Downtown Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Glens Falls Business Report

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.

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

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 22, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

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.”

An artist rendering of the finished Park & Elm.

Downtown Revitalization: Park and Elm

Written by Melissa Downer on September 21, 2022. Posted in Business, Community, Downtown, Featured, Food.

The revitalization of downtown is being taken one step further with the development of a renovated multi-use building set to open this fall.

Elizabeth Miller and her son Ben Miller, who own the Park Theater and Doc’s Restaurant, purchased the property on the corner of Park and Elm Streets in 2019 with the vision to expand their business and open up space for more parking for events at the theater and restaurant. Formerly, the building was the home of Look TV.

“This is just a natural expansion for us,” Ben Miller said, “We are very excited to share this new operation with the public.”

The building will house a new fine dining restaurant, aptly named Park and Elm, and a deli and market on the first floor, and 10 apartments on the second and third floors. The deli will have a full butcher counter that will have the same cuts of meat served at the restaurant, and the market will sell fresh and local produce, eggs and dairy from area farms, including Miller’s own Sunset Farm in Queensbury. It will also have household items such as dish soap, paper towels and toilet paper.

**ADK Studios’ rendering of the Park & Elm Restaurant and Market.**

“The deli and market will be under the same umbrella as the fine-dining restaurant, using many of the same ingredients,” Ben said. “We will offer fast, casual breakfast and lunch sandwiches, house baked bread, and grab-and-go meals.”

Full and half pan to-go meals will be available for purchase as well.

The apartments are a mix of one and two bedroom apartments ranging from 700 square feet to almost 2,000 square feet. Rent will range from $1,300 to $1,900 per month.

Elizabeth stated that Park and Elm will be a great addition to downtown because currently, Doc’s is closed to the public often due to private events. Moving forward, Doc’s will only be open when there are events at the Park Theater. Park and Elm will give the public an option now, while Doc’s was usually closed. Ben added that they will consider private events at Park and Elm on a case-by-case basis.

A large motivation for this development for Elizabeth is parking.

“We wanted to make parking more viable for our customers and that area of town,” she said, adding that parking has been a problem for the Park Theater and Doc’s.

**ADK Studios’ artist rendering of the Park & Elm Market.**

Cifone Construction is handling the renovations. Plans were held up due to COVID-19, however that did not deter the Millers from moving forward.

“Construction didn’t come to a complete halt, but the pandemic did slow things down a bit,” Ben said. “We are just really excited to be able to share this publicly soon.”

Between the restaurant and the deli and market, there will be at least 8-10 job openings. There will also be a need for events at the Park Theater. Executive Chef Matthew J. Delos will continue his role at Park and Elm as well as at Doc’s for special events.

Elizabeth purchased the Park Theater in 2014 and with Cifone Construction, renovated the building, originally built in 1911. The Park Theater reopened as a state-of-the-art performing arts center, featuring national and international touring performers, as well as local community artists and productions.

Capital Region APA Announces New Division in Glens Falls

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 20, 2022. Posted in Columns, Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Capital Region APA Pool League has announced a new nine-ball division for the upcoming season, scheduled to begin in Glens Falls this Sunday, Sept. 25.

“We want to get another format out there,” said Ryan Gilligan, League Operator of the Capital Region APA Pool League. “We do have a Wednesday division that we just started up (in Glens Falls), and that’s eight-ball. The players up there were like, ‘Hey, could we also get the nine-ball format up there as well?’”

The league plays at Downtown Social in Glens Falls at 6 p.m. on Sunday nights over a period of 12 weeks, according to a post on the league’s Facebook page.

“Our league supports local business, so the Downtown Social, they love having it there, because they’re just hanging out,” Gilligan said. “Just drinking, eating, having a good time.”

There will be 5-8 players per team, with a maximum of 5 players per team participating in a match each week. Gilligan said this means players “don’t have to give up every Sunday,” instead having the option to rotate with other team members.

The nine-ball format sees nine balls on the table, with players starting with the lowest ball. Each ball is worth 1 point, while the nine-ball itself is worth 2 points.

“Depending what your skill level is will depend on how many balls you make,” said Gilligan. “It’s a fun, social league. Anyone can play. If you’re a lesser player, you have to make less balls to win the match. If you’re a higher skill level player, you have to make more.”

Each team requires a mix of skill levels, with Gilligan saying that the league has a “team skill-level limit.”

Gilligan said that several teams have signed up for the league already, which begins this Sunday.

The first-place team in the league will automatically qualify for Tri-Annuals, while division and playoff winners will also qualify. Tri-Annuals will see these teams compete against other winners from the Capital Region, according to the league’s Facebook page.

