Cohoes C.O.R.E: On The Move - Government of New …...Cohoes Opportunity for Revitalization & Environmental Sustainability (C.O.R.E) Table of Contents Basic Information Vision Justification

Cohoes C.O.R.E: On The Move

City of Cohoes Downtown Revitalization Initiative APPLICATION June 2017

4 2017 Choose Cohoes

Cohoes Opportunity for Revitalization & Environmental Sustainability (C.O.R.E)

2017 Choose Cohoes 5


Table of Contents

“Given what Cohoes officials, stakeholders and authorities have been able to achieve with a limited budget and resources, imagine what Cohoes can accomplish with the same attitude but additional support.”

-D. Jacques, Cohoes LDC


Table of Contents

Basic Information Vision Justification Overview of the Downtown

1. Boundaries of the Downtown Neighborhood

2. Catchment Area

3. Past Investment and Future Investment Potential

4. Job Growth

5. Attractiveness of Physical Environment

6. Quality of Life Policies

7. Support for the Local Vision

8. Readiness

9. Administrative Capacity

10. Other

Appendix A: Resolution & Common Council Public Hearings Meeting Agenda

Appendix B: State of the City

Appendix C: Letters of Support

Appendix D: News Articles

Appendix E: Data Book



C.O.R.E

“BBC chose Cohoes because it is rich in history, very centrally located, and has many old and historically significant buildings. In our opinion, Remsen Street is potentially the best “Main Street” in the Capital District. We feel the best is yet to come for the City of Cohoes”

- Paul Bonacquisti, BBC


Basic Information

Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Region: Capital District.

Municipality Name: City of Cohoes.

Downtown Name: Cohoes Opportunity for Revitalization & Environmental Sustainability (C.O.R.E).

County: Albany County.

Vision For Downtown

In last year’s application we were in the process

of updating our comprehensive plan and about to

begin the public input process through

presentations, round tables and the like. So we used

the vision crafted as part of the Brownfield

Opportunity Area designation process. We were

hopeful that the reality previously defined might be

a reflection of reality the way our stakeholders now

want it to be. Here we are a year later, a new

comprehensive plan, hundreds of suggestions, ideas

and wishes from all corners of our city. Our vision is

now current, supported and implementable. It is

now up to us to stay the course and deliver. Below is

a synopsis of what we learned:

As the saying goes, “If you don’t know where you

are going, any road can take you there” (Lewis

Carroll). Visioning for our City began when our new

Mayor and Council took their seats and it became

job one to design a clear road map with a defined

destination, rooted in a reality defined by our

population and business community and an

implementation architecture designed to get us

there. After collecting the data, researching our rich

history (to determine how and why we are where

we are), and scores of roundtables, focus groups

and informal conversations’ with countless

stakeholders the vision became quite clear.

Our people want Cohoes to be “A quality of life city”,

returning to an All-America status once realized in

the 1970’s. A city where you can safely raise a

family, find balance between work and the rest of

your life, a walkable downtown with diverse

products and services close to home. Recreational

and cultural activities for adults and children alike.

A city that once again embraces its waterfront and

makes it accessible for families to reconnect with its

beauty and history. And most important a city

where all are welcome and diversity is celebrated

not feared. To live and grow in this environment our

people are happy to travel to our nearby major

employment centers knowing that they don’t have

far to go to return home to a human scale and far

more personal city.

And so our journey began in earnest to achieve this

rich vision and we are hopeful that once you digest

our application you will see what we see and

ultimately feel what we feel.


Justification - Cohoes on the Move

The City of Cohoes’ identity is strongly linked to

its historical Erie Canal roots and industrial

heritage. Cohoes was once considered the most

technologically innovative community of its time.

As outlined in the Cohoes Brownfield

Opportunity Area (BOA), the “Historic Central

Business District of Cohoes supports both City and

regional residents. A highly patriotic area, Cohoes

is known for its important role in the formative

years of our Country. Today, the Historic Business

District functions as a meeting place for all ages,

providing a mix of retail and services as well as

year-round cultural events. The mighty Mohawk

River and serene beauty of the Hudson River are

in earshot of our shopping district, inviting the

visitor to walk and explore. Only minutes from

downtown Albany and centrally located in the

Capital District, our Historic Business District

provides visitors, merchants and residents with a

unique opportunity to experience our nation’s

heritage in a vibrant and exciting atmosphere.”

This is still true today, as emphasized in the

establishment of the City’s “Cohoes Opportunity

for Revitalization and Environmental

Sustainability (C.O.R.E.)” District. Cohoes is on

the move toward an economical, and

environmentally sustainable future. Cohoes

leads as a City that will innovate to achieve its

vision to grow housing diversity; to build a

dynamic local economy with mixed-use

development centers; to offer multimodal

transportation options; to reimagine its seven

miles of waterfront; and to increase access to

outstanding local recreational opportunities.

Together, Cohoes will celebrate and share with

the world its history while offering quality 21st

century amenities downtown such as Wi-Fi hot

spots, solar street lights and electric vehicle

charging stations.

The C.O.R.E. is a regional model for a vibrant and

sustainable downtown where citizens work

in partnership with local government to keep

moving the City forward. People are drawn to

Cohoes because of its outstanding quality of life.

They enjoy its scale which gives it a “community

feel” while also offering many of the services and

amenities of a larger city. Cohoes’ 16-hour

downtown is alive with restaurants that reflect

the City’s diverse population, locally owned

shops and quality cultural venues that attract

new residents, and draw visitors from around

the region. Cohoes’ downtown is a safe, vibrant

and a desirable place to start a business, raise a

family, access outstanding entertainment and

arts and learn more about the nation’s’ industrial

heritage. Cohoes has a business ready downtown

bolstered with a policy of partnership that

welcomes and supports new, fresh ideas and the

entrepreneurial spirit. The City of Cohoes is the

most innovative, dynamic, historically significant,

unique four square mile powerhouse of economic

revitalization in the Capital Region. The time has

come for this community to attain the financial

boost it needs to propel forward, and realize its

C.O.R.E Downtown Revitalization. The stellar

success of the reopening of Cohoes Music Hall

this year is one of several examples that showcase

the Downtown’s readiness to reach its potential.

While one may still see some empty storefronts,

underutilized lots, sidewalks that need rebuilding

and fine historic housing ready to be restored,

these are truly the key opportunities that when

invested in - will lead the City to realize its full

potential.

Cohoes’ downtown revitalization is seeded, and

has begun to sprout. Poised and ready, Cohoes

will soon achieve its long envisioned position as

the premier quality of life community of the

Capital Region.

The City of Cohoes exercises a multi-pronged

approach, with projects in the pipeline ready to



move forward. The City has the political will and

public support that maximizes the City’s capacity to

administer its carefully selected and vetted initiatives,

and proven record of project implementation. This

is a community that does not wait for opportunity

to arrive at its door, but takes initiative seeking the

opportunities and investors that bring the most value

to the City. This is a City that builds partnerships and

uses innovative planning approaches to realize its

objectives - and that sees its projects through to

completion. Cohoes is both project ready and shovel

ready.

The story of Cohoes’ strategic revitalization will paint

a compelling picture that demonstrates the

dynamism and pride of this community that, with

partner support, will realize its vision and see the

fruits of its sophisticated, and in our opinion, award

winning, downtown economic revitalization planning

initiative. The goal of this request for funding is to

position resources that will advance Cohoes’ already

momentous downtown revitalization into overdrive.

The time has come to Choose Cohoes!


3 4

1 2

Overview of the Downtown

Cohoes Opportunity for Revitalization & Environmental Sustainability (C.O.R.E.) District

Cohoes is coming alive. Situated at the

confluence of two magnificent rivers and at the

foot of one of New York States finest, beloved

waterfalls. Cohoes organically evolved from is

early industrial, canal roots to be the compact,

aesthetically beautiful place it is today. Cohoes’

historic integrity paired with new, independently

owned businesses, a rapidly expanding range of

housing options, entertainment offerings, new

and redesigned parks, rebuilt sidewalks, the

making of its first Complete Street, the

downtown siting of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

stops and the newly drafted Form-Based Code

are all of the foundational ingredients of an

active desirable downtown with a strong sense

of place. It is our City’s downtown gathering

place. One of the lowest crime rates in the Capital

Region. You can walk to the waterfront. The selected C.O.R.E. District is the heart of

Cohoes and will be a catalyst for both the Capital

Region and the State, as current and future

investments in the District continue to fuel

change. Cohoes is a diverse, safe and desirable

place to start a business, raise a family, access

first class recreational resources and learn more

about our State’s industrial and canal heritage.

As recognized by the Downtown Revitalization

Initiative, downtowns which are walkable and

offer a rich variety of activities, like Cohoes, are

places in which people want to live, visit, start a

business and invest.

Adjacency to Senior & LMI Housing,

Community Center with Urban

Teaching Garden & Biketrail.

Integrated Arts and Entertainment

District

Original, traditional, walkable and

accessible downtown with large window,

A newly drafted Form-Based Code

policy.

street level storefronts.


7 8

10

5 6

9


Diversity and affordability of

housing options.

Designated in a NYS Brownfield

Opportunity Area - Cohoes

Boulevard Revitalization Plan

Attractiveness to investors, developers

and entrepreneurs.

Connectivity and centrality of gathering

spaces, services and amenities serving a

diverse community.

Green Urbanism in all its facets,

paired with programs for

healthy living.

Access to multi-modal

transportation options.

The C.OR.E. District is approximately a half-square mile of centrally located and

uniquely integrated entertainment, mixed residential neighborhoods, and growing

businesses, all less than a ten minute walk to the Mohawk River waterfront.



