The concept of DRI is well intended, unfortunately anytime you get "free money" from the government it usually comes with more red tape and absurd requests it's almost not worth the resources. The South Street project got caught in the "perfect storm." Started in the Diamond administration with Ed Bartholomew at the helm, then Mayor Hall was elected, COVID hit, Ed died, Hall only did one term and then Bill Collins was elected. People had to scramble to pick up the projects from Ed's reign, and with the huge price increases of labor, materials and interest rates (and don't forget NYS requires prevailing wage and other strings about minority hires, etc.) and the next thing you know it's years later with costs that are through the roof. Luckily now with Bonacio getting the revised PILOT and ready to start, South Street will finally upgrade the last block of the street to something much improved (apparently Nims is going to convert the old building on Elm/South, too). Downtown core in the past 3+ years has seen millions in improvements and hopefully there will be more after South/Elm development is completed. What Bill Nikas has done in Hudson Falls and the gang at the Strand Theater is impressive. They are working on another building now. All good, but we need jobs and more housing in the downtown cores in all these places and anyone paying attention to the huge job losses in the past few years has to realize that without an economic engine, it's tough to keep the momentum going. GE, Sandy Hill, Essity, Cement plant, Angio Dynamics, and Quad Graphics are only the last decade of shut downs but huge numbers of jobs lost. Seasonal tourism jobs don't pay the same salaries and benefits and Global Foundries is just far enough away that it doesn't have the same impact as it does in Clifton Park, Malta, Round Lake, etc.
I share your thoughts. The struggle of costs vs benefits is not an easy task.
Regarding the GF Market Center, I'm not a fan of the parking options for farmer's market vendors. Seems like they are getting shafted. I spoke with a member of the Planning Board when I asked about it and the response was that the vendors had it easy under the pavilion as most farmer's market do not have that type of set up. Seemed like a cold response.
We miss those days of travel hockey with wonderful families, like the Doolittle’s. It was a great mix of folks who enjoyed each other’s company, and kids.
Great to hear all of your voices, and as always, clever conversation ❤️
Kendall McKernon has established a jewel of a destination with his gallery. It's a "go to" place when you want a special gift, either for someone or for yourself.
The DRI in GF is a great illustration of the fraud of "economic development", albeit just one example. The public consultation period was nothing more than a fig leaf designed to tick a box for the state (whose main interest was in box ticking and photo ops). They sold it as a year round home for the farmers market but as soon as the public "consultation" phase was over, the powers that be reshaped it into what they always wanted in the first place: a giveaway to developers. Everyone knows that the best economic development is organic. The farmers market and Take a Bite being great examples. It's a shame the city doesn't seem to care about this and remains dazzled with the big developers.
South Street to be a street of dreams at last?
Thanks to Bill Nikas for his dreams as well.
Happy Easter, Will, Ken and all.
The crocuses too are blooming never disappointing in my non-landscaped front yard Aah
Diane Collins
Thank you Will...Kendall is a SPECTACULAR artist. In our "North Country"...
The concept of DRI is well intended, unfortunately anytime you get "free money" from the government it usually comes with more red tape and absurd requests it's almost not worth the resources. The South Street project got caught in the "perfect storm." Started in the Diamond administration with Ed Bartholomew at the helm, then Mayor Hall was elected, COVID hit, Ed died, Hall only did one term and then Bill Collins was elected. People had to scramble to pick up the projects from Ed's reign, and with the huge price increases of labor, materials and interest rates (and don't forget NYS requires prevailing wage and other strings about minority hires, etc.) and the next thing you know it's years later with costs that are through the roof. Luckily now with Bonacio getting the revised PILOT and ready to start, South Street will finally upgrade the last block of the street to something much improved (apparently Nims is going to convert the old building on Elm/South, too). Downtown core in the past 3+ years has seen millions in improvements and hopefully there will be more after South/Elm development is completed. What Bill Nikas has done in Hudson Falls and the gang at the Strand Theater is impressive. They are working on another building now. All good, but we need jobs and more housing in the downtown cores in all these places and anyone paying attention to the huge job losses in the past few years has to realize that without an economic engine, it's tough to keep the momentum going. GE, Sandy Hill, Essity, Cement plant, Angio Dynamics, and Quad Graphics are only the last decade of shut downs but huge numbers of jobs lost. Seasonal tourism jobs don't pay the same salaries and benefits and Global Foundries is just far enough away that it doesn't have the same impact as it does in Clifton Park, Malta, Round Lake, etc.
Happy Transgender Day of Visibility!♥️
Happy Easter Sunday!!! May it be a pleasant one for all!!!!
Will,
I share your thoughts. The struggle of costs vs benefits is not an easy task.
Regarding the GF Market Center, I'm not a fan of the parking options for farmer's market vendors. Seems like they are getting shafted. I spoke with a member of the Planning Board when I asked about it and the response was that the vendors had it easy under the pavilion as most farmer's market do not have that type of set up. Seemed like a cold response.
We miss those days of travel hockey with wonderful families, like the Doolittle’s. It was a great mix of folks who enjoyed each other’s company, and kids.
Great to hear all of your voices, and as always, clever conversation ❤️
Unable to get this chat and I don’t understand about this use of pronouns.😟
Kendall McKernon has established a jewel of a destination with his gallery. It's a "go to" place when you want a special gift, either for someone or for yourself.
The DRI in GF is a great illustration of the fraud of "economic development", albeit just one example. The public consultation period was nothing more than a fig leaf designed to tick a box for the state (whose main interest was in box ticking and photo ops). They sold it as a year round home for the farmers market but as soon as the public "consultation" phase was over, the powers that be reshaped it into what they always wanted in the first place: a giveaway to developers. Everyone knows that the best economic development is organic. The farmers market and Take a Bite being great examples. It's a shame the city doesn't seem to care about this and remains dazzled with the big developers.