Schenectady, N.Y. — The City of Schenectady, the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority and the Upper Union Street Business Improvement District (BID) today announced agreement on a new parking plan that will allow improvements in the fast growing business district to move forward with work to be completed this year.
Acting Mayor Gary McCarthy said, “We pulled everyone together and with great input from all groups and great technical support we were able to put together a plan that will keep Upper Union Street improvements on schedule. This is the type of collaborative effort that will keep moving Schenectady forward.”
The new plan maintains a new sidewalk and street trees along Union Street. It also keeps in place a buffer that prevents parkers from backing out into Union Street or over the sidewalk maintaining a key safety feature of the project. The parking buffer will contain lighting and other safety enhancements.
The new plan eliminates the need for the City to acquire any property via eminent domain. Instead, all three property owners would retain their individual property and private parking spaces while allowing Metroplex to improve the parking area thereby making the important aesthetic and design changes envisioned by the original plan to provide Upper Union Street with an improved image for property owners, residents, visitors and shoppers.
The new private parking area will provide customer parking for up to 16 vehicles directly in front of the three businesses. The new plan reduces costs for both the City and Metroplex and allows the construction process to move faster than under the original proposal.
“The BID’s goal has always been to get the project finished by this year by any means necessary,” said Christopher DiCocco, Chair of the Upper Union Street BID. “The Board is pleased to see that the process has already led to creative solutions to address pedestrian and traffic safety. We look forward to the continued cooperative efforts to fine tune the plan that will address the needs of all the Upper Union Street businesses.”
“We are pleased to have worked cooperatively with the City of Schenectady and Metroplex to finalize plans for phase III of the Upper Union Street streetscape beautification project,” said Marie DeBrocky, owner of Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center. “The plan now provides improved pedestrian safety with the addition of a sidewalk and curb cuts that are consistent with the design of phases I and II, improved vehicular safety given a well-defined traffic pattern for parking and the addition of a street corner traffic light at Baker, and the opportunity for three growing businesses to continue to provide parking for our customers on our property.”
Marylu Aragosa, owner of Ferri Formals said, “I am pleased that City and Metroplex officials listened to my concerns and those of my customers and redesigned the plan. I support the project.”
Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair said, “The new plan lowers costs and allows us to complete improvements faster. We are pleased that everyone was able to come together in support of this project.”
For more information, see www.upperunionbid.org