Schenectady (IPA /skəˈnɛktədi/) is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 61,821. Schenectady is the ninth largest city in New York State. The name "Schenectady" is derived from a Mohawk word for "on that side of the pinery," or "near the pines," or "place beyond the pine plains."
The City of Schenectady is in eastern New York State, near the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. It is in the same metropolitan area as the state capital, Albany, New York; Schenectady is about seven miles north-west of Albany.
And it is why we also applaud this next step, taken by the IDA at the urging of Supervisor Steve Tommasone (who wants the IDA to play a more prominent role in planning and economic development in general). The IDA will provide 10 small businesses with matching grants of $2,500 to fix up their facades, add sidewalks, improve wheelchair ramps, etc. The projects will have to meet town codes, as well as design guidelines that will be developed
I wonder if the car wash is eligible for the $2500 toward their remodel.
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
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
lots of people cleaning up.....hope it continues, the Grand Union is going right back to the crap it was a year ago...the owner is just wwaiting it out to make a buck....Sons of italy looks fanatastic inside and thay did a great job on the exterior with landscaping paint etc. Hope we hear positive talks about sewers and possible development soon....We need the landscape to improve....soon
“We view this program as such a success that we are thinking of making it countywide,” Gillen said. “We are looking about expanding the program to the Hamburg Street corridor, the Scotia business district and to some of the other commercial corridors, including the corridor in Duanesburg,” he said.
Well at least this 'sounds' promising.
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
Posted on: 09/26/07 Written by: Jessica Harding, Schenectady County Reporter email: hardingj@spotlightnews.com
Rotterdam town officials came under fire at this week’s meeting of the Hamburg Street Merchants Association for the administration’s decision to apply for Restore NY grant money for the Curry Road redevelopment project instead of the Grand Union property on Hamburg Street.
About 40 Hamburg Street area businesses owners and residents attended the Merchants Association meeting Monday, Sept. 24, and most said they felt that the town’s latest move showed that Hamburg Street was being passed over again.
The Hamburg Street corridor has been deteriorating for the past 30 years, and attracting new business is tough because the corridor lacks the necessary infrastructure, including sewers.
At the last town board meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 12, the town’s administration said it was going to apply for Restore NY grant money to help finance a private project to redevelop the town-owned Curry Road shopping plaza into a condominium complex with space for retail and professional offices.
Board member Robert Godlewski said he found out that the town was applying for the money for the Curry Road property during the executive session an hour before the regular meeting.
“I understand their frustration, I really do,” Godlewski said. “They really need an anchor store there.”
Town officials, including Supervisor Steven Tommasone and board members John Mertz and Diane Marco, attended the Merchants meeting and said the reason they are applying for money for Curry Road is because there is a specific plan for the property, and application requirements have changed. Under the second round of funding, the town can only choose one property to apply for money to be used instead of three.
Mertz said he has an obligation to do what is right for the town, and if the town stands a better chance of getting grant money by using another property, he is not going to let another property owner who is upset change his mind.
“I need to do what is best for the town and make sure that Rotterdam comes first,” Mertz said. “We need to be more specific with the plans. Just saying we have an empty building with an area that needs development won’t pass.”
Owners of the old Grand Union property on Hamburg Street said they have documentation, which proves the town had promised they would be first in line for this next round Restore NY grants.
Restore NY is a state program that gives money to municipalities in order to help with redevelopment or revitalization of commercial areas. The program is expected to have about five rounds of funding; town board member John Mertz said there could be up to eight rounds. In this second round, the state plans to give up to $100 million to municipalities across New York.
In the first round of funding, Rotterdam won $2 million, which is going to be used to redevelop the Rotterdam Commerce Park, owned by the Galesi Group. Tommasone said the Galesi Group plans to rehabilitate buildings three and four to make them more conducive for small business.
County Legislator Carolina Lazzari, R-Rotterdam, attended the meeting. She wanted to know if the town had an idea as to when Hamburg Street business owners should expect to see results.
“You have to give credit for these folks who have invested and tried to make a go of it in this area,” she said. “I think it is a lot to ask these folks to hang on without any end in sight.”
Mertz said these things take time.
“We can either do it right or do it overnight,” he said.
Tommasone said he believes that the Metroplex Development Authority will help invest in Hamburg Street. Metroplex Director Ray Gillen is supposed to attend the Merchant’s next meeting Monday, Oct. 15.
“I think views will change once we hear when he has to say,” Tommasone said.
In the meantime, town officials said the Merchants should think about forming a Business Improvement District, which Tommasone said would help the corridor receive money from Metroplex and from the state.
The Merchants are planning to hold another meeting Monday, Oct. 15, with Gillen and chairman of the Upper Union Street BID Michael Mastrianni. Tommasone said he wants to work with the Merchants Association to revitalize Hamburg Street and the businesses there are not being overlooked.
“I applaud them for their efforts and together we’ll get a lot accomplished over there,” he said. You can contact hardingj@spotlightnews.com with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below.
My personal feeling on this is that really, knowing a bit more about what's going on now, that there is a specific plan that was brought together about how to handle the old K-Mart at the Curry Road Shopping Plaza.