The C.O.R.E is Ready for Investment

Cohoes is a phoenix arising from the ashes of its

former industrial and canal age. City Officials are

investing more public money into downtown

infrastructure improvements now, than in the past

decade. The City has implemented a new approach

to advance development. The “Cohoes Approach”

is a multi-pronged one and its effect is to bring the

City of Cohoes to a momentous tipping point. The

City is able to offer incentives to new investors,

businesses, and developers in order to continue

to develop the City’s economy. In addition, the

City is actively partnering with developers, local

businesses, and its community members to

advance the City’s vision and streamline the

City’s success. Projects in motion, and those still

standing in cue, are occurring within the DRI

C.O.R.E. boundaries and throughout the City.

All of these efforts make development and

investment ripe in Cohoes, and the City is

receiving interest from developers for a wide

range of new opportunities. City leadership has

maintained steady progress toward its downtown

revitalization, one that continues to evolve with

aggressive leadership driven by public and

stakeholder input. Since Cohoes’ 2016 Downtown

Revitalization Initiative Application 12 of the

29 referenced projects have been propelled into

motion. Notable examples include the Mosaic

Village project development at Sargent and White

Streets; the development of Cohoes Hotel; opening

of the Cohoes Music Hall; and the selection of Bus

Rapid Transit (BRT) bus stops with a negotiated

plan for design that blends with Cohoes’ historic

period character.

This concurrency is at the core of the argument

why Cohoes Downtown is ready for catalytic DRI

investment. This model approach is working.

Cohoes Hotel


The vigor of Cohoes’ downtown revitalization

initiative, the power of its multi-pronged

approach, and the force of readiness that the

City has to implement and realize its vision for

economic success is why to CHOOSE Cohoes.

The City needs DRI investment to carry its

strategic, multi-pronged revitalization plan to

its next iteration.

Cohoes’ has newly partnered with Capital Roots to create an urban public garden at 47

Cayuga Street. The garden is located beside the Cohoes Community Center at 21 Cayuga

St also adjacent to the Cayuga Plaza Apartments for senior housing, the Cohoes Senior

Center and the Dr. Jay McDonald Towers, a Cohoes Housing Authority facility. The garden

will not only be a source of freshly grown produce for Cohoes citizens, it will also will be a

teaching garden integrated as part of the Community Center’s programming.

Construction of the community centric Pioneer Bank is currently underway. Pioneer Bank

is the first bank to make its home Cohoes in years. Successfully attracting a bank is an

indicator that Cohoes’ economy is gaining in strength.

The amazing repurposing of the Cohoes Hotel at the center of Remsen Street, Cohoes’

Main Street has moved forward this past year. The Local Development Corporation bought

the historic hotel, which had over the years become a boarding house and a highly visible

blight on the downtown. The old hotel was sold to a developer who is now underway with

plans to restore the authentic facade and build twenty-six market rate apartments. The

new construction will include a courtyard, a rooftop garden and a patio. The hotel will

create a density of residential living in the center of the Downtown.

In anticipation of an increase in downtown residents, the City fought for several years for

a quiet zone eliminating the loud train horns that created a long-time disturbance for the

City’s downtown residents. The quiet zone was awarded in December 2016.

$15 Million investment by New York State to convert 787 into a one of a kind boulevard

addressing the safety and economic development needs of both the residents and the

almost 30,000 people throughput the region who traverse this corridor daily.

The historic Cohoes Music Hall has undergone great transformation and investment in

recent years to make it a major downtown anchor. Through partnership with the Palace

Theater of Albany attendance has increased attracting upwards of 20,000 people into the

C.O.R.E. District. In 2017, Comedy Works joined the partnership and is now a permanent

resident at the theater. The Comedy Works will attract nationally known comedians adding

to Cohoes’ leisure, recreation and nightlife activities - offering something for everyone or

any age.

15 previously vacant mixed use buildings on Remsen Street have sold or are under contract

for redevelopment.



Investing in the C.O.R.E. Creates a Catalyst for Change!

Over a short amount of time the City has made

mammoth strides in successfully attracting

investors and investment to the City. Without the

infusion of public investment appropriated to

implement select, strategic public infrastructure

projects or to match investment in the private

sector Cohoes’ work to this point will be seriously

compromised. It is well documented that for

downtown revitalization to work, it takes a true

partnership between public and private.

It takes consistency of effort, salted with iron-

clad persistence - a persistence that Cohoes has

demonstrated time and time again. Public

commitment is what the City of Cohoes needs,

right now, to once again regain the thriving,

diverse, healthy, attractive City it knows itself to

be.

Mosaic Village

BEFORE

Mosaic Village

AFTER


The City has built partnerships with developers

who have invested $232,560,000+ million dollars

in creating market rate and affordable housing

in and adjacent to the downtown and along its

Hudson waterfront and outlying neighborhoods.

Yet the City recognizes that it is losing an unknown

number of dollars; that new and old residents

are spending elsewhere for the services and

amenities that they need. Strategic investment

allocated for select Downtown Revitalization

Initiative projects will give Cohoes what it needs

to achieve its vision, one that includes being able

to provide these services and amenities to its

residents and to the visitors who come to recreate

as well as enjoy City arts, entertainment and food

venues.

In 2016 the City reported $50 million of

investment coming including 200 housing units

and cultural developments to attract residents,

business and tourism. As of the summer of 2017,

this investment has increased to $150 million.

The City’s walkable downtown with its focused

development has safe sidewalk infrastructure a

top priority. Investment into the C.O.R.E. District

will achieve the best possible outcome for Cohoes’

revitalization. This investment by the State would

go toward correcting two factors identified as

necessary by the IDA to attract large scale

development in Cohoes. “First, infrastructure

improvements would deliver the curb appeal that

draw large-scale investors. Second, a handful of

key, transformational projects that encourage

visitors to linger would provide the foot traffic

businesses crave. The DRI would construct a solid

foundation in a shorter timeframe than the City

can undertake without REDC support.”

If awarded the City has several catalytic capital

investment projects brewing just under the

surface that will be propelled by the State’s

investment. Public and private partnership will

focus resources and pave the way towards

achieving its vision for economic revitalization.

The City is committed to creating this change for

its City.

Phase 1 Complete Streets Remsen Street from Cayuga to Ontario



E

Cohoes Has A Voice To Be Heard

The qualities that make Cohoes unique, and

associated opportunities that will revitalize the

City are only part of the story. Cohoes is about

its people - its long term residents, children,

visitors, elders and those who are or will be newly

integrated into the human fabric that is Cohoes.

As such, here is a small glimpse - a peephole - into

the life of Cohoes as told by the City itself:

arly in May, as I was languidly enjoying the

deep blue sky, and light clouds crept past

the American flag over City Hall’s highest

tower, I spotted a group of about fifty, maybe

sixty, school children. The children led by their

teachers had just walked from one of the

elementary schools to my Downtown, no buses

are required. I could feel their footsteps, like so

long ago when my women and my men passed

through my streets to go to work at Harmony,

or buy their provisions, or return home from

a picnic at Cohoes Falls. In this moment I was

amazed to think that these children could walk

downtown to learn about their history. How

unique, I thought, when so many communities

work so hard to create what I am. On foot my

children will experience the beautiful human-

scaled proportions of this City. They will visit a

one of its kind Music Hall and then will walk only

five minutes further to pass through foliated

Romanesque columns and enter my hundred

year old ashlar-faced, Chateauesque City Hall.

Here they will meet face-to-face with their

Mayor who will laugh with them and show them

about the inner workings of Cohoes. They will

learn about their responsibilities as American

citizens. It was in this moment of reflection that

I realized that my time had come, I, Cohoes, was

ready to thrive again in such a way that people

in the region, perhaps even the world would

come to walk my Downtown, to hear my music,

to taste my food and enjoy my diversity. I see

young entrepreneurs standing at the door of

their start-ups, and hear the conversations of

elders enjoying the trees and flowers of Canal

Square Park. I see the moving vans approaching

on 787 and I say to them, with all my heart -

“Choose me,

Choose Cohoes.”


Rock the Block, 2016


1. Boundaries of the Downtown Neighborhood

“In Albany County, we are lucky to have a strong municipality with the historical charm of Cohoes as one of the northern-most municipalities. The Spindle City is a great example of how a river community that bustled with activity decades prior can reinvent itself as the industries that drive the economic success of our region change today.”

- Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Executive



C.O.R.E District

The C.O.R.E. District is a high density, compact

area of Cohoes’ Central Business District and

adjacent neighborhoods that evolved organically

to meet the needs of an early industrial, pre-

auto- mobile society. Communities around the

nation are trying to recreate New Urbanist meets

Green Urbanism planning models characterized

by multi-use and form based zoning;

accessibility; walkability; aesthetically charming,

distinctive, comfortably scaled downtowns that

are rich with green community spaces, cultural

offerings, food and services. These qualities

collectively create an attractiveness inviting to

families with children, millennials, empty-nesters

and retirees; and draw entrepreneurs and

investors excited by the energy and potency of

such a community. These are the qualities that

Cohoes already has and is actively building upon.

The C.O.R.E. District is less than a half square mile.

One can walk across Downtown Cohoes in just

five minutes. To walk from the western boundary

of the C.O.R.E. District to its eastern edge along

the banks of the Mohawk River is less than a 10

minute walk. From the northern edge at Cayuga

to the southern boundary is around a 15 minute

walk. Due to the convergence of the Mohawk and

Hudson Rivers, Cohoes has seven miles of river-

front. Several parcels along its waterfront are still

available for development, an asset unique to the

region.

One of the most advantageous waterfront access

and development opportunities is the current

City of Cohoes Department of Public Works

(DPW) site on the north western boundary of the

Cohoes’ C.O.R.E. District, just blocks away from

Remsen Street, Cohoes’ Main Street. The City

planned to move the DPW and develop this

waterfront as a mixed use area with river

access. The potential impact of this project on the

quality of life and opportunity for new business

and investment of this project is enormous. This

is one project that is poised for development

should Cohoes have DRI funds to support its

implementation.

