CHARRETTE ON DOWNTOWN ONEONTA

Grocery Store, High Line Ideas

At Public-Engagement Meeting

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – A grocery store.  A high line, an elevated walking trail overlooking murals and mosaics.  More sports in Neahwa Park.

These were some of the ideas presented in the Foothills atrium at tonight’s Public Engagement Meeting, sponsored by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Local Planning Committee.

“We’d love to see more artistic spaces with murals,” said Carol Mandigo, the local muralist.  “We’re thinking an elevated walkway down to Market Street – like the High Line in New York City – where people could look over murals on the walls of Foothills.”

“We’d like to see a sports complex in Neahwa Park,” said county Rep. Len Carson, R-Oneonta.

After a brief introduction by Marc Wouters, Stantec’s Urban Designer, the 75 attendees were asked to utilize the charrette format – a group exercise – and mark on a map how they’d like to see the $10 million for downtown revitalization spent.   Each group was asked to come up with five priority initiatives to present to the gathering.

Support was voiced for several initiatives already in the planning stages, including the Food Hub, fixing the parking deck and developing the transportation hub, as well as improving housing, job opportunities, downtown retail and culture.

“We want to put some focus on the parking garage,” said Alan Rubin, the local businessman.  “The issue is how it looks.  It’s kind of a blight.  We can dress it up.”

And some new suggestions were put forth.  Several groups voiced support for a locally owned grocery store downtown.  “The Bettiol lot would be a good place to put it,” suggested Bob Brzozowski, GOHS executive director.

“We’d like to see The Farmers’ Market have a permanent space,” said county Rep. Meg Kennedy, R-Hartwick, “with a playground and parking.”

Developing the Westcott lot and the transportation hub in the Municipal Parking Garage were also recommended by many of the tables, as was increasing the walk-ability between Market and Main.  “Main Street is too linear,” said Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon.  “We need to develop those paths.”

“And we can help get people in the park,” added Dennis Finn, the engineer and Airport Commission member.

Increased signage downtown was also promoted. “There’s so much of Oneonta you can’t see,” said Jessica Weeks, owner of Upstate Creations.  “A directory would be a great idea.”

From here, Stantec will match the comments against the Steering Committee’s 10 community priorities to begin develop a list of projects and initiatives.  That list will be presented at another public meeting in January.

“Great ideas, great energy,” said Mayor Gary Herzig.  “People are honest, and that’s what makes it work.  There was some real out-of-the-box thinking here, and we want those creative ideas.”