fbpx
Skip to main content

‘A really vibrant area’: New York Secretary of State Visits Glens Falls

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins, New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, and Glens Falls economic development director Jeff Flagg walk through the city's downtown.
Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins (left), New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez (middle), and Glens Falls economic development director Jeff Flagg (right) walk through the city’s downtown area during a visit by Rodriguez’s office on Wednesday. Photo by Dylan McGlynn.

GLENS FALLS — New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez joined Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins and other city officials for a tour of Glens Falls’ downtown on Wednesday, showcasing the improvements made to the city as a result of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Rodriguez’ office is currently on a tour of DRI projects around the state. He referred to Glens Falls’ downtown as “a really vibrant area.”

“I think there’s a really great team, and the commitment of the Mayor and the City in supporting the DRI is really critical to that,” said Rodriguez. “We’ve seen a number of the businesses that have benefitted from our investment funds, and you really see that when you’re walking along the streets.”

Mayor Collins said, “This is what happens when you’re successful and you move these projects forward,” in reference to the visit.

“People start to pay attention, and more success breeds success,” Collins said. “The Secretary of State here today, the Lieutenant Governor here three weeks ago. Those are great indicators for a Mayor and a common council. That means that people are happy with what they’re seeing, they’re coming to see what the 10 million dollars is going to be leveraged into.”

Collins said the downtown area has seen $36 million of total investment, counting the $10 million the city received through DRI.

“That’s impressive. That sort of thing can change a downtown,” said Collins. “I believe Glens Falls has been under a revitalization for about 10 to 15 years now. Developers have invested in Glens Falls, and as they’re building, they’re filling things.”

Rodriguez emphasized the support of the Glens Falls community, saying that DRI projects around the state wouldn’t be successful “without local community support.”

“I think DRI is one of those things that the community really rallies behind. We’ve seen it with Glens Falls, but we’ve also seen it 59 other times,” Rodriguez said. “They’re the ones that choose the list of projects that we do. We don’t make it up, they make it up. The community makes it up. That’s what makes it special, and that’s why we have such a high rate of success.”

The tour involved a stop on South Street, “the last piece of the DRI investment,” as Rodriguez referred to it. The City is looking to build a year-round farmer’s market and renovate several buildings on South Street into mixed-use apartments and commercial spaces.

“The South Market, and that South Street corridor is still the last piece of the DRI investment that we’re looking to focus on,” said Rodriguez. “So really, seeing the housing get created around that, breaking ground, making sure that we get the year-round farmer’s market, are the final pieces to completing what has been the vision of Glens Falls around the DRI.”

“This has been a long time coming, six years. All I’m doing is helping carry the football across the end zone,” Collins said. “I’m very excited to be a part of this, and to keep us going forward.

“We need to continue to move forward, make sure we’re not in people’s way, and that our success leads a chance for everybody to come to Glens Falls and prosper.”