Cake Street Sweets, Opened 2017


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The C.O.R.E. District is bounded to the north by

New Courtland Street, cuts west along the Mo-

hawk River, follows the riverfront south to Bridge

Avenue and meets with New York State Route 32

to the intersection of Saratoga and Main Streets

where it cuts sharply north to George Street. The

western DRI border follows Central Avenue with

a short jag on Columbia Street Extension to the

junction of Bedford Street. The boundary follows

Bedford Street until it transitions to Ontario

Street then moves north up Sargent and

Olmstead Streets before it cuts through City

owned parcels to meet Mohawk Street where it

then becomes New Courtland Street. Downtown

Cohoes is home to 3,000 residents, 1,500

employees and approximately 220 businesses.

The streets in the Downtown Revitalization

Initiative area are lined with historic, large

windowed storefronts at sidewalk level with

apartments and offices at second and third levels.

The building to street ratio is aesthetically

pleasing and pedestrian friendly.

Current zoning within the C.O.R.E. District area is

general mixed use, waterfront mixed use and

office-retail commercial. Both an existing Historic

Overlay District and a proposed Arts and Enter-

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WATERVLIET

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CITY OF COHOES

ALBANY COUNTY, NEW YORK

Produced for Planning Purposes Only. Accuracy

or completeness is not guaranteed. Last

Modified 6-12-2017 Project # 2017054

DRI Location Within the City of Cohoes

tainment district occurs within the C.O.R.E., two

National Park Service Historic Register

designations. The City is in the process of

adopting a new Form Based Zoning Code to

influence the C.O.R.E. District. The Form Based

Code will determine the look and preserve the

historic integrity of both mixed use Downtown

and Civic Cores. The Code will also target both

sides of two primary corridors, one identified as

transit and the second as neighborhood. These

policy delineations support and focus the City’s

plan for downtown revitalization and make ready

the execution of the City’s strategic investment

projects.



DRI Location Within the City of Cohoes


MAYBE PUT ANOTHER PICTURE HERE?

Many significant assets and amenities are situated

within the boundaries of Cohoes’ C.O.R.E. District.

Some of these are already realized, others are

projects underway, and others are in the pipeline.

See Section 10 maps for listing of projects by

name and location. As the list details, the types

of projects target revitalization from many angles

creating a mosaic of actions that are collectively

contributing to making the City’s revitalization a

reality. In his 2017, State of the City address, Mayor

Morse called attention to key projects realized or

on their way to realization in just a year’s time.

Four Commercial Buildings, Recently Sold

Historic Remsen Street



Harmony Mills Loft Market Rate Housing Next to Community Builder s Quality Affordable Housing


2. Catchment Area

“I firmly believe the time is now for the City as the leadership in the community is serious about economic development and are adhering closely to past and current plans for economic development that reflect the will of the community, hence no opposition. The City of Cohoes Economic Development team continues to work with the Albany County Land Bank, Cohoes LDC, Cohoes IDA, Choose Cohoes business group and private investors to ensure an additional $50 million in private investment improvements to the downtown. As one can determine, the City of Cohoes has all the tools at it’s disposal to implement

development.” - John T. McDonald, Member of the NYS Assembly



C.O.R.E. Catchment Area

The City of Cohoes’ Downtown Revitalization Initiative

District is the City’s C.O.R.E. District. To aid in

understanding and planning our key areas of influence,

an Internal Catchment Area (the remainder of the City

outside the C.O.R.E District) and an External Catchment

Area (the geographic region reachable within a 15-

minute drive time from the C.O.R.E. District) have been

identified. The District and related catchment areas are

sufficiently sized and appropriate for meeting the

existing and future needs and vision of the City.

The existing conditions along with recent, on-going,

and planned development within the C.O.R.E. District

and the Internal Catchment Area support a vibrant and

growing downtown and the External Catchment Area

has been and will continue to actively support the

City’s C.O.R.E. District.

The C.O.R.E. District The City of Cohoes Downtown Revitalization Initiative

District target area, the C.O.R.E., consists of the City’s

primary high-density residential and commercial

center along with the City’s historic Remsen Street

corridor and waterfront area. This C.O.R.E. District is a

uniquely walkable area that can be traversed in under

15 minutes. Walkability and the concentration of

residences, attractions and business were all important

factors in establishing the District’s boundaries and are

all fundamental elements to a vibrant downtown.

The C.O.R.E. District has a current population of 2,518,

based on recent estimates. The City of Cohoes as a

whole is one of only two Albany County communities

that saw a population increase between 2015 and

2016. This recent population increase can be partially

attributed to a sustained effort by City leadership and

local developers to repurpose vacant lots and buildings

into a mix of housing and economic opportunities.

Within the C.O.R.E. District, a total of 19 market- rate

units have recently been completed, with an additional

352 units that are under construction, representing

approximately $44 million in private sector

investments. These additional units include

127 workforce/lower income units and 18 for adults

with autism and other developmental disabilities.

When completed, this additional housing will be able

to support over 800 additional residents within the

District, pushing the overall population in the District

to over 3,300 people. The City is well positioned to

capitalize on this growing population base, which is so

integral to a successful downtown.

Included within the boundary and adjacent to both the

Music Hall and Canal Square is Ogden Mills –affordable

housing units created by the adaptive reuse of the

former mill. In addition, the Cohoes Housing Authority

operates the Dr. Jay McDonald Housing Tower. Both

housing facilities are located adjacent to the Senior

Center at the gateway to the district. Finally, City

leadership has taken great strides to promote economic

diversity in its new housing offerings – ensuring that

both existing and future residents can take part in the

rebirth of an All-America City. The ability for families

of all economic situations to call Cohoes home is a key

aspect of our inclusive plan moving forward.

In addition to the full-time population and anticipated

growth related to housing projects in the works, the

C.O.R.E. District is currently home to 144 businesses

that employ over 1,260 people. Within just the past

few years, the District has seen over 10 new businesses

open, ranging from niche retail stores and restaurants

to professional services to medical and dental facilities,

adding an estimated 36 new employees. Four new

businesses are currently eyeing the C.O.R.E. District

for their new location, and the City is working on

relocating the Visitors Center from the Music Hall to a

highly trafficked location on Remsen Street. This will

allow for the conversion of the Hall’s first floor into

one of the DRI’s catalyst and transformative projects –

a new main floor restaurant to service the over 20,000

new visitors each year coming to the Cohoes Music

Hall. This is envisioned to create over 20 full time jobs,

plus 15-20 construction period jobs.




Additional new and anticipated jobs to be created

in the District include approximately 180

construction period jobs associated with the new

housing projects. Permanent new jobs anticipated

in the District is are estimated at $168 million for

new private development projects. These new jobs,

combined with the growth of diverse housing

choices will significantly increase the attractiveness

and overall success of the District and the City itself.

As described in more detail in Section 3 – Past

Investment, Future Investment Potential, the City

of Cohoes is actively coordinating with the private

sector to repurpose vacant and abandoned buildings

and lots for new commercial development, both

within the District and the Internal Catchment Area.

To date, the City has seen recent private-sector

investments within the District of $23.5 million

which includes new banking, retail and restaurant

businesses.

While a concentration of people and businesses are

key to a walkable vibrant and successful

downtown, the presence of traditional services and

destinations within the heart of a community is

equally as important. Specifically, the District is

home to the U.S. Post Office, City Hall, the Cohoes

Community Center and numerous parks along with

a trail connections to the Mohawk – Hudson Bike-

Hike Trail.

The District along with the entire City of Cohoes, is

well integrated with the Capital District

Transportation Authority (CDTA) public

transportation network. Residents and employees

can easily travel within the District and the City

by bus, with convenient connections to all major

employment centers in the Capital District. A

location on Remsen Street within the District has

been selected for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Station with associated routes that will link the

District and City to key stops in Troy and Albany

along with other destinations in between.

This public transportation project will increase

connections between the District and regional

employment centers, a significant benefit to

existing and future residents who are unable or

would prefer not to drive to work. This increases

the attractiveness of the City to new residents of all

income levels, allowing Cohoes to be the place of

choice for all who seek to live in a Quality

Community that affords an easy “drive free” mode

of transportation to work in other areas of the

Capital Region. Furthermore, convenient public

transportation will increase the attractiveness of

Cohoes and the growing entertainment options to

residents within the catchment area.

As is evident from the above discussion, our C.O.R.E

District is home to a diverse and growing

residential population with a significant number

of additional units under construction. Our District

also contains several services and businesses

within walking distance and is home to numerous

restaurants and entertainment opportunities along

with several small and medium-sized businesses.

With more businesses on the way, the District will

continue to provide local and regional employment

opportunities. Convenient access to public

transportation coupled with the future BRT route

and station on Remsen Street represents another

critical piece to our City’s success. Our C.O.R.E

District is of sufficient geographic size with a

growing population that when combined with

existing amenities and the numerous projects

taking place, will together represent key elements

necessary to support this vibrant and successful

downtown.


Internal Citywide Catchment Area

The remainder of the City of Cohoes has been

designated as the District’s Internal Catchment Area,

population of 14,577, to capture residential and

commercial leakages. This area is also undergoing a

significant increase in new housing units. Over

1,200 new units have been completed in recent years,

representing approximately $108 million in private

investments, with an additional 1,000 units under

construction through over $168 million in private

investments. Together, these units will include over

1,000 market-rate units, approximately 350

workforce/lower income units and over 700 luxury

units.

Upon completion, the new units may result in over

[2,100 additional residents] in the internal catchment

area and will dramatically enhance the choice of

market-rate units while also providing additional

workforce and lower-income units. This new housing

will increase local diversification of residents and the

luxury units will result in an increase in residents with

higher and more disposable incomes. This overall

increase in population will be key to supporting and

sustaining the District.

The Internal Catchment Area is also home to over

240 businesses, employing more than 3,400. Both

daytime and evening employees contribute to the

overall success of the District. The residential projects

underway are providing an estimated 672

construction period jobs in the City while the private

non-residential investments are anticipated to result

in 50 construction period jobs and40 new permanent

jobs.

