Downtowns alluring to retailers BY JAMES SCHLETT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter James Schlett at 395-3040 or jschlett@dailygazette.net.
A representative for a national retailer met Friday afternoon with Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen at his State Street office to discuss opening a downtown store. It was their third meeting. With a growing number of retailers eyeing urban downtowns, Gillen is bound to have more of those meetings. The National Retail Federation on Friday released a study showing that retailers are poised to broaden their main street presence. A survey of 43 retail real estate executives found that retailers expect to have 11 percent of their stores in urban storefront locations by year’s end, up from 8 percent in 2006. “Now the trend is going back to the urban model, and we are getting inquiries,” said Gillen. Gillen said the downtown movement is being led by niche retailers instead of those that fall into the department store model. An example of one of those niche businesses is the men’s clothing retailer La Sartoria of Saratoga. That Saratoga Springsbased retailer plans to open a shop on State Street in Schenectady, across from the new Hampton Inn, Gillen said. “This seems to be a cyclical trend but not one to be overlooked. This move into urban environments has a material impact on retailers’ market planning, store operations and merchandising strategies,” said Rob Garf, vice president and general manager of the Boston-based AMR Research. AMR worked on the survey in conjunction with NRF. Downtown Cohoes is buzzing with niche retailer activity. The New York state-only wine store Harmony House Marketplace and the knitting shop BeauKnits have recently opened on Remsen Street. Also in Cohoes, over the summer, a Rite Aid opened on an Ontario Street site where a decrepit knitting mill had sat mostly vacant for a half-century. The European-style Deli Dnipro, which closed in August due to a fire, held a grand re-opening Friday at new larger Remsen Street shop. The pillow, mattress and comforter manufacturer Soft-Tex plans to soon relocate its North Mohawk Street bedding outlet to Remsen Street, according to Cohoes Mayor John McDonald III. “[Retail] is what our focus has been, and we’re starting to see results,” McDonald said. Cohoes’ retailer influx comes amid a condominium building frenzy along the city’s waterfront. An August TL Metzger report noted that 425 condo units have been approved in the city, on top of more than 240 new construction and existing units on the market there. Albany and Schenectady are also attempting to foster more residential growth in their downtowns. “If more people are living in downtowns, then the stores will follow,” said Rebecca Marion, a spokeswoman for the Retail Council of New York State, an Albany trade organization. NRF, a Washington trade organization, attributed retailers’ increased interest in urban storefronts to main street revitalization trends playing throughout the country. That trend is loosening the hold of malls and strip shopping centers on retailers. The NRF survey found that retailers plan to reduce their number of stores at malls and strip shopping centers to 44 percent this year, compared with 48 percent in 2006. However, retailers’ interest has not waned in lifestyle centers, such as Mohawk Commons in Niskayuna. Retailers expect to kick up their lifestyle center stores to 9 percent by year’s end from 8 percent in 2006. “We certainly have been trying to attract high-quality retailers, both local or national,” said Megan Daly, deputy commissioner of the Albany Department of Development and Planning. Downtown Albany’s newest storefront retailer is Antara Home, a home furnishing boutique. It held its grand opening on Broadway in June. In Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Joseph Dalton Jr. said the city’s downtown already has a thriving retailing segment. It does not have much room for more retailers.
Well, you can move or start a business in downtown Schenectady, but only if you can do it with taxpayer dollars and a zero to low interest loan.
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
Bumble, don't forget that the businesses that you speak of will need to be subsidized by Metroplex for years to come in order to become self sustaining.
I work with a Certified Nurses Aide that lives on Chestnut Street....they bought a dog from the drug dealers up the road......does metroplex subsidize the drug dealers too????
...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
Schenectady County projects moving along First published: Sunday, November 4, 2007
In the past months, Schenectady County has made headway on several major projects, including a state-mandated expansion and renovation project to the aging courthouse on State Street. County Attorney Christopher Gardner said last week that the price tag to retool the courthouse could range from $20 million to $50 million. The final cost will hinge on feedback from the state Office of Court Administration, which is reviewing the county's proposed redesign, he said.
For years, the county has avoided constructing a new building, instead opting to rent space in Center City, Schaffer Heights and Erie Boulevard.
Once the work is done, the city of Schenectady would have the use of three courtrooms, he added. To deal with the parking crunch downtown, the county three months ago paid $220,000 for a Veeder Street parking lot that has 70 spaces. He said two-thirds of the amount to be borrowed will be covered by rental income from the two billboards on the parcel.
Gardner declined to say when the retooled courthouse might open.
The Social Services department, currently housed on Nott Street and Erie Boulevard, is poised to move into new digs.
"We're in the final stages of getting the contract together," Gardner said of lease agreement talks. "We have most of the bigger issues worked out, and it's just some of the finer language."