Tri-Annual winning teams will receive a cash prize of $600, and advance to the Capital Region APA World Qualifiers in June 2023. The World Qualifiers will take place at the Albany Capital Center.

Winners at the World Qualifiers will advance to the World’s Largest Pool Tournament, held in Las Vegas in August 2023. The grand prize for the World’s Largest Pool Tournament is $30,000.

Gilligan said participation in the league has grown in recent years, emphasizing the social aspect of the league.

“After the pandemic, I feel like people are itching to get out of the house and do something new,” said Gilligan. “Our league has been growing significantly after the pandemic. We actually grew coming out of the pandemic, where we had more teams coming out than we had starting.

“It’s like a social thing, that’s what our league is. We bring people together.”

The entry fee is $50 per team, plus an annual APA membership fee of $25. To join or register a team, visit the Capital Region APA Pool League page on Facebook, or call (518) 630-5664.

Warren County Property Auction Set for Oct. 15

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 20, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News, Property.

QUEENSBURY — The Warren County Real Property Tax Services Office will hold its annual live public auction on Saturday, Oct. 15, according to a press release from the County.

Over two dozen tax-foreclosed properties will be available for purchase, the release states. The auction will be held at the Warren County Courthouse. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the auction itself set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

The release states that 27 parcels are on the auction list in total, including “a motel, single family homes, commercial property, and vacant lots.”

The auction proceeds are used toward funding environmental cleanup and recouping “lost tax revenues needed for public services,” the County said in the release.

A full list of properties and details can be found on auctionsinternational.com.

Adirondack Balloon Festival Begins Thursday, Glen Street to Be Closed at 3 p.m.

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 20, 2022. Posted in Columns, Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — Due to the Adirondack Balloon Festival, there will be no parking allowed on Glen Street after 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, according to a release from the City.

Glen Street will be closed from the traffic circle to South Street, the release states. The Balloon Festival will be holding a “Downtown Block Party” from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., kicking off a weekend of fun and balloons.

The Block Party will have balloon baskets on display, in addition to a car show and activities for kids, according to a release from the City.

In addition to the downtown party, festivities at Crandall Park will kick off at 4 p.m. on Thursday with the opening of food vendors. At 4:30 p.m., Beatin’ the Odds, a southern rock band from Clifton Park, will perform.

Opening ceremonies for the Balloon Festival will be at 5 p.m. at Crandall Park on Thursday, with a flight of “10+ balloons” to follow at 5:30 p.m., according to a release from the city.

City of Glens Falls to Install Parking Sensors, Renovate East Field Courts

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 19, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls will undergo a pair of construction projects in the coming weeks.

The city will have parking sensors installed in “certain downtown locations,” according to a press release. The sensors will be installed below the streets. Cones are being placed to mark the locations of the sensor installations.

The sensors will be installed as a “precursor for the future development” of a city parking plan, the release states. The work is expected to be completed between today and Thursday.

The city will also work to refurbish the East Field basketball courts, following a contract award from the Glens Falls Common Council last week. A press release states that the city’s engineering department has received a signed contract and a Certificate of Insurance.

A pre-construction meeting will be held at the basketball courts at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The release states that the contractor “would like to begin work as soon as next week.” The courts will be closed for the duration of construction, with the release saying the contractor hopes to finish in a four-week period, “if temperatures allow the coatings to be applied.”

Glens Falls Senior Center Hosting Senior Expo Sept. 21

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 19, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — A Senior Expo will be held on Sept. 21 at Heritage Hall inside Cool Insuring Arena, providing relevant resources and information to the senior community. The event is being run by the Glens Falls Senior Center.

The Expo is scheduled to run from 1 to 7 p.m. Kim Bren, Executive Director of the Glens Falls Senior Center, said the goal is for the Expo to be a “one-stop shop” for seniors.

“I wanted to cover the whole gamut as people go through the aging process, and know what information is out there and services that are available to you,” said Bren.

Bren mentioned home repairs/services, home healthcare, assisted living, nursing homes, end-of-life planning, healthcare proxies, insurance, realtors, bankers, and nonprofit organizations as some of the services that will be available. She also said that a senior service specialist from the Senior Center will be on hand at the event.

“We’ll have the insurance companies, since open enrollment is coming up in October. Most of the insurance companies have picked a table that will be there for the plans,” Bren said. “We have some assisted living facilities, we have some nursing home facilities. … We have Glens Falls Housing, they’ll be there. The Cedars (Senior Living Community Apartments). We’re just trying to cover the whole range. We have attorneys that will be there too.”

This is the first Senior Expo to be held by the Senior Center, with Bren saying she hopes “we’ll do really well.”

