Everything for downtown and it's rich political cronies, everything is rosy for them
The neighborhoods can go to hell
Quoted Text
SCHENECTADY
‘All-purpose store’ latest to leave plaza
CVS departure to saddle struggling Sheridan with another empty storefront
BY HALEY VICCARO Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Haley Viccaro at 395-3114, hviccaro@dailygazette.net or @HRViccaro on Twitter. CVS Pharmacy at Sheridan Plaza is closing later this month, leaving the plaza with another empty storefront and without a place for local residents to buy groceries. The store is set to close Dec. 12. Customers of the CVS on Gerling Street are being referred to a newly renovated store at 1330 Balltown Road, about 1.5 miles away. Eleanor Kenyon, 94, who lives at the Sheridan Village Apartments across from the plaza, said CVS is a major resource for people close by who do not have transportation to a grocery store. “It’s an all-purpose store,” she said. “It’s where people’s medications are and if you run out of something you can get it. It’s a great loss and I’m very concerned for the people that shop there.” The owner of the nearly 218,000-square-foot plaza, Sheridan Plaza Associates of New Jersey, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. Ray Gillen, chairman of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, said of all the plazas the economic development arm has redeveloped in the county, Sheridan Plaza has been the biggest challenge. “Sheridan Plaza has proven to be very difficult because of the fact that it’s not on a major road and most retailers want to be on a four-way road if not a very busy two-way road, like Balltown Road,” Gillen said. “The visibility is difficult to see the plaza. The road next to it is not a major thoroughfare.” Gillen said Metroplex and Sheridan Plaza Associates have shown the plaza to prospective tenants and that the reaction has not been positive. “We had some office users look at it and some medical groups,” he said. “The national retailers are looking for a major thoroughfare with high visibility and a high car count. But we will continue to try to sell the space.” Sheridan Plaza, which was built in 1954, now houses TrustCo Bank, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, an Italian restaurant called Italiano’s, New China Restaurant, a Laundromat and Grapevine Wine & Liquor. The plaza used to be home to Price Chopper, an anchor store that left a 20,000-square-foot building there in 2006. Before that, the plaza was occupied by Loblaw’s and P&C. Councilman Vince Riggi said CVS closing its doors in less than two weeks is a major setback for seniors living in the area. “They depend on small stores like that to get some of their food and pharmaceuticals,” he said. “A lot of them don’t drive, so it’s a problem. That is a big impact on the people living in that area.” Riggi said several local residents called him crying when they heard the CVS would be closing, expressing concerns that they have nowhere to go to buy food and other necessities. “It would be nice if the city had a little better handle on businesses that are there and if they are struggling, to try and help them,” he said. “That’s not happening and that’s a problem. Everybody cannot be downtown. People need neighborhood stores.” Jackie Mancini, the city’s director of development, said the Department of Development doesn’t typically work to attract and retain businesses, noting that it’s Metroplex’s responsibility. Gillen said Metroplex would continue to work to find new tenants for the plaza with Sheridan Plaza Associates. “Everyone wants to see it succeed,” he said. “The strength is there are a tremendous amount of rooftops and apartments, and a lot of neighbors who want to see the plaza be successful. That is a strong point for the plaza, and because it is walkable.” Kenyon, a former director of the American Cancer Society in Schenectady and Saratoga counties, said she has lived on Gerling Street since she retired and that she has watched the area crumble. Kenyon said she would take a taxi to other nearby stores, like Rite Aid on the corner of Van Vranken Avenue and Gerling Street, but that she does not feel safe walking alone. “I have to use a taxi for transportation,” she said. “I remember when you walked on Van Vranken Avenue and you didn’t have any fear. Now the taxi driver told me don’t ever walk on that street because you will be approached.” Like Riggi, Kenyon said she believes the city could do more to help build up the neighborhoods. “The city officials talk about State Street as though it was the be-all and end-all of everything,” she said. “They pour tons of money there. People move away because there is nothing to keep them here. We need better shopping facilities, which are really important.”
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.
So whats the problem on Upper State? Major road/high traffic with over 40 abandoned businesses of every description. This is devastating to the seniors in the neighborhood who no longer drive and needed CVS for essential medications. The taxes are too damn high and that location is no longer profitable due to confiscatory City taxes. How much longer will the Sheridan Plaza Trustco hold on? Keep the implosion going-did you hear about the new winery coming Downtown?
CVS isn't leaving the city. It is just closing one very old, obsolete store in a very old, obsolete retail complex. CVS has other newer stores in the city.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
CVS isn't leaving the city. It is just closing one very old, obsolete store in a very old, obsolete retail complex. CVS has other newer stores in the city.
