Erie Blvd. plan must try to incorporate use of old Edison buildings
Five years ago, during the campaign for city mayor, both parties picked up on the theme “Erie Edison Tech Corridor,” without giving any idea what that might eventually mean. Clough Harbour, based in Albany, was awarded $1.1 million for initial design work. It wasn’t until several of the present business owners came forward at a city council meeting in July 2008, voicing their objection to the Clough Harbour proposals for the expenditure of around $14 million, that the council began to listen and called for public meetings and the formation of a citizens’ advisory group. Erie Boulevard for many years had center islands with parking on both sides. Dozens of photos on the Internet reveal how other cities have creatively used various designs with islands. An Aug. 31 Gazette article [about Palm Desert, Calif.] is an example. In my opinion, it is absolutely necessary for Clough Harbour to present alternatives, such as islands, for public consideration. Clough Harbour plans to make a presentation on Sept. 18 at the GE Theatre at Proctors, to hear public “suggestions.” The location for this meeting is not appropriate unless tables and chairs are provided so that everyone is on the same level and has room for laptop, notebook and other working tools. After all, this is not about entertainment. It is certain there will be fancy videos, but will public input have any impact? Doubtful. Last November the Edison Exploratorium held an on-site press conference to introduce a conceptual design to preserve historic Edison Buildings 31 and 32 from the Dock Street (Erie Canal) days as the foundation for a proposed Edison Tech Center, using existing structures as much as possible to keep initial costs to a minimum. A properly planned hotel/ conference center and intermodal transportation combined with the tech center could produce big economic benefi ts for the city and county and provide hands-on experience for Schenectady Community College culinary arts and hotel management students. When Edison came here in August 1886, it represented an opportunity of unparalleled growth, but virtually nobody could view it as anything but a big risk. We now have a new opportunity, with the Global GE wind turbine as our keystone and Buildings 31 and 32 as the Plymouth Rock of electrification! Other cities have had to invent attractions or import them; we need not do so! We need a plan. Is this too much to ask? Give us a chance to propose ideas and from a variety of inputs produce a relevant, up-to date plan. There is nothing in life that is constant; change, and the political process, must allow for this fact! JOHN D. HARNDEN Schenectady The writer is founder of the Edison Exploratorium.
Every time I drive down Erie Blvd where the city wants to put the roundabout I think why in heavens name do they want to put it here where it's not needed or wanted? The only reason that I can come up with is so the city can use eminent domain to get rid of Adult World book store and the gun shop which in my opinion is illegal and the city should be taken to task if they proceed with this project.
Stratton, council should drop Erie Blvd roundabout
Re Sept. 3 article, “Council eyes changes to Erie plan”: In 1997 elected officials gave Metroplex the power to spend multi-millions annually without the people’s input. Now, once again, it appears that the mayor/city council, in support of the Erie Boulevard roundabout, are saying to the people: “We know what’s best for you. We need to construct the Erie Boulevard roundabout.” That is not only totally unfair to Erie Boulevard businesses, which are opposed to the proposed roundabout, but also to the majority of city residents, who I’m sure are opposed as well. Recently Mayor Stratton was quoted in the news as saying, “no project can please everyone.” I want to remind him that throughout my governmental career, we never had any traffic problem complaints about Erie Boulevard. Also, I want to point out that government belongs to the people. As such, Mayor Stratton and members of the city council, please don’t tell the people that you what’s best for them and vote to support the Erie Boulevard roundabout. If this issue were put on the voting machine for a referendum, the people would vote no. FRANK J. DUCI Schenectady
SCHENECTADY — A public information meeting scheduled for Thursday on the planned redevelopment of Erie Boulevard has been postponed indefinitely, Mayor Brian U. Stratton said this afternoon.
Scott Lewendon, a landscape architect for Clough Harbour and Associates, which is designing the new Erie Boulevard, said the postponement was necessary to allow designers to incorporate suggestions made by the public since the initial plan was released.
