Spencerport officials reveal revitalization plan

Spencerport officials reveal revitalization plan

About 20 people gathered to hear the Village of Spencerport's plans for revitalizing its downtown and the southside waterfront redevelopment project plans.

Since the initial meeting in November - where close to 100 people showed up to voice opinions and concerns on the proposed project -- village officials have been working on a concept plan aimed at the revitalization of the village's waterfront, including the future of southside waterfront redevelopment.

The project was one of the first steps toward a redevelopment plan that would encompass areas next to the Erie Canal and help officials come up with a comprehensive, coordinated plan for any development in and around the village.

Graphics and a slide computer presentation shown at the May 8 meeting depicted conceptual designs for everything from facade concepts to walking trail construction and enhancement to uniformity among fixtures such as park benches and flower pots.

At the November meeting, graphics and overhead presentations were displayed and a questionnaire was handed out which asked about ways to improve traffic flow on Union Street to whether street signs should be more uniform and stylized, whether there should be more walking or biking trails and better ways to utilize the canal itself. Conceptual designs such as a gateway leading into the plaza or into the central business district were also presented.

Tom Robinson of Environmental Design & Research presented the plans and described that the objectives of the redevelopment and revitalization were to strengthen the community character, enhance the pedestrian experience, expand economic opportunities (utilizing the canal) and enhance the historic resources the village already has available.

"The projects are broken down to near term, mid- and long-term as well as being broken down to topographic sectors," he said. We also compiled a development checklist that will help officials identify whether proposals that are coming before the planning and zoning boards are good fits for the development that's planned."

Robert Garlick, chairman of the village's planning board, said his board will likely get the most use out of the document. "We still use it as a guide when we are approving development," he said. "The document will be inserted into our comprehensive plan."

Part of the fabric of the village, Robinson said, rides on its walkability and its canal character. "We need to put in walking trails that loop around, not dead end," he said.

Town of Ogden officials were on hand as Spencerport's plan feeds off of enhancements made within the town. Dave Feeney, a member of the Town of Ogden board as well as the chairman of its open space committee, said that Ogden's open space plan grew out of the village's. "No community exists within a vacuum and Spencerport and Ogden's plan will feed off each other," he said.

Spencerport resident Dick Lacroix, who is working on redevelopment of the village plaza with owners Kevin and Bob Morgan, presented a conceptual plan for facade renovations and a proposal for construction of retail/apartment style housing that would abut the canal. "Because the village is looking into a 'canal town' theme we had to define what that was and we came up with Greek Revival architecture," he said while describing the concepts for construction in the plaza.

Mayor Ted Walker said that none of the plans will happen overnight. "We are really looking to the community for their enthusiasm and partnership with our visions," he said. "The document is a living tool by which we will look at enhancement and development."