News

Small Cities grant falls through

Posted October 22, 2007 11:00 pm

Dana C. Silano

Several area businesses waited patiently for months to begin the process of building and renovating projects that had been planned for this year's Small City grants.

Two public hearings were held in February and March regarding plans for the application process, and included facilities on Southern Avenue and in Canal Place.

Recently, the New York State Office for Small Cities and Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced recipients in 65 municipalities in 35 counties statewide that received part of the $29 million available to businesses and communities for an economic boost.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Of the 67 grants, Herkimer County received two for rehabilitation projects, each worth $400,000. One is for the town of Ohio and the other benefits the village of Frankfort. The city of Little Falls did not receive funding this year.

"It didn't get approved," said Dave Carlson of Carlson Associates in Cooperstown, a consulting firm used jointly with architects from Little Falls-based Ward Associates, namely Tony Carlisto in this case.

"We received a letter about two weeks after it was officially announced," Carlson said. "Everybody is disappointed because it was a very strong application with very strong points. We've been fairly successful in the past, and I know our community is as good as any in upstate New York."

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Carlson said that he was aware that less money was available for the Community Development Block Grant this year, and that less projects would be approved, but did not think that Little Falls would have a problem receiving a portion of it.

He also said he was given the impression that all businesses involved in the planning received a letter, however, The Evening Times informed two of three interviewed business owners of the grant application's denial.

"I guess our successfulness in the past went against us this time," Carlson said. "We'll request the information on ratings and rankings and maybe that will give us a clue as to what points were strong and which ones were not strong."

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Previously, in 2005, Little Falls received unified funding of $400,000 for local HOME projects.

This year, at two public hearings and Common Council meetings, confidence and hopes were high in the city for the development of new venues and improvement of others in the near future.

A survey of needs was conducted along the south side of Little Falls, receiving positive feedback from several businesses.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

The waterfront investment program tied in directly with the Community Development Block Grant application, involving several moderately-sized projects.

One plan for Southern Avenue included Little Falls Lumber, a business which owns numerous warehouse buildings that were damaged by fire several years ago. Some of the damages were repaired, and the project would have partly focused on fixing the remaining damage, improving the environment along Southern Avenue. The lumber storage shed would have been included as part of the program, and its improvement would have upgraded the entire environment along the canal harbor, Carlson said at the second public hearing.

Jim Filipski, owner of Little Falls Lumber, was unavailable for comment.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Also included in the waterfront investment program was a vacant piece of land at 55 W. Mill St., just west of the bridge. A private entrepreneur, Chris Connolly, wanted to turn the property into an Adirondack-style ice cream development, opening up jobs for at last six people seasonally and adding business to the area.

"When I was going ahead on my own, Dave [Carlson] told me a number of times to be patient and wait before doing anything huge," Connolly said. "I spent a lot of time this summer planning and working, but I was advised to wait before doing anything major. You know that saying, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade," he said lightheartedly, "well, when you hit an iceberg, make ice cream."

Connolly said the shop would serve ice cream and desserts and offer a variety of genres in a bookstore.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

"I've got a lot of ideas," he said. "I'll need other means of income to do it now, but I have a lot of ideas."

Ole' Sal's is the name of the ice cream parlor, which Connolly wants to open up next summer.

Thus far, it is foundation and high hopes, due mostly to the wait.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

"The goal's a little high at this point but we'll see what we can do," he said. "[Canal Place] is an alive spot in Little Falls. It's our cultural center and I want to be a part of it."

A teacher and football coach at Dolgeville Central School, he said this has been a goal he has anticipated his entire adult life. "I love teaching," Connolly said, "and I love coaching; and this is something I have always wanted to do."

Richard Vogt and David Taylor have owned the Stone Mill building since 2005, and have made several changes to it. Not only has the building become a renowned venue, but it has acquired additional business expansion since then.

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

The plan was for a 50-50 matching grant for an inn on the third floor of the building. It would create five jobs depending on the season, and the Stone Mill hoped for $150,000 toward the project, which can be done with about $300,000. The plans included a new sprinkler system and nine vacant units with guest accommodations on the third floor.

"We would have never known about the outcome of that application, had I not been curious and checked out the online website for New York State Office of Small Cities," Taylor said. "I just had this feeling because we hadn't heard anything yet."

Taylor said that he and Vogt will continue with the project, even though they too had waited on loans and other sources of funding to complete it. "It has to be done," he said. "I'm just really disappointed that we didn't receive the grant."

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Neighboring upstate community revitalization projects include Fulton County, which received $400,000 each for the city of Gloversville and the town of Oppenheim for rehabilitation. In Montgomery County, the city of Amsterdam received $400,000 for public sewer improvements and the village of Canajoharie received a comprehensive $650,000 grant.

Article Categories
News