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United front on upper Union Street
Businesses along corridor don't want to be overlooked amid effort to revitalize downtown

By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer
First published: Friday, December 28, 2007     

The business core along that stretch of Union Street has survived as General Electric slashed local jobs and as retailers fled Schenectady's downtown on State Street.
Union Street and its side streets had the highest median income in the city in the 2000 census.
The Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority has invested millions in grants and loans into downtown, leading to lower State Street's resurgence. With downtown making a comeback, businesses on upper Union Street don't want anyone to forget about them.
"It's time to step up and not necessarily put downtown aside, but it's time to face the music and start helping," said Guy Sementilli, owner of Scotti's Restaurant and new chairman of the Upper Union Street Business Improvement District.
Members of the business group have been more visible at city meetings in the last few months, reminding officials that Union Street needs sidewalk, parking and curb improvements to make the area more attractive and accessible for pedestrians.
Metroplex has provided $275,000 thus far for facade and sign improvements at 19 upper Union businesses, sprucing up what in some instances were 1950s-era home facades.
Schenectady's development authority, funded by an 0.5 percent add-on to the county sales tax, was empowered in 1998 to plan and implement projects aimed at boosting businesses along routes 5 and 7. Metroplex now covers 84 square miles inside Schenectady County.
"We have an upper scale salon now. The outside of our business represents the type of salon we have on the inside," said Hair Razors co-owner Penny Williams, whose building facade was completed a few months ago.
Owners had to match up to $30,000 that Metroplex offered for each project.
But business leaders want more.
Sementilli of Scotti's grew up in Schenectady and bought the 40-year-old restaurant in 1994. "The excuse through the years as I was taught was 'upper Union, you're fine up there, there's no need to concentrate on you guys.' "
The city has very specific goals for upper Union in its 2020 Comprehensive Plan, including designing and funding streetscape improvements. The City Council is expected to adopt the plan, which covers all city neighborhoods, in March.
City zoning officer Steve Strichman said the comprehensive plan's main purpose is to provide documentation in case grants are available for redevelopment.
"It's going to be tough to do everything that's in there," Strichman said. "It depends on the city's finances and the mayor and council's priorities over the coming years. There are a lot of things we'd like to be able to do."
Until then, the improvement district is continuing to collect $44,000 a year from participating business owners to market the area, hold promotional events and keep up maintenance. The district runs from Palmer to Lakewood avenues on Union Street.Sementilli said his plans for 2008 include bringing in a real estate agent to talk with property owners about leasing space. The improvement district is concerned that it currently has three vacancies. Any other business district would likely accept that low number. But upper Union Street doesn't want to let anything slide.
"We're all good businesses and we all work hard," but the district could always use more, said Lou Gregory, a partner in Gershon's Deli and Caterers, which has been on Union Street for 51 years. Stanforth can be reached at 454-5697 or by e-mail at lstanforth@timesunion.com.

Union Street seemed to always do good. They have a loyal customer base.