"Our design team is working with the city to consider, review and potentially incorporate as many of these new features as is practical in the scope of the overall project," Lewendon said. "To do so and be ready with a revised design by next Thursday just isn't feasible."
In addition, Stratton said several Erie Boulevard business asked him to postpone the meeting to give them more time to review the plan and offer their comments.
"We are trying to accommodate all input and all requests, with the goal of making this the best possible project for the city," Stratton said.
I gotta say that was an excellent article from Duci. I must agree that I don't know the 'logical' reason as to WHY Erie Blvd needs a make over. The city leaders seem to have a problem with nice wide roads. I mean look at those 2 blocks of State Street. Half of the street is now for parking. It is beginning to appear that it is narrow minded people who also like narrow roads.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
No one likes Erie Blvd. project, and it’s a money pit besides
By now the mayor and city council are aware that the business owners affected by the proposed Erie Boulevard construction are not in favor of the Erie Boulevard project as it currently stands. The city has paid Clough Harbor $1.5 million for the work already done on the proposed project. Are taxpayers aware of this cost? As we continue to make modifications to the drawings the price tag continues to climb with each change and new drawing, we are incurring additional expenses. Our concerns are simple: The advisory committee appointed by the mayor did not include a single business owner on Erie Bouelvard. The SEQR [State Environmental Quality Review] has not yet been performed, and the possible contamination buried in the canal is unknown at this time. The water, sewer and electric under the canal are close to 100 years old and will most likely have to be replaced as well. Where is the money coming from? Yes, we have some federal and state money, but the plan also calls for the city to pay 5 percent. Do we have funds for this? We want a timeout; appoint a new citizens advisory committee that will represent the businesses and taxpayers of the city. Have the city do the necessary preparation work before forging ahead. What are the potential environmental concerns, traffic implications and budget issues? The boulevard has been working for 50 years; it is not broken, but could use a face-lift. I know the mayor stated “no project can please everyone,” but shouldn’t it please someone? SABRINA HEILMANN Schenectady The writer is sales manager for AFLAC.
Once upon a time, many years ago, Route 9 was a three-lane highway. The outside lanes were for north and south traffic with the middle lane for passing. The problem was in the passing lane — who had the right of way, the car heading south or the car heading north? The solution in many cases was a headon crash, with tragic results. The powers in charge realized their folly, and today there are no three-lane death traps. You might well ask how could anyone have been so stupid to design something just plain dumb. Have no fear, stupidity is still here in the form of roundabouts, traffic circles or whatever they call them. You know those monstrosities where cars come at you from all directions and getting on one in heavy traffic is about as much fun as playing Russian roulette. Some states have tried them with poor results but New York seems to be proceeding full speed ahead. Anyone attempting to drive over Route 67 in Malta, with its five roundabouts — an adventure that would give an Evil Knievel second thoughts, would be thankful they got through it in one piece. New York state, along with counties cities, towns and villages, has serious fiscal problems, limited income and increased expenses. Spending scarce funds to install a roundabout on lower Erie Boulevard or any place in New York might be, in the words of some car salesmen, a “huge” mistake. BILL WRAGG Scotia
Businesses balk at Erie Boulevard makeover Owners say historic strip's redesign will squeeze them out, bring offices in
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer Last updated: 12:07 a.m., Monday, October 6, 2008 Those against the plan include Sabrina Heilmann, left, and Sarah Michener, right, pictured recently on Erie Boulevard. (Paul Buckowski/ Times Union)
SCHENECTADY — Five years ago, Mayor Brian U. Stratton made a campaign promise that he would reconstruct Erie Boulevard, now a wide sea of asphalt, into a tree-lined, high tech gateway to the Electric City
But with less than a year before start of work on the $14 million project, business owners along the historic road that traces the original Erie Canal - are mounting a revolt to get the project stopped.
