Sunday, May 20, 2007
The White Street Times is seriously considering backing Jane. We are very much against the water plan. We also are wondering why so many are against Stewarts selling the property on the corner of Union Ave & East Ave. There was a petition against it at 5 Points Store. We believe it is an eye sore with the gas station and pumps.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
For fifty years, the Cities Services Citgo Station provided the East Side and its City’s visitors with full service -- something that the pilgram getting off at the fifty-year-old interchange looking for an oasis would have trouble with today. It’s service run now over as the property sits for sale could in fact provide any number of new operators with similar or new entrepreneurial opportunities. Maybe the City could purchase the property for an EMT station, a Police security substation, or CDTA could operate a shuttle bus garage for the summer to the lake and the track from downtown with perhaps a tie-in to the Automobile Museum, the Chamber and Visitor’s Center? Why, even a restoration in homage to that once ubiquitous roadside icon that evolved into the other ubiquitous roadside icon becomes a possibility, but a longshot. The National Trust provides us with hundreds of examples of similar uses for once abandoned roadside architecture and, the US Department of the Interior has spoken favorably of this little station! Don’t forget that Pure Oil gave us our Breadbasket. If the modern look is not appealing to you, it should still not prevent you from recognizing or appreciating its architectural importance. Once commonplace, today along with Ben and Jerry’s and a few others -- it remains a part of our local and national fabric.
Additionally, as one who is familiar with fiscal responsibility, it would seem that the removal of tax generating income-producing property for yet another gravel lot would be reason enough for you to expect the present owner to provide replacement plans as required by our Zoning Ordinance. If we are now to assume that the land is polluted and that demolition is inevitable (requiring yet another review before the DRC and a hardship appeal before the ZBA), then it would be safe to assume using that logic -- that the bell will toll shortly for most of South Broadway, Ben & Jerry’s and any other adaptively reused automobile facility.
And what is wrong a little architectural diversity? Does your house on White Street want to look like a new house or does a new house want to look like your house? Can they just be of their time? Integrity, significance and age – something like that station, we should all recognize.
Are we talking about the site of what used to be the Gulf Gas station years ago, where Charlie would come and stick that thing to his neck and ask if you wanted him to check the oil?
Ben&Jerry's? Where that sits now used to be an auto garage.
Just cause something cool sits there doesn't make the site important. The old Saratoga Mall was cool and they demolished that
Yes, Rose's Gulf & welding became Montana Book before today’s ice cream store. The only cool thing about the Monkey Wards mall (and Service Merchandise) was that it galvanized this city to protect its downtown – something the Glens Falls planners missed with their disastrous rezoning of their entry corridors from residential to commercial.
Both exits 19 and 20, which still show the signs of once vibrant neighborhoods (one modest the other grand), became contaminated by inexcusable land speculation and poor decision making by city fathers. All that planning only resulted in the best 50’s downtown, once “Hometown USA” becoming a ghost of decades past. Today the malls are desperate to find ways to entice customers, even reinventing a strip mall variation with outside store entrances to get away from the large (bad air) terrarium model of retail.
And don’t let the hoopla over their roundabout fool anyone. Their traffic plans have been played with for thirty years and this current incantation with its centerpiece island of no purpose (except for a collection of directional signs) is the latest hoola hoop.
What makes a site or property important is, significance, integrity and age. Like a complete (integrity) '53 Corvette convertible (first year - few left - significant) or a 1959 BMW Isetta (most people never saw this one). It’s not about taste – it’s about design and its story (for others).
...And yes, some significant malls are recognized for their historic contribution to mid century modern flights to the suburbs.
The gas station Carl is talking is now a strip mall Drive In Movie, Quiznmos. The other one is across the street from the throughbred track. I am looking forward to condos that will be built.
Well Wanda - If I had to put a value on city needs -- a healthy service garage on a sensitive gateway or more seasonal condo investments, I would have to go with the former. Perhaps the City could finally get to metering the water on White Street and collecting revenue to help pay for your desired infrastructure -- and while you ponder new neighborhood development, why didn't you advocate for affordable housing in Moore Hall for all of those service workers that will help to maintain your desired condo needs -- after all, didn't you champion diversity (not architectural of course)?
Post a Comment