Combined, the District and the Internal Catchment

Area will be supporting over 870 construction period

jobs and 50 new permanent jobs. This critical mass

of employees will provide a significant amount of

purchasing power for the District.

With more than 85% of City residents working outside

of Cohoes, the City understands the role it plays as a

bedroom community to surrounding employment

areas. However, the City also recognizes that a

balanced daytime population is needed to support

downtown businesses and is working towards

attracting more local employment opportunities.

Additional housing opportunities are also key to

hitting this balance. The significant investments made

in new housing units will continue to facilitate a

growing population especially within the District, as

discussed above, and will spur continued investment

and growth of local jobs.


COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES10-MIN

DRIVE

15-MIN

DRIVE

Residential Population (2010) 2,512 16,168 67,996 161,374

Residential Population 2,581 17,158 70,464 166,481

Total Daytime Population 2,394 12,594 73,549 179,069

Median Age (2010) 33.3 39.4 35.4 36.4

Median Age 34.3 40.3 36.6 37.6

% 18-24 9.3% 8.5% 13.3% 13.5%

% 25-34 16.8% 15.0% 15.4% 14.1%

% 35-54 26.0% 26.4% 25.0% 24.5%

% 65 and over 12.8% 17.5% 14.5% 15.7%

% Minority 17.4% 11.9% 22.4% 26.0%

Median Household Income $26,775 $39,515 $40,829 $48,219

% Earning <$25,000 47.1% 32.2% 30.4% 26.3%

BASIC STATISTICS FOR THE COHOES DRI AND SURROUNDING AREA


External Catchment Area

The External Catchment Area of the District

includes the geographic area reachable within a

15-minute drive time. Within just a 10-minute

drive, the current population and purchasing

power increases dramatically to 70,464 and up to

166,481 out to 15-minutes, all within convenient

access to the City and District. This region

includes all or a portions of Albany, Troy,

Watervliet, Menands, Waterford, Colonie and

Clifton Park, and represents a significant potential

target/catchment area for the C.O.R.E. District

and the City of Cohoes with direct vehicle and

public transportation access and an increased

median household income. The overall size and

reach of this catchment area is sufficiently sized

and possesses key demographic characteristics

to serve as the City’s target population to draw in

visitors, employees and future residents.

The City recognizes the value that the

surrounding External Catchment Area and

regional employment centers play, including, but

not limited to Malta, Albany, Clifton Park and

Saratoga Springs. These areas are within easy

commutes and reachable through public

transportation, with the City of Albany and Troy

accessible by the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

project and station that will be established on

Remsen Street. Attracting new residents who

continue to work outside of Cohoes but call the

City and the District home, will infuse new money

and life into the City.

While this area serves as our target population to

support our City and District, it is also the primary

area in which the City is experiencing an almost

complete retail and service leakage. Without the

DRI assistance and a focus on commercial and

retail investment in the C.O.R.E. District, the

2,000+ combined additional housing with the

anticipated financial resources of new residents

will continue to leak to Colonie, Saratoga County,

and the cities of Troy and Albany.

External Catchment Area - 10 and 15 minute Drive

The City has placed significant efforts into increasing the

overall attractiveness of the City to reverse this leakage. The

first focus has been the improvement to the C.O.R.E District

itself, including streetscape enhancements, the Cohoes

Music Hall, and the re-purposing of vacant and abandoned

buildings and lots, among the many other enhancements

discussed within this document. The investment in a

diversity of housing has already been discussed, and is

another key aspect of reversing this leakage. Next is the

major gateway mixed-use waterfront development at the

intersections of I-787, Saratoga Street will be unmatched

in the Capital Region and beyond with waterside dinning,

entertainment and recreational opportunities for the

entire family. This premier waterfront destination will be

located at the confluence of the Mohawk River, Hudson

River and the NYS Canal system, bringing opportunities

for historical interpretation of the City’s role in the


Country’s industrial growth. A similar positive element

that has and continues to undergo enhancements are

the Cohoes Falls, a local treasure that is comparable in

size and beauty to Niagara Falls. Lighting of the falls will

contribute towards enhancing the falls appeal, especially

when combined with the gateway waterfront project

located within walking distance. Together, with the

accessibility of the District and the future improvements

to an already affective public transportation system and

the BRT station on Remsen Street, the District will play a

premier role in reversing this retail and service leakage.


DRI Investments Will Reduce Sales Leakage



3. Past Investment and Future Investment Potential

“Cohoes contains existing municipal facilities and resources developed during the original Smart Growth era when people lived, worked, shopped, and attended school or church close to home. Consequently Cohoes’ location, amenities and compact layout all converge to create a liveable streetscape that accommodates all stages of life. It only requires a spark to reignite it’s

vibrancy.” - Laura LePage Tarlo, Co-owner, Milltown Homes LLC



Investing in an All American City

Based upon this concentrated long-term effort,

new growth and optimism has begun to take root

in the last two years through a series of private

and public investments resulting in new housing

and commercial development along with

enhanced streetscapes and other infrastructure

improvements. To date, the City has seen over

$250 million in private investments in both

housing and commercial development, while

leveraging over $18 Million in grants and direct

City investments. Just in the past 2 years, $xx

million has been invested, demonstrating that

residents, business owners, developers and

investors recognize the growth and continued

potential the City has moving forward.

However, the resurgence and revitalization of the

City of Cohoes and the C.O.R.E. district did not

begin at the announcement of a grant opportunity.

The revitalization began when the residents of

the City joined together to reimagine its future.

Through the development of numerous projects

(e.g., Downtown Study, Route 470 Corridor Study,

two Brownfield Revitalization opportunity Areas,

Cohoes Proud 2017, and the Form Based Code

project) residents, business owners, and elected

officials embarked upon a well planned course

to redefine what is possible, as they set their eyes

on the title of an All America City. These project

became the springboard for the future

investments that have continued to reshape the

landscape of the City of Cohoes.

The “Dawn of a New Day” arrived with the

election of the current administration. Led by

Mayor Shawn Morse and Economic Development

Director Michael Jacobson, the City partnered

with local and state officials to create a land of

opportunity along the northern gateway to

Albany County. Buoyed by public investments in

infrastructure, economic and waterfront

development, and the new announcement of the

pending conversion of 787 into a boulevard,

private investment in housing and commercial

ventures has risen to an almost unimaginable

level.

The City has been awarded over $24 million in

local, state and federal grants to conduct targeted

studies and complete capital projects, all key

to improving the City. To date, the City has

successfully completed projects worth over

$18.5 million in funding, with the remaining

projects underway. This funding has been critical

for making necessary improvements to the City

and the Downtown and is being successfully

leveraged to attract future private investment in

commercial and residential space.

This on-going revitalization continues through

focused City leadership which includes the City’s

Office of Community Development and their

ability to recognize key opportunities for

partnering with other public agencies and the

private sector. Partnerships include the Albany

County Land Bank Corporation, Pioneer Bank,

the Palace Theater, Cohoes IDA and LDC; along

with direct and indirect partnerships with local

developers including a truly unique project,

Mosaic Village, a mixed-use development which

will include housing for people with

developmental disabilities such as autism.

The redevelopment of the Cohoes Music Hall is

the City’s most recent keystone project, which

involves a partnership with the Palace Theater

for improvements including, interior

renovations, updated sound system, new seats,

stage lights and additional improvements. The

renovated music hall reopened in the fall of 2016

under new management of the Palace Theater

and their attendance figures thus far as outpaced

original expectations of 20,000 people annually.

The Music Hall is now home to Comedy Works

and recently established a partnership with Park

Playhouse which will perform a series of shows

there. The Cohoes Music Hall will play a key role

in the City’s efforts to reposition downtown as a


regional destination for arts and entertainment.

Going forward, the City recognizes how integral

the success of the Cohoes Music Hall will be

for the continued enhancement of the

Downtown and will be seeking additional funds

continue necessary improvements. The City has

determined that additional renovations are

needed to the exterior and funding has yet to be

secured.

The City has also recently partnered with

Pioneer Bank to purchase and repurpose the

former First Niagara Bank property for a new

branch in the City of Cohoes. The City contributed

$50,000 towards façade improvements, a key

investment towards the City’s continued efforts

to enhance streetscapes and building facades.

Part of this relationships includes a line a credit

to help the City repurpose numerous properties

and make them available for redevelopment

through partnerships with local developers and

investors.

Based upon the City’s direct efforts to repurpose

vacant lots and deteriorating buildings to position

downtown and its surrounding environs for

new growth, several local developers recognize

the City’s potential and continue to make

significant investments, especially in housing

and commercial properties. To date, over 1,600

new units have been built with an additional 600

units in the pipeline. Existing new and proposed

units will include market-rate, workforce and

lower income targeted units along with senior

and assisted living and luxury apartments. A

primary component of a successful downtown is

a concentration of people and through the City’s

continued partnerships with developers, more

housing is coming on line.

Significant improvements to the Remsen Street

corridor have also occurred with more

improvements in the works, including a full

streetscape overhaul. In addition to the new road

surface, new sidewalks will be provided along

with a bike lane and new crosswalks. These

streetscape improvements are key to setting the

foundation for an attractive and welcoming

district for continued investment by developers,

business owners and residents.

Future Pioneer Bank

Future Retail Development Site



Existing Sites Ready for Future Investment

The City continues working aggressively to acquire

foreclosed and abandoned properties and partner

with developers to redevelop and repurpose these

sites for new investment. In addition, the City’s

LDC and IDA have partnered with Pioneer Bank to

acquire a line of credit which will allow the City to

continue strategically acquiring properties integral

to the City’s vision before they go to market. The

following are several properties in the process of

being redeveloped and others that are available,

both sets of projects will be available for future in-

vestment by business owners, investors, and

residents.

Remsen Street Sites Ready for Development.

