March 31, 2011, Schenectady, N.Y. — The City of Schenectady has been awarded a $50,000 grant to plan for a new Gateway Plaza boosting redevelopment efforts on lower State Street. The City is working closely with Schenectady County, Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) and Metroplex to improve the lower State Street area near the fast growing community college.
The grant was provided through the Community and Transportation Linkage Planning Program administered by the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC). The $50,000 grant from CDTC will be matched by $20,000 from Metroplex.
Gary McCarthy, City Council President said, “Working in partnership with the County, SCCC and Metroplex, we are charting a new and better future for lower State Street.”
Susan E. Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “This grant allows us to take the next step in the revitalization of our downtown,” said Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This is an important link in the progress we’ve made redeveloping our major corridors and that progress will continue.”
The goal of the project is to create a new gateway to Schenectady by taking a number of steps. The first step is using CDTC and Metroplex funds to develop a plan to redesign the current Liberty Park as Gateway Plaza. Liberty Park is a small pocket park located on lower State Street. The park was designed by a previous City Administration and features strange rolling mounds of dirt that make the green space difficult and expensive to maintain and limits the ability to use the space.
The new plan calls for expanding the park including a design that will be easier to utilize and less costly to maintain. The new park will tie into development planned for the area including the new Bus Plus Transit Station which begins service in April and expansion projects at Schenectady County Community College (SCCC). Metroplex is also purchasing the former YMCA with plans to redevelop the building.
As a key component of the new Gateway Plaza, Schenectady County is buying a vacant garage adjacent to the Park located at 101 Washington Avenue. The building is now in very poor condition and detracts from redevelopment projects in the area. The County plans to demolish the building and will incorporate this site into its master plan for SCCC.
“As Schenectady County Community College grows and expands its facilities and offerings, we are excited to partner with the County, the City and the Metroplex Development Authority in helping restore this historic and promising part of our region,” said Dr. Quintin Bullock, President of SCCC. “As the College has become a gateway to excellence for so many students, this neighboring area, too, will become a proud gateway for the community.
Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair and Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning for Schenectady County said, “This project will help reshape the entrance to downtown at the foot of State Street.”
The County and SCCC continue to pursue student housing development next to the former garage site with private developers. The goal is to transform this area of downtown from one that features a hilly and unusable park and a closed service station to a vibrant area that features green space, new student housing, the new Bus Plus Station and a redeveloped YMCA block.
The planning process for the new park will be open for public comment and input. The City Department of Development will coordinate the planning process under the grant.
The County will spend $140,000 to buy the former service station and work with SCCC to demolish it. One-half the cost of buying and demolishing the building will be paid for by State funding.
SCCC is also renovating 201 State Street, the Kindl Building, which was donated to the College. This will also help the College with its expansion needs and will help to revitalize lower State Street.
Also on lower State Street, work continues on a major renovation of the former Mill Lane building which is now known as the Stockade View Apartments at 134-136 State Street.