“We’re going to run it from 1-7, so if you’re still working, there’s time to come after work to check things out,” said Bren, who emphasized that the event is not solely for seniors.

“We have people that call here that are looking for services for mom and dad, so it’s not just for seniors. It’s for the community. If you have an aging person that you take care of, or a neighbor, or you know of someone who might need these services, it’s good to know this information.”

Bren, who has worked for the Senior Center for eight years, said the idea came from a similar event held near her hometown.

“I’m not from the area, and my grandmother and her friends used to go to a senior expo at Massena Arena, where I’m from,” Bren said. “I just thought, well this is something that would be fabulous down here to get the information out to the community of everything that can be available.”

There are currently 64 vendors signed up for the Expo, according to Bren.

“I was very surprised at the number of vendors we have received, and I’m so grateful for all of them,” she said. “It’s going to be a great show. It’s going to run just like a business show. They’ll have their table, you can stop and talk to them and request information.”

While this is the first Expo to be held by the Senior Center, Bren said the goal is to make the event an annual occurrence and the main fundraiser for the organization.

“I would love to make it an annual thing. What we want to do is have it be our signature fundraiser for the year,” said Bren. “That way, we are doing a fundraiser, but yet we’re also helping the community.”

The Senior Center will also put together a resource guide following the Expo, “so if someone has a question, we can give them that information,” said Bren.

Romeo Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the Expo, while CDPHP and Hudson Headwaters Health Network are silver sponsors.

“Just hopefully everybody comes out, and we get some really good attendance,” Bren said. “I just think it’s going to be super.”

Veterans Business Network Holds Walk for Veteran Suicide Awareness

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 16, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured.

GLENS FALLS — The Veterans Business Network, a council of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Walk for Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention at Glens Falls City Park on Wednesday, helping raise awareness for mental health issues among veterans.

The Veterans Business Network aims to “promote and to serve the affinity group of veteran and military service personnel,” according to the Chamber’s website.

The walk lasted 22 minutes, highlighting a statistic stating that 22 veterans lose their lives to suicide each day. Prior to the walk, the event featured several speakers, including Glens Falls Mayor S. William Collins, New York State Senator Dan Stec, and New York State Assemblyman Matt Simpson.

“Within this small group of patriots, we are losing 22 of them, and likely more, each day. And not on the battlefield, but in their hometowns. On their own soil, by way of suicide,” said Sean Dion, vice chair of the Veterans Business Network. “In my opinion, one is too many. … My call to action for you is to be the beacon in your community, and if you see something, say something. Not all wounds are visible. If someone needs a wingman, be there for them. Making connections is the path to prevention for veteran suicide.”

Mayor Collins thanked the crowd for attending, saying he “can’t express how important this event is to raise awareness about this crisis among our veterans.”

“22 a day, I’ve got to tell you, I was shocked,” said Mayor Collins. “22 a day is inconceivable across this country. … We know that’s why this event is so important. I deeply appreciate the Chamber’s Veterans Business Network, and thank both the ARCC and the Veterans Business Network for locating the regional call to action here in the heart of Glens Falls.”

Senator Stec said he was “thrilled that this event has taken a firm hold.”

“This is a national tragedy, and frankly it’s an epidemic,” Stec said. “This is something that we as government and as community should be focusing our energy and effort on, because our veterans that have served and sacrificed deserve nothing less.”

Assemblyman Simpson said his time in the assembly has taught him the best way to assist is “by listening to veterans.”

“I’m not a veteran. There’s no way that I could ever put myself in the shoes of a veteran, somebody who’s served, who has been there and come home,” said Simpson, mentioning he has two nephews who served in Afghanistan. “It’s been quite an experience to learn about the challenges that people are facing. … It hits home. It hits every single one of us. Our families are not secure from this, and we need to do all we can to support our veterans. It starts with listening. Listening to them, and taking direction.”

Jolee Hicks of #HicksStrong, Inc. also spoke, remembering her son, Macoy.

“On February 11, 2019, our son, Macoy Austin Daniel Hicks, died by suicide while actively serving in the Navy,” said Hicks, who started #HicksStrong along with her family to assist veterans with mental health struggles. “We have turned our pain into a purpose and are saving lives every day. If you take anything away from today, please take this: You matter. Your life matters. Life is hard. It downright sucks sometimes, but you don’t have to do it alone.

“#HicksStrong’s mission is to save military lives. Our family motto is, ‘Together we’re stronger.’ We can’t do this alone, but together we can.”

Jacque Ecuyer, founder of 4s4LIFE, spoke and described his battle with depression and drug addiction, stating that, “despite the incredible pain, I found strength. I knew this was bigger than me.”