There are several properties along Remsen Street

that the City has gained site control over. Proper-

ties at 14, 95 and 115 Remsen Street are under

contracts with developers, and two have recently

closed. The projects slated for these locations

include mixed-use commercial and residential

which will add to the ongoing rejuvenation along

Remsen Street.

Oneida/Canvas Street Assemblage. Three

properties located on the corner of Oneida and

Canvas Streets have recently been acquired by

developers from the City. The buildings are in the

process of being renovated for mixed-use

commercial and residential space and will soon be

ready for occupancy and further investment by

new or local businesses. Ontario Street Infill at

Canal Square Park. This foreclosed property is

under contract between the City’s LDC and a

developer and will soon be back on the tax rolls

and contributing to the City’s investments along

the Remsen Street corridor. The property is in an

ideal location for mixed-commercial and

residential uses, only a block away from the Cohoes

Music Hall and next store to the expanding Canal

Square Park.

Mohawk Street Mixed-Use Project. Sitting at

89 and 91 Mohawk Street is a vacant lot and single-story underutilized building immediately

adjacent to City Hall. The properties are under

contract between our LDC and a developer. The

building will be removed and the sites prepared for

a mixed- use residential and retail project that will

be ideally located in the heart of our C.O.R.E.

District. Located only a block from Cohoes Music

Hall and Canal Square Park and next to City Hall,

banks and the Post Office, this property will be a

prime location for further investment.

Newcomb Street Infill Project. The City currently

owns this underutilized surface parking lot located

at the northwest corner of Remsen Street and

Newcomb Street. This site, which is currently on

the market, is also at the heart of the C.O.R.E.

District and within walking distance of the City’s

existing and planned entertainment, retail, dining

and recreational amenities and ideal for

residential or a mixed-use development.

Former Lingualinx Building. Sitting at 122

Remsen Street is the former Lingualinx building, a

well-preserved structure with significant potential

in the Remsen Street corridor. This building is

currently under contract with a developer and is

slated for renovations and further investment.

130 Remsen Market Rate Unit Rehabilitation.

The former Masonic Temple building sits directly

adjacent to the Lingualinx Building and was

recently sold to a developer. The upper floors are

being renovated to provide new market-rate units

over existing retail adding to the significant on-

going investment along Remsen Street.

31 Main Street Redevelopment. This existing

multi-unit structure was recently been sold to a

developer and is undergoing rehabilitation for

continued residential use. Multi-family units will

continue to play a key role in the City’s

rejuvenation, ensuring a diverse and growing

residential population.


12 White Street Mixed-Use. The City’s LDC owns

this vacant and development ready parcel at 12

White Street at the intersection with Remsen

Street. The LDC is currently entertaining proposals

from developers for a mixed-use project.

162/164 Remsen Street. City-owned, this

underutilized surface parking lot is on the

market and development ready. The property is

located across the street from 12 White Street,

owned by the City’s LDC and also development

ready. Combined, these parcels are ideally located

for continued investment and will work towards

reaching a critical mass of new investment,

residential units and space for new businesses to

invest.

179 Remsen Building Ready. Another City-

owned, underutilized parking lot is available for

new investment. This site is located just down the

street from the 12 White Street and 162/164

Remsen Street sites described above. This site is

large enough to accommodate a significant

investment of new retail, office and residential

space with on- site parking. Another key site to

build the City’s critical mass on new investment.

Scattered Sites for Infill Residential. A key

local development partner, Community Builders,

acquired or has under contract six parcels in the

C.O.R.E. District along with twenty parcels in the

South Cohoes neighborhood, adjacent to the

District. More than 60 environmentally sustainable

and affordable units are planned which will result

in a tremendous facelift in this gateway neighbor-

hood to the City’s Downtown, providing new, clean

units for new and existing residents.



Moving Forward

The City of Cohoes past and current investments, funded through a combination of public grants,

direct City investment and significant infusions of capital by developers and investors, has laid the

groundwork for the continued resurgence of Cohoes. The numerous sites that are available for future

investment and redevelopment demonstrate the City’s commitment to partnering with investors and

developers to return vacant and abandoned lots and buildings to the tax rolls and repurpose these

lands for future residential and commercial space. Several of these properties will become available

for new tenants over the next two+ years.

Cohoes Music Hall


54 2017 Choose Cohoes vi

4. Job Growth

“The City of Cohoes provided a welcoming environment that actually sought out our workforce housing development to service the needs of the local community and the region...The City is a great place to do business. We strongly support the City and its efforts to grow and continue to be a regional example of how public and private interest can come together to benefit all.

- Larry Regan, Regan Development



Existing Employers

Downtown Cohoes is home to an estimated 220

businesses with nearly 1,300 employees (see Table

below). As the central business district and the

location of City Hall and many community services,

the downtown accounts for more than one-quarter of

the employees in the City of Co- hoes. The majority of

downtown businesses employ fewer than 10 people,

and with the exception of a handful of fast food

establishments and retail stores, most are locally-

owned.

Major employers in the downtown include Macaran

Printing Products, a division of Van Alstine and Sons,

with 60 full-time employees; NH Kelman, Inc. Scrap

Recycling with 50 employees; and Marra’s Pharmacy

with 35-40 employees. All of these major employers

have deep roots in Co- hoes. Marra’s Pharmacy, one

of the largest independent pharmacies in upstate

New York, has been serving Cohoes and Capital

Region residents since 1931. Van Alstine & Sons has

been in business for nearly 70 years, NH Kelman for

113 years, making it one of the oldest family-owned

companies in the region.

The City’s largest employer, Mohawk Paper, is located

outside the DRI Target Area, but is within walking

distance. A family-owned company founded in 1931,

Mohawk is head- quartered in Cohoes. It is one of the

largest manufacturers in the Capital Region, with 330

employees locally and 620 companywide.

In addition to its operations in Cohoes and production facilities in Ohio and Massachusetts, Mohawk occupies a 200,000-square-foot distribution center at the Port of Albany, where it is considering a major expansion. This project would allow the company to accommodate its growing paper converting business. Although the project site is outside the City of Cohoes, it is anticipated that the expansion will contribute to Mohawk’s continued efforts to diversify and thrive in an industry undergoing dramatic change.

Recent Growth

Attracted by its affordable commercial space,

central location, and business-friendly local

government, downtown Cohoes has become a

destination for entrepreneurs and small locally-

owned businesses. The businesses that have

opened downtown are in a range of industries

including retail, food services, professional and

technical services, and the arts. While some

establishments were started in Cohoes, others

actually relocated to the City from elsewhere in the

Capital Region.

Creative economy businesses have been lured to

downtown Cohoes by its historic architecture and

walkable streets. Spiral Design Studio relocated to

Cohoes in 2009, “inspired by the ongoing

revitalization of the Cohoes historic business

district,” the firm states on its website. Today Spiral

Design employs 10 people in a restored 1874

Victorian home. Other businesses such as The

Foundry for Art De- sign + Culture and the

Oberlander Group (an advertising/marketing

agency) have added to a growing creative cluster.

Downtown Cohoes is also becoming a location for

the arts and entertainment. Thanks to a partner-

ship with the Palace Theater announced last year,

the Cohoes Music Hall is once again a viable

entertainment hub with regular music and theater

performances. In its first six months under new

management, over 7,000 patrons enjoyed a show

at the revitalized historic venue. A recently-forged

partnership with Comedy Works is bringing

comedy acts to Cohoes. So far, two full-time

employees have been hired at the Cohoes Music

Hall. Next year, the number of full-time employees

is projected to grow to seven, as performances at

the Music Hall increase from 60 to 120 per year.

Activity at the Music Hall, as well as the

construction of new residential units in Cohoes, is

expected to generate additional business and job

creation

downtown. Arts and entertainment, food service,

and retail businesses are most likely to grow, pro-

viding an opportunity to create the critical mass

required for a vibrant and successful downtown

business district.

Recognizing the City’s resurgence and growth,

Pioneer Bank recently announced plans to open a

new branch bank in downtown Cohoes. The bank

will serve not only Cohoes but also Watervliet and

Green Island, creating 14 new jobs. The facility will

be located in an old First Niagara Bank building that

has been vacant for many years. Bank operations

are expected to begin in summer 2017, once resto-

ration of the building is complete.

With all the new business activity in downtown

Cohoes, a Business and Merchants Association has

been formed. Its objectives are to work together

to promote each other, help the City grow, and in-

form the public about what is happening in Cohoes.

The association plans to create a new website that

would serve as a resource for information about the

City of Cohoes, financial and tax incentives

available to new and existing businesses,

development opportunities, etc. It would also

provide a directory of Cohoes businesses, with a 30-

second video pro- filing a different local business

every month.

Future economic development in Cohoes will also

be spurred by the redesign of Cohoes Boulevard,

a $15 million initiative announced by the state on

June 5th. The project will transform Route 787,

which divides the city in half, from a highway to a

boulevard, slowing traffic and improving the safe-

ty of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. The

highway is used by approximately 50,000 to as

many as 70,000 vehicles per day. The project will

also open up new sites for development, as proper-

ties along the corridor will have better access to the

highway once work is completed in 2019.




Accessibility of New and Expanding Jobs

From its roots as an industrial, blue-collar city, Co-

hoes has become a bedroom community serving

the Capital Region. The City has added thousands

of new market-rate and affordable housing units

in and adjacent to the downtown, along the

waterfront, and in outlying neighborhoods.

Residents have access to an estimated 1,300 jobs

downtown, most within walking distance or

reached via public transportation, and additional

employment opportunities are being created as

new businesses open and existing businesses grow.

Cohoes has attracted many new residents who

continue to work outside the city. Residents of the

recently-renovated Harmony Mills Lofts, for

example, indicate that they commute to jobs at

General Electric, GlobalFoundries, Albany Medical

Center, and various state agencies. Downtown

Cohoes is within close proximity to regional

employment centers. There are nearly 45,000 jobs

within a 10-minute drive and close to 115,000 jobs

within a 15-minute drive. It is roughly 10 minutes

to RPI in Troy; 20 minutes to Albany Medical

Center, Empire State Plaza, and the Harriman State

Office Campus in Albany; and 30 minutes to General

Electric or GlobalFoundries.

