New look, new residents make downtown vibrant By Kathleen Moore
Decade brought little change in population, big change in personality
An aerial look shows an overview of downtown Schenectady looking west. SCHENECTADY — Perhaps the greatest measure of how much Schenectady’s downtown has changed in the past decade is that it is no longer compared to the crumbling ghost towns of rust-belt cities.
Instead, residents who have lived in Milan, London and New York City compare it favorably to their last neighborhoods.
“It’s a mini Times Square, but it’s smaller, safer,” said Giulio Veglio, who moved in two years ago and opened the Paul Mitchell Beauty School downtown.
By the time he arrived, the decade of empty buildings downtown was over. Proctors had expanded from one venue to three, with a much larger main stage in its theater. Restaurants and bars had filled in a commercial stretch that had previously been served by two pizza parlors and a sub shop. Developers had not just remodeled, but knocked down swaths of deteriorated buildings and put up new offices, a movie theater and a new YMCA.
To the city’s newest residents, it’s as if the economic doldrums of the 1990s never happened.
Joana Carvalho, lately from Brazil and Ann Arbor, Mich., said she found the small city “amazing.”
She is living downtown with her hus-
band while he works a three-month stint at General Electric. For them, it was the Greenmarket that elevated the downtown to that of a vibrant urban core. The Sunday farmers market offers organic, fresh food that Carvalho said she would expect to find available only in a big city.
“The Greenmarket is amazing for us,” she said, adding that she and her husband were also impressed by the many restaurants — so many that she doesn’t think she’ll have time to develop a favorite before they head home.
“We are having a lot of fun,” she said.
The haves and have-nots
Census figures show little change in population downtown — there are still roughly 4,400 residents, a handful of children and few residential units. But the people living there have changed significantly.
Ten years ago, there were no luxury apartments downtown, only the apartment complexes that still exist. But now some units above bustling businesses are being rented for up to $2,500 a month — quadruple the rent of an apartment in the surrounding neighborhoods. And people are paying. The lofts above Aperitivo Bistro have been occupied for two years, CFO Matthew Mazzone of Mazzone Management Group, said..........................>>>>..................>>>>........................https://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/aug/15/0815_downtown/?mobile
The owner of Paul Mitchell says "It is good"! Especially the tax giveaways. Another Milan or South Beach? ROTFLMAO!!
No mention of belly up The Parker Inn, the Creperie, the jewelry store or Honda store that fled. At least those $2,500 apartments rented after 10 years. Thank you Metrograft! Take another look at Jay St directly across from City Hall or State St below Erie Blvd. All you see are vacant storefronts. Tumbleweed rolling down the street. The only things up are the tax bill and crime rate. Vibrant my arse.
Isn't Giulio Veglio from Mont Pleasant? I have a family member who has lived in other major cities and is not amazed at all by downtown. So what? And my guests from a far off land didn't comment on anything but the old stuff, as in "why don't you preserve your history better?"
These people don't get out and around much anymore.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
I'd bring in more jobs than Proctors has. That's for sure.
Haven't you been reading your Gazetto? According to them Proctor's created 3,000 new jobs-lol. Death Ray created 3,000 new jobs. SS Savage created the same 3,000 new jobs, before fleeing. ANG, since he flipped out, also created 3,000 new jobs. The County unemployment rate is the highest in the region and at the highest rate since the Depression. Where are the jobs DEM working together team? Lumpy Kosiur gots his-you get yours?
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
And in return for jacking up the taxes of the financially struggling homeowners, tell us DV, tell us how the quality of life is for the PEOPLE that LIVE in the NIEGHBORHOODS.
Tell us what effect the hundreds of millions of TAXPAYERS' money has had on the property taxes of strugging homeowners, and tell us what effect the spending on downtown has had on the property values in the city.
Well? Oh yeah, DVFOL refuses to answer.......because to answer with the TRUTH would mean he would have no choice but to admit that it has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE
And tell us WHY did your almost twin flee living in the city and move to Schemerhorn Rd?????? If downtown was oh so wonderful, why isn't Morris living in one of those alleged apartments downtown. With this $200,000 plus taxpayer subsidized salary, he can certainly live downtown. But instead he, too, fled the city.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
It's so vibrant that NO ONE PAYS TAXES downtown!!!! The tax burden is shouldered by the residents!!! Can't wait until Roger Hull gets elected!!! He better make some positive changes or his a$$ will be out too!!
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
And in return for jacking up the taxes of the financially struggling homeowners, tell us DV, tell us how the quality of life is for the PEOPLE that LIVE in the NIEGHBORHOODS.
Tell us what effect the hundreds of millions of TAXPAYERS' money has had on the property taxes of strugging homeowners, and tell us what effect the spending on downtown has had on the property values in the city.
Well? Oh yeah, DVFOL refuses to answer.......because to answer with the TRUTH would mean he would have no choice but to admit that it has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE
And tell us WHY did your almost twin flee living in the city and move to Schemerhorn Rd?????? If downtown was oh so wonderful, why isn't Morris living in one of those alleged apartments downtown. With this $200,000 plus taxpayer subsidized salary, he can certainly live downtown. But instead he, too, fled the city.
but according to our president and friends....he's rich and willing to give some of it back in taxes.....HA! WHAT A SCHEME THEY HAVE GOING....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA........dont forget about those 'rich' state workers with illustrious taxpayer guaranteed pensions.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....
so what exactly is the definition of RICH?
after some research and soul searching I have come to the conclusion that RICH would also include guaranteed pension/health insurance receivers in government positions (especially NY).....so who is zooming who?
so those 'leaders' we elect had better get their vote purchased heads out of their asse$ and lead.....dont fluff my pillow
...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
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Logged
The owner of Paul Mitchell says "It is good"! Especially the tax giveaways. Another Milan or South Beach? ROTFLMAO!! 
Haven't you been reading your Gazetto? According to them Proctor's created 3,000 new jobs-lol. Death Ray created 3,000 new jobs. SS Savage created the same 3,000 new jobs, before fleeing. ANG, since he flipped out, also created 3,000 new jobs. The County unemployment rate is the highest in the region and at the highest rate since the Depression. Where are the jobs DEM working together team? Lumpy Kosiur gots his-you get yours?
