Lower State Street getting a new look Updated 10:06 am, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Long shabby lower State Street, a major entrance to downtown Schenectady, is proposed for a $1.7 million face-lift courtesy of Metroplex, the development authority funded by your tax dollars.
Several years ago here, I wrote a couple times suggesting there was a dire need to upgrade the gateway to the completely rehabilitated Proctors block. Ah, yes, an idea from the press to the power brokers produces the usual guarantee of no action.
During a recent Metroplex board meeting, lower State was described variously by agency members as messy, depressed, decrepit and incredibly old. Hey, those are my lines!
The streetscape rehab, with a hoped-for fall start, will include new sidewalks, curbs, paving, lighting and trees. There have been some new businesses popping up on sagging State between Erie and Church.
A major disappointment has been a gaping hole in the lower main-drag streetscape caused by demolition of the former Robinson Furniture Co. When the building was razed, Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said not to worry because there was a line of developers with proposals for the missing tooth property.
Incidentally, that was five years ago.
Latest REDUCTION in city's tax base to be reported shortly.
After this above mentioned project get ready for yet another REDUCTION to the city's tax base to be reported.
Funny how a cheerleader for downtown, praising what is getting done, cannot provide one teeny weeny shred of proof that to show how downtown is improving (increasing) the city's tax base.
Face up to the negatives, people, don't close your eyes. Act now to demand an end to the tax give-aways to the rich political cronies.
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.
"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."
It's worse than that. Death Ray promised a retail mall which he called "Robinson Square" where the DEM sinkhole aka {Gillen's Gulch} is today. Great place to park your Mercedes? New curbing and more governmental gin mills will not replace Olender's and Rudnicks. You can't buy a mop, work clothes or furniture down there.
"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."
It's worse than that. Death Ray promised a retail mall which he called "Robinson Square" where the DEM sinkhole aka {Gillen's Gulch} is today. Great place to park your Mercedes? New curbing and more governmental gin mills will not replace Olender's and Rudnicks. You can't buy a mop, work clothes or furniture down there.
The Army Navy Store could make a comeback if they named it "Doomsday Preppers."
The Army Navy Store could make a comeback if they named it "Doomsday Preppers."
That's AWESOME!!!
Can't wait for another pit bull shop to open up. Looks like they are the only population in Schenectady still on the rise!
Hey Grammy, what's Gillen going to do now??? Move all the businesses he moved into Center City back down the street and claim massive economic growth??
Hey, Galesi ...is it getting harder to walk around with the taxpayers money stuffed in your pockets?
Lower State could've just been cleaned up, too. No real need for a drastic, expensive remodeling job. It isn't an either/or choice.
Marv Cermak is a man with a sense of honor, if it were his job to 'fix up' downtown, it would've been done long ago. He would not be drawing a high salary to accomplish something and drag it out forever to make the job bigger and more dire to get even more credit for fixing it and to make it take longer. There is such a thing as working yourself out of a job and the only people willing to do that are those with the ability to move on to something else when their work is done. There are only just so many overpaid publicly financed vague skill level type jobs to go around.
Lower State could've just been cleaned up, too. No real need for a drastic, expensive remodeling job. It isn't an either/or choice.
Marv Cermak is a man with a sense of honor, if it were his job to 'fix up' downtown, it would've been done long ago. He would not be drawing a high salary to accomplish something and drag it out forever to make the job bigger and more dire to get even more credit for fixing it and to make it take longer. There is such a thing as working yourself out of a job and the only people willing to do that are those with the ability to move on to something else when their work is done. There are only just so many overpaid publicly financed vague skill level type jobs to go around.
Obviously remodeling lower State will improve the quality of life for the people who live there?
That's much more important than improving the crime ridden failing residential neighborhoods that finance them.
So let's get this straight. Gillen MOVES AAA, the YMCA, SCCC offices Transfinders and other lower State Street businesses into and around Center City. Meanwhile lifelong businesses like Olender, James Hair Shop and Rudnicks flee without a red cent from the Plex.
Now he claims lower State is in need of millions and why??? Because HE DESTROYED IT!!!
Nice job Gillen, set up our City for complete failure...again and again and again.
So let's get this straight. Gillen MOVES AAA, the YMCA, SCCC offices Transfinders and other lower State Street businesses into and around Center City. Meanwhile lifelong businesses like Olender, James Hair Shop and Rudnicks flee without a red cent from the Plex.
Now he claims lower State is in need of millions and why??? Because HE DESTROYED IT!!!
Nice job Gillen, set up our City for complete failure...again and again and again.
Logged
It's worse than that. Death Ray promised a retail mall which he called "Robinson Square" where the DEM sinkhole aka {Gillen's Gulch} is today. Great place to park your Mercedes? New curbing and more governmental gin mills will not replace Olender's and Rudnicks. You can't buy a mop, work clothes or furniture down there. 