For residents who lack access to a vehicle or prefer

not to drive to work, there is public transportation,

and a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station on

Remsen Street will link downtown Cohoes with key

stops in Albany, Menands, Watervliet, Troy, and

Waterford. The BRT will also facilitate connections

to other bus routes in the region.

It is worth noting that Cohoes is located within a

region that has one of the fastest-growing

economies in the state and that offers an

increasingly diverse array of employment

opportunities. According to the NYS Department of

Labor, total employment in the Capital Region is

projected to grow by 12% through 2022, exceeding

the rate of growth projected for New York State

(+11.1%) and the nation (+10.8%). Nearly 69,000

new jobs will be created in the eight-county region.

Among the industries expected to see the largest

employment increases in the region, Professional

and Business Services (+22%), Arts, Entertainment,

and Recreation (+33.6%), and Accommodations

and Food Services (+25.4%) are the most

appropriate for and well-suited to downtown

Cohoes. This bodes well for future job and business

creation in the DRI Target Area.



Job Growth


TOTALS

Number Number

Total Businesses 2,746 6,776

Total Employees 44,911 114,606

Employment by Industry

Health Care & Social Assistance 11,255 18,515

Public Administration 5,690 19,000

Educational Services 4,313 8,689

Retail Trade 4,237 10,972

Manufacturing 3,522 7,241

Accommodations & Food Services 3,052 6,899

Personal & Repair Services 2,313 7,464

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services1,843 9,398

Finance & Insurance 1,296 5,434

Information 1,283 3,671

Construction 1,194 3,945

Transportation & Warehousing 1,156 2,663

Wholesale Trade 942 3,090

Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 924 2,568

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation 529 1,690

All Other Industries 1,362 3,367

SUMMARY OF REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT

10-MIN

DRIVE

15-Min

Drive

Growth Associated with Catalyst Projects

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative represents

an opportunity for the City of Cohoes to further

stimulate economic growth while enhancing the

quality of life available to residents living downtown

and on the waterfront. The City proposes to work

with a developer to create a 20,000-square foot

mixed-use retail center on Remsen Street directly

across from Cohoes Music Hall. It is our hope that

this project will incorporate a grocery store or

supermarket to improve access by residents to

essential goods and services downtown. Attracting a

grocery store downtown has long been a priority

and is cited in a number of plans, including the

Cohoes Boulevard BOA and the Comprehensive Plan.

The project is anticipated to create upwards of 100

jobs.

It is also the City’s intention to transform the current

site of the City’s Department of Public Works facility

to a new waterfront mixed-use development with a

promenade and approximately 50,000 square feet

of commercial space to accommodate retail shops,

waterfront dining, and upper-level housing.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the

development will create about 120 new jobs.



Job Growth


TOTALS COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES DRI AS % OF CITY WIDE

Total Employment 1,262 4,706 26.80%

Total Businesses 144 388 37.1%

Total Employees 1,262 4,706 26.8%

Average # of Employees / Business 8.8 12.1

Total Residential Population 2,581 17,158 15.0%

Employee/Residential Population Ratio 0.49:1 0.27:1

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES DRI AS % OF CITY WIDE

Manufacturing 210 504 41.7%

Public Administration 181 366 49.5%

Transportation & Warehousing 150 194 77.3%

Retail Trade 138 334 41.3%

Finance & Insurance 130 250 52.0%

Personal & Repair Services 113 278 40.6%

Accommodations & Food Services 92 192 47.9%

Health Care & Social Assistance 76 1,255 6.1%

Construction 33 120 27.5%

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation 33 260 12.7%

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services 29 91 31.9%

Educational Services 29 561 5.2%

Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 16 152 10.5%

All Other Industries 32 149 21.5%

Source: ESRI Business Analyst and InfoGroup Inc.

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE C.O.R.E DRI AND THE CITY OF COHOES

5. Attractiveness of Physical Environment

“Because of the growth, city commitment to moving forward and the bright future the city holds I have purchased a second building on Remsen Street. I feel strongly about the city’s future and am excited to be apart of it as a

resident and business owner. Donald Russell, Spindles on Remsen



Cohoes = Quality of Life

Cohoes is about quality living. For 150 years

Cohoes’ identity was a one-company Town. The

City’s physical layout, its architecture and its

population diversity evolved from these roots, and

spread out naturally. The outcome of this organic

development has created one of the most livable,

safe cities in the region - and one of the most

overlooked communities. But Cohoes is more than

a company town and Cohoes’s secret is becoming

visible. Investors are finding this business ready

community, entrepreneurs are partnering with a

city leaders who have in place policies that allow

them to go the extra mile to support new enterprise

- and first class, first of its kind projects. The buzz

has begun.

Today’s Cohoes has evolved from its pre-industrial,

industrial, Erie Canal history into what ‘Cohosiers’

perceive as a new model of community - the

suburban, urban environment. Cohoes is the place

to raise a family, recreate, enjoy the waterfront and

build a business. And should the community’s

vision for downtown revitalization take hold the

basic necessities of living will be available within a

five block radius covering no more than one-forth a

square mile: arts and culture - bike and pedestrian

connections - safe streets and street crossings -

accessible local and regional recreation and open

green spaces - municipal services including

community centers and urban gardens - rooftop

gardens - shady streets - restaurants - cafes and

specialty stores - a locally owned pharmacy -

commercial and farmers markets - citywide WIFI

- historically sensitive bus shelters for the BRT

Blueline that will connect working residents with

regional jobs. The list continues...resulting in a

Cohoes that is now evolving into an award-winning,

livable, human, local -scale economy.

People are beginning to rediscover Cohoes for its

uniqueness, dynamism, diverse housing options,

affordability, business-friendly policies; and not

the least the City’s historic character as well as

its location at the confluence of two major rivers

with increasing access to living and recreating

along its seven miles of waterfront. Considering

the attractiveness of these singularities it is no

surprise that Cohoes’ population is growing at a

higher percentage than other Capital District

communities.

To achieve this vision, Cohoes’ C.O.R.E. will build

on its roots and invest back into its physical

environment to strengthen the City as a quality place

to live, work and play while promoting sustainable

growth. Cohoes has adopted “Smart Growth”

principles as part of its 2017 Comprehensive Plan

and through the DRI investment will continue to

promote compact growth, mixed land uses, a range

of housing choices, a variety of transportation

options, open space preservation, and a strong

sense of place. These investments into the physical

environment will help repopulate the City while

enhancing its quality of life. It will contribute to

the City’s tax base, connect jobs and services to

public transit and housing, and more efficiently

incorporate green infrastructure. Further, people

will drive less as destinations become more

accessible for everyone, regardless of age or

income. This will reduce overall traffic congestion

resulting in environmental benefits and enhanced

neighborhood livability.


Anatomy of a Vibrant Downtown

Promote Compact Growth. The City’s C.O.R.E.

promotes compact growth to make efficient use of

developed land. This generally means encouraging

development to build upward rather than outward

and encouraging infill development, and reuse of

underutilized lots. Building within the City’s compact

form can attract more people to the jobs, homes, and

businesses already there while also making the most

of public investments in water and sewer lines,

roads, emergency services, and the like. In this way, it

helps promote sustainability.

The City of Cohoes has infill development

opportunities across the City but particularly in the

C.OR.E. The City has been working in concert with the

Albany County Land Bank to facilitate the process of

acquiring, improving and redistributing vacant and

abandoned properties for redevelopment. The C.O.R.E.

also has second-story vacancies which can be filled. In

addition, the City has a number of brownfield sites

and underutilized properties along its waterfront that

can be repurposed. These sites were identified in

previous plans and the City is actively working to

redevelop them. The DRI investment will expedite this

process.

Encourage Mix Land Uses. Mixing land uses means

building homes, offices, parks, shops, restaurants, and

other types of development near one another. These

uses can be mixed on the same block or even within

the same building. Mixing land uses in the C.O.R.E. will

bring more people to an area at various times of day; it

will bring life to the City. The influx of people are avail-

able to support business development, improve safety,

and bring liveliness to an area. Mixing land uses also

makes it possible for people to live closer to work or to

amenities like the corner drug store or café. This gives

people the option of running errands by foot or by

bike and leaving their cars at home. Because of these

benefits, mixed-use neighborhoods are in demand

nationwide. As such, with the DRI investment into the

C.O.R.E., the City will see a boost in property values

and the investment will contribute to the stability and

attractiveness of neighborhoods. This protects the in-

vestment of homeowners and raises revenues for the

City.

Waterfront Redevelopment. The City is unique to

have seven miles of waterfront property and direct

access from its C.O.R.E. District. But it also has

Welcome to Cohoes: All Roads Lead to Cohoes 64 2017 Choose Cohoes


Cohoes Falls. These resources combined with a

downtown truly make an experience that no other city

can offer. Through improvements to access and

waterfront-de- pendent uses for business, and

compact mixed-use development along the Mohawk

and Hudson Riverfronts, the appeal of the City of

Cohoes multiplies. Developers are already attracted to

the City’s waterfront. Investment in the C.O.R.E.

creates lasting opportunities for waterfront tourism

and creates public access, recreation and open space.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). With Bus

Rapid Transit (BRT) service planned for the Ontario

St/SR 470 corridor, the City of Cohoes has the

opportunity to create a successful transit-oriented

district. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

provides a mixture of housing, office and retail uses

and other amenities integrated into a walkable

neighborhood located within a half-mile of quality

public transportation.

Focusing growth around a BRT corridor capitalizes on

public investments in transit and provides many

benefits, including:

Increased transit ridership which can lead to more transit service (e.g. higher frequency service),

More affordable housing as living near transit allow people to spend less on transportation and devote more toward housing and other needs,

Improved access to jobs and economic opportunity for low-income people and working families, Increased property values along the BRT corridor and within the TOD,

Improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists, thus further promoting these modes, and

•Reduced household driving resulting in

congestion relief and in turn, reduced air

pollution and green house gas emissions.