Gardner said Social Services will continue to operate from Erie Boulevard even after the new headquarters open. The $8 million expansion of the downtown library branch is also moving along.
The county attorney said the design work is complete and that the project will be going out to bid shortly, Gardner said.
Another fine example of how the TU is pandering to the Schenecctady dems. And what has County Attorney Christopher Gardner become the spokes person for the country now? I didn't know that was the county attorney's job!
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
Recently I had to bring an elderly relative’s car in for winter service. As it was a nice fall day, I decided to walk from the service station back home, and then ride my bicycle back to pick up the car when it was done. I am a 40-something, lifelong resident, and with embarrassment admit it has been many years since I walked the streets. The non-driving part of Jay Street (downtown) was lovely — great little shops and ambiance. I haven’t walked the downtown shops strip since the Carl Co. was open. Sure, I read about the improvements, but seeing was believing. First, great job, Schenectady leaders and developers. Secondly, on my return trip, my bicycle tire needed air, so I stopped at a major retail tire chain store and asked if I could use their air hose. They flat-out refused. So I walked my bike further up State Street, noting the improvements along the way, and took a chance stopping at State Street Service. The proprietor’s name was Tim. Not only did he allow me use of the air, he filled and checked my tires, and when I asked him if I owned him anything, he said; “No, just have a safe ride.” All I can say is that I was pleasantly surprised by the ongoing improvements to the city; and for attracting and keeping a small, private garage that has not forgotten what service means. I have for years avoided downtown and the Vale/ Hill neighborhoods because I thought it had all gone downhill, and scoffed at reading about revitalizing downtown. I was sadly mistaken, and instead found this impromptu stroll through the city a pleasant surprise worthy of commending. JILL M. DE MATTEO Schenectady
Re the Nov. 27 article, “ ‘Pizza Block’ will be razed”: County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage says developers were seeking to draw well-known retailers to the downtown site, including The Gap, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. If this is true, county and Metroplex offi - cials should be ashamed of themselves. Just around the corner from the “Pizza Block,” on Jay Street, is the Open Door Bookstore and Gift Gallery, which has been a Schenectady mainstay for 30 years. The store stuck with Schenectady through its darkest days, some of which were pretty dark. Is this how the county proposes to say thank you? By situating a Goliath-national chain practically right next door? Furthermore, several coffee houses already exist downtown, including Ambition on Jay Street, Villa Italia on Broadway and the new Night Sky Café at Proctors. How much business will these local owners lose if a Starbucks goes in on State Street? As a lifelong Schenectady resident, I’ve been thrilled to see the redevelopment taking place downtown, and I understand that more work needs to be done. But let’s bring in new businesses without hurting the ones that are already here. GILLIAN V. SCOTT Schenectady
Well Gillian, I agree with you in part, but I'm sorry to say that these little small businesses just ain't cuttin' it for the 2 blocks of state street. They're just not brining in the revenue the dictatorship is looking for. Perhaps the small businesses that the Metroplex has funded, will fade away and even more of our tax dollar will go down the toilet. SORRY...NO LOYALTIES FROM THE DICTATORSHIP!!
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
Downtown Sch’dy is for small, independent businesses, not chains
Regarding Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage’s comments about the redevelopment of the “Pizza King” block on State Street (Nov. 27 Gazette): Ms. Savage commented that the developer of this block is looking at major national chains like The Gap, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. Why on earth would downtown Schenectady want to court any of these chain stores? Granted, I have a vested interest in keeping Barnes and Noble, in particular, out of downtown, since my family owns the Open Door Bookstore. My personal interests aside, it seems completely ridiculous to put any of these chains downtown. There are already three wonderful coffee houses within a block and a half of the future Clinton Commons, and there is already an independent clothing store slated to go in there. Putting in any of these chain stores could severely impact the independent businesses that have already been integral to downtown’s redevelopment. My impression from reading the many articles about downtown redevelopment is that it’s supposed to continue to develop into an “arts” center. How does having a big name, national, generic retailer fit this arts-centered vision? Recently I moved back to Schenectady partly because I was excited to see the changes that have been happening downtown. I hope that developers, and more importantly, our county and city officials, will follow through on this vision they have talked about. We need to continue to support local-independent businesses like the ones that already make downtown Schenectady the unique place it is. We do not need to turn downtown Schenectady into another mall and make it look like every other city in the United States. I hope Ms. Savage will think about how her comments are extremely insensitive to the current local businesses and to any other unique independent businesses that would consider opening downtown. HEATHER HUTCHISON Schenectady
This just goes to show you that Suzie knows nothing about development, if the big chains are brought into downtown it'll force the smaller stores that sell the same products out of business. It's a slap in the face to the smaller stores that have been clawing out a living and trying to help develop Schenectady.
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