreen, who later changed his name to Charlie Green, and B.F. Green took the same last name.