The DRI investment will be used to create a transit-

oriented district along Ontario Street. This auto-

oriented district currently detracts from establishing

Ontario St as a transit-oriented development corridor

and a gateway into the City.

Continue to Create a Range of Housing Choices. The

C.O.R.E. District already has a strong neighborhood

base. Building quality housing for households of

different sizes and income levels is necessary to

respond to changing demographics. Housing

constitutes a significant share of new construction

and development in a City and as such, makes a

significant economic impact. Adding housing in

commercial districts can lead to evening and weekend

activity, thus reinvigorating those areas. More

importantly, the housing options available in a

community will influence families’ economic

opportunities, costs of living, and daily commutes.

Diversifying housing options within the City,

therefore, can give everyone more choices about

where to live. DRI investment will be most notable

with homeowners. Homeowners in Cohoes are proud.

They are ready to invest in their properties but want to

be ensured they will have a return on their investment.

Provide a Variety of Transportation Options. Pro-

viding a variety of transportation choices, i.e. safe and

convenient biking and walking infrastructure, and

high-quality public transit improves the quality of life

for existing residents and helps attract new growth.

People gravitate to neighborhoods which are walkable

and bikeable. Walking and biking can be convenient,

affordable, and healthy ways to get around. Further,

high rates of pedestrian and bicycle activity contribute

to an active street life. Having reliable and convenient

public transit service gives people the mobility to get

to work, go to school, visit friends, or make a doctor’s

appointment. Further, it provides an affordable alter-

native to driving. The City of Cohoes can provide a

variety of transportation options through the DRI in-

vestment into its C.O.R.E. District. “Complete Streets”,

streets that are designed and operated to provide safe

and convenient access for all roadway users, regard-

less of age, ability or mode of transportation will be

implemented. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists,

transit users, and motorists. It considers the needs of

children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Developing “Complete Streets” in Cohoes will help

ensure safe, convenient access to schools, jobs, health

services, and shops thus supporting economic growth

while providing environmental and public health

benefits. Preserve and Create Open Space.

Preserving existing and creating new open spaces can

allow future development in the C.O.R.E. District to

occur while protecting the City’s valued natural

areas and providing enhanced amenities for

residents and visitors alike. People across the

country want access to natural recreation areas,

which generates demand for housing and tourism.

Meeting that demand improves a city’s ability to

attract employers. Preserving open spaces also

makes communities more resilient, protecting them

from natural disasters, combating air pollution,

controlling wind and erosion, moderating

temperatures, protecting water quality, and

protecting animal and plant habitats. Capital Roots

has partnered with the City to develop a “Learning

Garden” in the City’s C.O.R.E. District to utilize open

space, but to also promote healthy and affordable

food markets. These partnerships along with

investments will continue to provide the unique

quality of life experiences that attract and retain

residents.

Foster a Strong Sense of Place. Cohoes and its

C.O.R.E. have a strong sense of place. Its sense of place

is what drives and attracts people to live in Cohoes.

The City through the DRI investment will continue to

implement projects and neighborhood improvements

that incorporate natural features, historic structures,

public art, and place making that further distinguish

Cohoes as an All American City, enriching it for those

who live there and attracting new residents and

visitors. Cohoes’ location at the confluence of the

Mohawk and Hudson Rivers, its rich history and arts

community provide the foundation for it to emerge as

a distinctive and attractive small city. Foremost

amongst these are its historic architecture, its vestiges

of the Erie Canal in the form of ten intact locks, and its

historic sites like the Van Schaick Mansion and Matton



Shipyard. The City also has local artists whom they

can engage to develop public art such as memorials,

installations, murals, sculptures and decorative

features to reinforce the City’s sense of place.

Promote Heritage Tourism. Heritage tourism is a

growing industry not only in the United States but

abroad. The City of Cohoes is the birthplace of the Erie

Canal and is proud to honor its 200th birthday with a

year long celebration. The Albany County Convention

& Visitors Bureau reports that for every $1 invested in

marketing and selling Albany County to visitors and

conventions, it returns $53 in taxes to the local

economy.

In addition, travelers to Albany in 2014 spent $958

million on lodging, food and beverage, recreation,

transportation, and other products. Further, Albany

County represents 52% of tourism sales out of the

six-county Capital-Saratoga Region. The City of Cohoes

could benefit from promotion of its cultural resources

such as its Historic Districts, the Van Schaick Mansion,

the locks of the Erie Canal and the redevelopment of

the Matton Shipyard, currently the subject of a master

plan. In addition, the City could build on its nascent

artist community.


6. Quality of Life Policies

“

The City’s commitment to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity between existing parks and trails to the City’s downtown and neighborhoods, which influences adopting a complete streets policy in 2016, upcoming plans for a bicycle lane on Remsen Street, and safety improvements to Cohoes Boulevard/Route 787, is further proof that Cohoes in pro-actively working towards a liveable community for multiple generations and socio-economic groups.”

Honorable Shawn Morse, Mayor, City of Cohoes



Quality of Life Policies

As means to enhancing the quality of life of its

residents and presenting a model of livability to the

region, Cohoes has used any number of planning tools

available to catalyze the renaissance of its downtown.

The City is always on the lookout for new ways to

introduce policy that will drive forward its strategic

investment plan, and routinely re-evaluates the

community’s goals, objectives and strategies, evidenced

by this year’s Comprehensive Plan Update, 2017

Cohoes Proud. These policy tools support the City’s

vision for a quality of life that attracts families, new

investors and visitors to Co- hoes. It is the expectation

that the current policies in place, and those that are yet

to be established will not only help build the Cohoes of

the future, but also will influence the future of the

region.

Cohoes innovates using a broad spectrum of both

traditional and vanguard planning policies. Policies in

place are:

Downtown Management Structure & Development Agencies In February 2017, Cohoes business owners organized

to form a leadership team called the Downtown

Business Advisory Council. This team has a unique

working relationship with the City’s administration to

create a new environment to attract, retain and expand

business opportunities in the C.O.R.E. District and city-

wide. Emerging from the development of the 2017 Co-

hoes Comprehensive Plan Update, and building off of

a previous planning charrette, the Advisory Council is

coordinating with the Capital Region Chamber of

Commerce to focus on Economic Vitality, Promotion,

Design, and Organization, known collectively as the

Main Street Four Points.

Two long-standing key development partner agencies

are the Cohoes Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

and the Cohoes Local Development Corporation

(CLDC). Formed under the New York State Industrial

Development Agency Act of 1969 the IDA, governed by

a Board of five people, operates to support the goals

and plans of the City of Cohoes. This includes growing

the City through innovative programs and increased

tourism and trade. The IDA’s mission is to “promote,

develop, encourage and assist in acquiring,

construction, improving, maintaining or equipping

certain facilities thereby advancing the job

opportunities, health, public safety, recreational

opportunities, general prosperity and economic

welfare of the people of the City of Cohoes.”

Composed of five members, the not-for-profit CLDC was

established to focus on job creation and retention,

economic development and housing opportunities

within the City of Cohoes. The CLDC administers

Cohoes’ Business Loan Program, which provides low

interest loans to businesses to foster economic

development in the City and help local business

expand.

The effectiveness of these agencies is due to the City’s

expert ability to partner. Each agency operates in con-

cert with the other, effectively blending mission and re-

sources with opportunity to assist the City in achieving

the envisioned outcome. Most recently the CLDC and

IDA partnered to bring 4 new small businesses to Rem

sen Street, demolish an antiquated building that was

a safety hazard to make way for future opportunities,

and in coordination with Pioneer

Cohoes Proud 2017: City of Cohoes Comprehensive Plan 2017 Cohoes Proud is the new Comprehensive Plan for

the City of Cohoes. The plan provides a foundational

set of recommendations to guide the community, the

Common Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of

Appeals, and other boards, committees, and City staff

for the next half decade. As a living policy document, it

will grow with the City as goals, objectives and

strategies evolve over time. The City received a grant

for the development of the plan from New York State

Energy, Research and Development Agency

(NYSERDA). 2017

Cohoes Proud presents a framework and strategy for

the City to achieve its vision to grow in a more

economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable

way. The document is the result of decades of

community


planning efforts and policy initiatives ranging from

small neighborhood plans and strategic redevel-

opment plans to larger city-wide initiatives. The

planning process brought together a diverse group

of stakeholders and the public through numerous

workshops, public meetings, and presentations.

The City recognizes that the market demand being

generated by its new residential development is a

catalyst for new development and revitalization in

Cohoes. Therefore, this master plan update is not

only designed to cull the revitalization principles

and objectives for growth, but to balance these

with objectives that continue to set the City apart

for its quality of life. The quality of life in Cohoes is

driving local economic growth, and the City would

like to build on its many assets to bring housing

and other development downtown and in targeted

areas of the City poised for revitalization. This in

turn will create the critical mass needed to support

the commercial, cultural and recreational ameni-

ties today’s workforce desires and spur additional

development across the City.

Developing a comprehensive plan is fundamental

to creating a vibrant and sustainable community.

A comprehensive plan articulates a community’s

vision for the future and sets forth a strategies

for change. It provides guidance on how the com-

munity can accommodate physical growth in its

buildings, streets, and infrastructure, and how it

can enhance the elements which contribute to its

quality of life such as parks, neighborhoods, and

amenities. Once adopted, the policies of the 2017

Cohoes Proud will guide the City boards in deci-

sion making and assist with securing future fund-

ing to implement key priorities. The 2017 Cohoes

Proud prioritizes community projects, develops

timelines for completion, increases local commit-

ment, and identifies funding sources to support

implementation. In so doing, it can help a commu-

nity maximize its effectiveness at leveraging com-

munity assets with outside resources.