“I created 4s4LIFE with one sole mission: to help people combat mental health issues on multiple levels. I’ve been clean from drugs for over 25 years now, and have dedicated my life to helping as many people as possible,” said Ecuyer. “Every life matters. Every human needs connection on some level. You are not alone. Together we can make a difference.”

Cindy Roberts, president of the New York chapter of Gold Star Mothers, spoke in remembrance of her daughter, Kristie.

“About eight months after Kristie had passed, I was invited to join Gold Star Mothers,” Roberts said. “Since that time, it broke my heart, because over half the moms in our chapter are parents of suicide (victims). … All I can say is, please don’t let any other parents go through what we have been through. Reach out, ask those questions.”

Roberts added that “it means so much” to see the crowd walking together.

“If we can just get the stigma off talking about suicide, so many people are just uncomfortable,” said Roberts. “We know, as I look at all of you, that we are not alone. And all I can say is thank you for not letting us share this burden by ourselves.”

Warren County Receives Funding for Bike Path

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 14, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured.

Warren County will receive $160,000 in federal funding to be used for an improvement plan for the Warren County Bikeway and Feeder Canal Trail. The Northern Border Regional Commission is providing the funding through a grant, according to a release from the County.

“Warren County is very thankful for this funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission, which will help connect the communities of Lake George, Glens Falls, and Hudson Falls to the Empire State Trail through the Multi-Use Trail Modernization and Linkage Initiative,” said Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Geraghty in the release. Geraghty also serves as Warrensburg Town Supervisor. “The funding will provide support for our regional economy by modernizing tourism infrastructure and increasing opportunities for our residents and visitors.”

The trails connect to the Empire State Trail, which runs from Manhattan to the Canadian border, north of Plattsburgh. The Warren County Bikeway runs from Platt Street in Glens Falls to Ft. George Road in Lake George. The Feeder Canal Trail runs from Glens Falls to Fort Edward, connecting to the Empire State Trail.

Warren County Planning & Community Development will oversee the plan, which is expected to “modernize” and connect the multi-use trails, according to the release. The grant will provide funds for an analysis of existing conditions, public outreach, and estimates for trail crossing, extension work, and evaluation of trail spurs.

The release states that development for the plan will begin in 2023.

Downtown Mural Takes Art to New Heights

Written by Katy O’Keefe Haggerty on August 25, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured.

A late Saturday in August showcased the first hints of silvery autumnal light but still held the oppressive heat of summer. This was the first weekend that one could witness the artist, Jesse Melanson working on the first of three murals slated for Glens Falls. The murals are part of a $10 million dollar revitalization initiative for downtown Glens Falls It was mid-morning when Jesse Melanson, hailing from Austin Texas, set to work on the side of the building at 144 Glen Street.

This was his second day of prepping the wall that had been a deep color blue. He was covering the entire wall with white primer. This primer would create a better canvas for his art. He explained the struggles of working on a massive exterior wall. “The surface is rough and takes a lot of paint. There are areas of the wall where the bricks can just be pulled out.” He said as he gazed up at the jagged surface.

The logistics of working outdoors had already been challenging. “I just got power today. The lift broke yesterday and I have limited amounts of water (to work with).” He said with a smile. “Every time I work on a mural I think I should farm out the prep. But, it’s part of the process. This way I can make the work all of my own.”

Melanson went on to explain the stages of his art. “People don’t like the first stage of the work. I use a doodle grid. It will look trashy. But it will evolve.” He said. The artist hopes to beautify the downtown but also to open people’s hearts. “Everything evolves. I hope this art will teach people to look for a deeper meaning.” He said. “People should give things a chance and see what they can turn into.”

This theme can be found as an introduction on Jesse’s website as well.“I am Jesse Melanson, an innovator solving problems by design and empowering communities through art.” According to his website, Jesse has been collaborating with communities since 2017. To see more of Jesse’s work go to Jmelart.com.

This project has been funded by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This initiative is a $10 million dollar grant that is being used to improve the downtown area of Glens Falls. Kate Austin-Avon and Jaqueline Toubia are amongst the founding members of The Glens Falls Arts District. The group held weekly meetings to move this project forward. When asked what she hoped would come out of this project, Kate Austin-Avon replied, “For people to enjoy the arts, help fund the arts, and grow their love of art here in Glens Falls.”

The next two murals will be located on Warren Street. These murals are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The two other artists creating murals are Hannah Williams who will be working at 20 Warren Street and Toni Ardizone who will be working at 103 Warren Street. Melanson is expected to finish his mural in two weeks.