This plaza has essentially been empty now for the past 20 years.
I respect the 2 gentlemen who decided to buy the former Grand Union store and it is up to them what they want to do with the property. My one problem with this is exactly this. It seems that these 2 gentlemen had previously figured out what they were doing with this that they "sank their entire life savings into." I respect that and I applaud these gentlemen for cleaning up that property as much as they have to this point. Where I have an issue is that these gentlemen, at the town board meeting last night stated that they were approached several tmes buy the town, I believe they said it was the head of the planning board, I don't remember. He stated to them on multiple occasions that they could POSSIBLY get some money from these Restore NY grants. Well, it seems that they had already decided before that they didn't need any additional money but since it was suggested to them on multiple occasions, they finally decided that they would put off any plans that they had and sit back and wait for the state money to come rolling in for them to go any farther on the project.
I guess my issue with this is that if they didn't need the money when they first started the project and were "hounded" to some extent o ask for this money, it seems as though they decided that they were not only going to ask for it, but now their project has now way of moving on until they get this NECESSARY money? They came to the town board last night stating that they sunk their entire life savings into this project. This tells me one of 2 things. Either they ran into issues that they didn't expect and this went through their life savings or they are just upset that they were aked to go for this a couple times and they didn't get it. And if these gentlemen did as they say, investing their life savings into this project and only ot as far as they did, well, I would have said that they should have figured out a way to be a little smarter with their money. What if they spent their enire life savings, got it built then nobody wanted it? These gentlemen are businessmen, no doubt. Well, they need to realize that with this sort of project, the greater the reward you're looking for, the greater the risk. They must have decided that they were not going to protect themselves by only putting in an amount of their life savings THAT THEY COULD AFFORD TO RISK. It seems they decided to throw this to the wind and throw everything into it they had. Do you want to know why nobody else bought that to this time? Why nothing has been done with the Curry Road Shopping Center in the past 20 years? Because nobody had the money to risk on it. The fact is, they still don't even seem to have an actual plan for what they want to do with this project, but they probably would have had a mcuh better idea if they got a bunch of money like the invstors in the Rotterdam Corporate Park were so fortunate to get out of this project last year. Again, the big thing here is risk / reward. Just because you do RISK it, doesn't mean you're going to get the reward. That's part of business.
I agree with you BK. Although I think it was admirable that these gentlemen took a 'risk' in purchasing the old Grand Union, but that is what it was...a risk. Anyone can purchase property but there is never a guarentee of making a profit. It's a gamble. And although I would like to see something done with that beast, this is just another example of people depending on the government to 'make things' happen for them. They knew what they were buying and what obsticles they faced. If they feel they are 'stuck' with it now...than market it to developers and sell it! That's what you do! You don't go to the government to solve your your problems. Their first mistake was investing their life savings just to purchase this building. I would believe that they would have had to know there would be unexpected expenses beyond the purchase.
These two gentlemen have options. I would market the hell out of it and unload it. Perhaps they will find a buyer who has the funds and has a vision for some potential business. THAT is what these gentlemen needed...a vision....and the funds to make it happen. You just can't assume the government will take 'your' ball and run with it for you.
And from what I am reading, the metroplex has plans for Hamburg St. So either these guys can try to unload it or wait for the metroplex. They clearly are not victims here. They do have options.
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
“I understand their frustration, I really do,” Godlewski said. “They really need an anchor store there.”
I hope your sights are not set on a DOLLAR GENERAL.....how about a Barnes and Noble??????
Mr.Godlewski--while I respect your desire to help the 'little guy' it seems that calling the 'little guy' just that, really makes us victims......
The gentleman who spoke at the meeting had valid points about this being America, the GI, being a laborer etc.....however, not once did he have a plan for the site, it seemed their only plan was to buy it-hold it-and dump it to make $$.....
Yes this is America and you can do that....but, this is America and you can also be the loser and still have a roof over your head, not starve or otherwise.....
Just like in the movie Braveheart(yeah, one of my absolute favorites),,,they hold hold hold until the English are right on them and BAM they get the blood...and win the battle......this is you gentlemen---hold hold hold.....like a good wine, good planning is paramount, just look around at Rotterdam we DESPERATELY NEED GOOD PLANNING.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Grand Union....Falling apart already....What are they expecting....what did they expect to do with the building ?? Sell it if you can....get out....This town cant multi task...one thing at a time...If upper Hamburg street doesnt get attention...like right now, I think it will become part of LOWER Hamburg....OUCH !!! No need to send invitations out to the undesirables....they will CRASH the party....
as for the undesirables where are our 'uniform enforcers'???? presence is also a deterent....I work with folks from 'the hill' and presence is not paramount...or atleast not a norm.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Mertz said he has an obligation to do what is right for the town, and if the town stands a better chance of getting grant money by using another property, he is not going to let another property owner who is upset change his mind.
I love this guy! I wish the entire board has this guys visioin, guts and mentality. He clearly is NOT a 'business as usual' in Rotterdam politician. THANK GOD! He may not make many friends, not right away, but he will get the town in shape and get the job done!!!!
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
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