Concerned Business People of Erie Boulevard, a group consisting of about 30 business owners who run everything from delis to electrical stores, say they fear the street's redesign is meant push them out in favor of suburban-looking office parks.
Stratton denies the claim, saying there's room for everyone in his vision. But business owners don't buy it. Many have been attending City Council meetings, have printed protest T-shirts, have hired an attorney and requested to look at thousands of project documents.
Thus far, the group has gotten a September public meeting on the project's design postponed indefinitely while the city attempts to address the group's concerns.
"Needless to say, we'd like to stop the project dead,'' said Sarah Michener, an organizer of the group and 28-year owner of Annabel's, a hair salon on nearby South Ferry Street. "We can't tell you what would ultimately make us happy. But every time we ask a question, we have more questions."
Stratton successfully got more than $13 million pledged in federal and state money for the project back in 2005. Another roughly $700,000 must come from the city. The redevelopment involves tearing up Erie Boulevard from Interstate 890 to Liberty Street, placing a tree-lined median down the middle of the roadway and building a roundabout at South Ferry Street so cars can access either side of Erie Boulevard west of State Street.
The changes will not only make the excessively wide portion west of State Street more attractive, Stratton said, it will slow down traffic and make pedestrian crossings safe.
The boulevard, which was the original route of the Erie Canal in the 1800s and later served as the main thoroughfare traveled by thousands of General Electric workers each day, has remained about six lanes wide at its widest, with the middle previously used as parking.
Business owners balked after the design was unveiled a year ago, convinced the median and roundabout system will keep customers from their doors, not to mention other concerns about canal artifacts buried under the pavement will be treated. They also want to know how aging sewer lines will be replaced and how $14 million can possibly cover today's escalating construction costs.
The sewer lines will be replaced and the city's designers, Clough Harbour and Associates, have worked on an archeological study as part of the design phase.
Dave Jukins, deputy director for the Capital District Transportation Committee, said projections indicate the reconstruction can still be paid with $14 million. Jukins said there might be a price adjustment done by year's end because of increasing steel prices. Stratton said he wants to work with business owners, recently adding another turnaround at Interstate 890 to offer more opportunities to reach the other side of the street. But he's undeterred in his vision otherwise. "It will be a beautiful place to ride your bike and walk. It is possible to look back in three years and say, 'This is wonderful,'" Stratton said. "Change is good."
Lauren Stanforth can be reached at 454-5697 or by email at lstanforth@timesunion.com
once again the richest of the rich and the naysayers want to take away the choice of the people over there to make it possible to walk on that there street. People in the city want to fix up the place since it looks like a dump. Maybe these here people who are so negatrive about it all should pack up and leave and get out of the way of the progress. I was originally against this here but the repubs plans didnt work for the economy here or in the country so we need to go with the demos plans to get things done right. I dont like Stratton too much but this here is a good thing and if the other businesses there want to move then I say so be it indeed
The people in Schdy want to fix up Erie Blvd and make it a show case entrance to the city. What they don't want is a round-a-bout that costs 14 million to control a traffic problem that doesn't exist and that's a huge waste of money that's needed elsewhere.
Right Shadow. This will cost the oppressed City taxpayers at least $700,000. There is no street light here. The entire plan is stuna and not one business owner on Erie Blvd supports it.
The Mayor is bound and determine to push it through- public be damned, taxpayers be damned, businesses be damned. The State facing a record deficit doesn't have the money to throw down this toilet either. The talk about pedestrians is funny. Nobody walks down Erie Blvd. If built this will tie up traffic onto 890 causing many accidents.
With this huge financial crisis in the nation/state, I can't even believe that the city/county is continually tax and spending. And where the hell are the sheeple storming the city and county chambers? Where is the outrage?
A round a bout that leads to no-where!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
Right Shadow. This will cost the oppressed City taxpayers at least $700,000. There is no street light here. The entire plan is stuna and not one business owner on Erie Blvd supports it. 