True on the not leaving the city, I misspoke. But closing a store in a neighborhood of both renters and homeowners, causing them to have to go much further, as the story said, some don't have cars. Just interesting that Metroplex only argument is "they aren't on a main road." Well, Rosa Rd isn't exactly a tiny little side street, and while that hill from Rosa Rd is awkward, it's not like someone has to travel several miles down Gerling St off Rosa Rd
That CVS is open til 8 pm. Guess McCarthy and Gillen would prefer to have people go downtown where the store closes at 6 pm
And you'd think that if the casino and that whole project there is supposed be such an improvement and the way McCarthy talks you'd think people are flocking to that neighborhood so there would be more of a need for a pharmacy there, and maybe a grocery store. So you'd think since Metroplex is funded with taxpayer money, that plex would do a project there for the taxpayers where the taxpayers live. But NOPE, it's all about the millionaire political cronies and their precious downtown
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.
Maybe w/in 5 years or so site will be demo'ed. Making the way for condo dev. for the new "milenials" that the powers that be will be catering to. There are some 78 million. Larger base than the baby boomers. Can see a Maddalone/Plex type deal in the future.
There are CVS stores downtown, on Eastern Avenue at McClellan St, upper State Street and Balltown Road at Van Antwerp. Shop-Rite of Niskayuna has an in-store pharmacy. Hannaford of Niskayuna has an in-store pharmacy. While it would be nice to have a drugstore in every neighborhood, those days are long gone. Many people choose to have their meds shipped directly to their homes. So, the trend towards fewer "brick and mortar" drugstores will just continue EVERYWHERE - not just in Schenectady.
Personally, I would have no problem with a private developer tearing down that plaza and redeveloping it for multi-family residential housing.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Personally, I would have no problem with a private developer tearing down that plaza and redeveloping it for multi-family residential housing.
The only flaw in that statement, IMHO, is that the CVS was used for bread, milk, cheese, food products, etc (some required by SNAP participation) and that the people in that neighborhood have no other option for grocery nearby.
I'm working on a business plan (with two advisers) , myself to open a small convenience type store there, (sans beer and lottery to start with) to provide essentials to residents in that neighborhood. Ideally, my store would be open from 7AM to 11PM initially - and make it price convenient for residents in the area. Of course, SNAP acceptance would be mandatory in my business plan.
I'm looking for a private partner, not Metroplex or state/county/city money to help open this store very soon. I'll also be looking to hire several new employees to start. If anyone is interested, please get in touch with me.
We are advised NOT to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works.
Not according to the city zoning office. I got a green light from city hall so far.
We are advised NOT to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works.
The only flaw in that statement, IMHO, is that the CVS was used for bread, milk, cheese, food products, etc (some required by SNAP participation) and that the people in that neighborhood have no other option for grocery nearby.
I'm working on a business plan (with two advisers) , myself to open a small convenience type store there, (sans beer and lottery to start with) to provide essentials to residents in that neighborhood. Ideally, my store would be open from 7AM to 11PM initially - and make it price convenient for residents in the area. Of course, SNAP acceptance would be mandatory in my business plan.
I'm looking for a private partner, not Metroplex or state/county/city money to help open this store very soon. I'll also be looking to hire several new employees to start. If anyone is interested, please get in touch with me.
You mean you want to open a business in an area where it is needed, intended to service customers needs, and provide a service????? Sounds like a smart plan! AWESOME! Hope it works out and best of luck.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
The only flaw in that statement, IMHO, is that the CVS was used for bread, milk, cheese, food products, etc (some required by SNAP participation) and that the people in that neighborhood have no other option for grocery nearby.
I'm working on a business plan (with two advisers) , myself to open a small convenience type store there, (sans beer and lottery to start with) to provide essentials to residents in that neighborhood. Ideally, my store would be open from 7AM to 11PM initially - and make it price convenient for residents in the area. Of course, SNAP acceptance would be mandatory in my business plan.
I'm looking for a private partner, not Metroplex or state/county/city money to help open this store very soon. I'll also be looking to hire several new employees to start. If anyone is interested, please get in touch with me.
First - I think it is a great that you are trying to open a small convenience type store in Sheridan Plaza neighborhood. You know where I work -- so don't hesitate to stop by or give me a call -- I don't know how much help that I can be to you but I am willing to sit down and talk about it with you.
Second - The only reasons that I would say "Sheridan Plaza itself is obsolete" are: a) age of the structures and b) the tremendous increase in commercial properties developed in the decades since the plaza was built. I would much rather see a commercial property - like Sheridan Plaza - be either revitalized as a commercial property or rezoned to residential. The first priority should be to revitalize existing commercial property before adding new commercial properties to our inventory. Developing new single-family and multi-family residential is needed to bring a "critical mass" of folks (of all income ranges) back into the city and even the "near-by towns" like Rotterdam. Basically - reversing the outward sprawl that has nearly killed our urban core(s).
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
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So whats the problem on Upper State? Major road/high traffic with over 40 abandoned businesses of every description. This is devastating to the seniors in the neighborhood who no longer drive and needed CVS for essential medications.