Land Banks Cohoes is a Land Bank City. Its strategy to buy, re-

hab and sell abandoned and disinvested properties

to a developer has brought new life to the City with

more in the pipeline. Under the direction of City

Economic and Community Development Director

Michael Jacobson, an expert in Land Banking, the

City can work with a selected developer to achieve

results that benefit all income types, which as an

aside demonstrates the City’s commitment to at

tracting and maintaining diverse populations. One

of the City’s prize land bank projects that demon-

strates land banking for diversity is Mosaic Village.

Demolition of a building unoccupied for a decade

has opened up a development opportunity project

that is a first of its kind in the nation. A partnership

between the City of Cohoes, 3-D Architects, Autism

Society of the Greater Capital Region, Albany’s Spot-

ted Zebra Learning Center and the Vecino Group has

spurred the development of 72 mixed income hous-

ing units, 25% of which will be dedicated for autis-

tic adults capable of independent living with some

support. The project will fill an entire block and will

incorporate offices for professional services such as

job training and placement. A second building across

the street will also be dedicated to support services.

Smart Growth Strategy Cohoes’ Comprehensive Plan Proud promotes sus-

tainable growth in targeted areas while taking meas-

ures to enhance existing neighborhoods. This strate-

gy is informed by nine Smart Growth principles that

promote compact growth, mixing land uses, creat-

ing a range of housing choices, providing a variety

of transportation options, preserving and creating

open spaces, and fostering a strong sense of place.

It is also shaped by the desire to promote the devel-

opment of a sustainable city infrastructure. This ap-

proach will help repopulate the City while enhanc-

ing its quality of life. It will contribute to the City’s


tax base, connect jobs and services to public transit

and housing, and more efficiently incorporate green

infrastructure. Further, people will drive less as

destinations become more accessible for everyone,

regardless of age or income. This will reduce overall

traffic congestion resulting in environmental bene-

fits and enhanced neighborhood livability.

Importantly, Cohoes’ Smart Growth Strategy is

closely aligned with specific implementation goals

and strategies. What is notable is the reiteration that

raises up the City’s commitment to maintaining and

augmenting diversity, “Help people age in place by

directing income-eligible homeowners to resources

such as Access to Home, which provide funding to

make homes accessible to those with disabilities.”

or that address Complete Streets policy, “Develop a

Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan to make Cohoes

a safe, convenient and pleasurable place to walk, bi-

cycle and use transit, and link neighborhoods to key

destinations.” Though just two examples of many,

each component is deliberately and specifically

aimed at mobilizing downtown revitalization in Co-

hoes.

Complete Streets In February, Mayor Shawn Morse reported that

more than $9 million in residential and

commercial development will be invested in

downtown revitalization in Cohoes in 2017. Since

January 1st the City has received $1.44 million for

three grants. One is for $450,000 in Complete

Streets funding, which targets construction of new

sidewalks, roads, streetscapes and a bike lane on

Remsen Street, the Main Street in downtown

Cohoes. Also in February, the City adopted Complete

Street Policy legislation. Complete Streets Policy (B

1-2) states that the City “shall design, build, operate

and maintain a safe, reliable, efficient, integrated

and connected multi modal transportation network

that will provide access, mobility, safety, and

connectivity for all users.” Complete streets design

will promote improved health, economic growth,

public safety, recreational opportunity and social

equality throughout the



City of Cohoes, and will ensure that the safety and

convenience of all users of the transportation sys-

tem are accommodated, including pedestrians,

bicyclists, users of mass transit, people of all ages

and abilities, motorists, emergency responders,

freight providers, and adjacent land users. The law

goes on to address a policy that includes

connectivity with the region and implementation

tasks projected for one, three and five years.

While the comprehensive Complete Streets Policy

went into effect this year, Cohoes has been steadily

addressing safety, walkability, accessibility,

connectivity and other key elements of its Complete

Street policy. In 2016 Cohoes won a CFA CDBG grant

to reconstruct ~1,142 linear feet of substandard

sidewalks along both sides of Remsen Street, from

Cayuga to Ontario Streets. The sidewalk project has

synergy with the re-opening of Cohoes Music Hall in

fall 2016. At the time of the grant, it was projected

that 20,000 people would come annually to Cohoes

Music Hall programming. It appears this figure was

under- estimated, as in fact ~15,000 people have

attended 72 shows featured at the Music Hall in its

first few months alone. Senior housing, low income

housing and Cohoes Community Center are all

within a few minutes’ walk of the new sidewalks,

which address safety and accessibility for all. This is

just one example of many that demonstrates Cohoes’

commitment to Healthy Living, Green Urbanism and

Walkability, which has now been formalized

through the development of a complete streets

policy replete with a plan for implementation.

Transit-Oriented Development - or “All Roads Lead to Cohoes” Cohoes envisions itself as a multi-modal hub

situated at the crossroads of three counties and two

active class waterways, the Hudson and the Mohawk

Rivers. As such, the City is uniquely poised to

achieve its vision. Within 1.5--miles there are three

regional bike paths: the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway,

the Delaware Avenue Bikeway on Van Schaick Island,

and the Uncle Sam Bikeway in Troy. The first

trailhead is accessible just a few blocks from the

western boundary of the Downtown C.O.R.E. CDTA

reaches Cohoes through bus service that covers

Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady

Counties. The City of Cohoes will be receiving

CDTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service known as

BusPlus, and service is expected to be fully

operational by 2018. This line will serve the high-

volume transportation corridor along the Hudson

River between the Village of Waterford and the

South End of Albany. It is the third-busiest transit

corridor in the Capital Region with over 2 million

boardings per year. Both of Cohoes’ two new BRT

stations will be located in the heart of Cohoes’

downtown, and the City has worked with the CDTA

to modify the design of the bus shelters to reflect the

character and history of the downtown location. All

CDTA buses are equipped with bicycle racks, making

it possible to link bike with bus trips. BRT buses also

offer free WiFi as a valued amenity to riders. CDTA

anticipates BusPlus service will be “a catalyst for

revitalization of the urban neighborhoods that sur-

round its stations.”

A policy for Transit-Oriented Development is part

of Cohoes’ Smart Growth Strategy and is closely tied

to the City’s Complete Street policy (pages 135-138

of Cohoes Proud 2017), which outlines a plan of

recommended actions tied to three primary goals

aimed at integrating the City’s existing and

projected multiple mobility options. The City has

identified four transit-oriented development goals:

• Make Cohoes more multimodal.

• Improve pedestrian safety on major roadways.

• Integrate land use with transportation.

• Efficiently manage parking in mixed-use centers

Sample strategies tied to these goals including in-

stalling bicycle racks near activity centers either as

stand-alones or as bike corrals (T3); making

stronger and safer pedestrian connections between

the Harmony Mills complex, downtown, neighbor-

hoods, the waterfront, and other activity centers

(T7); and working with the school district to

implement “walking buses” to and from school to


provide school children with safe transportation (T14).

Green Urbanism & Green Infrastructure - Putting Environmental Sustainability into the C.O.R.E. Cohoes’ history with renewable energy dates back

to its industrial period when some of Cohoes canals

were retrofitted as power canals for the operating

mills. Since becoming a Climate Smart Community

in 2009, the City of Cohoes has taken a number of

actions to decrease community energy use and in-

crease the use of renewable energy. These actions

are tied to policies that include using local energy

sources, reducing air and water pollution, and

cooling the city, to name a few.

Cohoes Proud 2017 was funded by New York State

Energy, Research and Development Agency (NYSER-

DA). Among the requirements of the grant were for

the City to develop integrated, comprehensive

planning that addressed Smart Growth goals,

strategies and implementation. As part of the

Comprehensive Plan monitoring requirements, a

project metric benefits report was completed. The

metric benefits report is for the City of Cohoes

Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning

Amendments which will signal the commitment of

the City to pursue policy and initiatives that:

• Build a sustainable land use pattern focused on

encouraging compact growth and promoting

mixed-use development in targeted areas;

• Develop a range of housing choices responsive

to households of different sizes and incomes;

• Promote alternative transportation modes by

developing safe and convenient pedestrian and

bicycle on-street and trail networks;

• Support Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in

anticipation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service

in the community;

• Preserve open space by enhancing existing and

creating new parks; and

• Promote alternative forms of energy, notably

solar power.

Examples of specific initiatives related to Cohoes

Green Urbanism & Green infrastructure policy

include:

• Clean Fleets Initiative - The City of Cohoes is

pursuing a NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities

designation by documenting its Clean Fleets



initiative and with the purchase of two code enforcement EV vehicles.

• Establishing Electric Car Charging Stations

• Cohoes’ participation in NY Sun Solar Program

• Solar Grid Connection - A primary source of

solar is presently working to connect with the

City of Cohoes.

The redesign of Canal Square Park located at the

center of the C.O.R.E. District as the location of the

summer outdoor music series Rock the Block that

runs for 10 weeks and attracts 1,000 concertgoers.

The City expects to expand the park, integrating

what is now a parking lot adjacent to the park. A

local bank may sell the lot to the City, which will

apply for a GEIG grant to integrate the lot with

Canal Square Park. This park will be built to be

environmentally sustainable, with rain gardens,

permeable pavement, LED lighting and solar power

where appropriate.

• The demolition of distressed buildings at the

corner of Remsen and White Streets and

developing the newly reclaimed land into a

pocket park with a bike corral.

• The City of Cohoes will soon add a second roof

top garden located across from an existing

roof top garden, which will be built as a special

feature market-rate housing project involving

what was the Cohoes Hotel.

• Streetscape enhancements with LED lighting,

bike lanes, permeable pavers where appropriate,

tree gardens, signage and pedestrian

enhancements to make alternative modes of

transpiration inviting and safe.

• Multi-modal connectivity via the Hudson Mohawk

Bikeway, the BRT, and waterfront amenities.

• Participation in Albany Pools, Grants targeting CSO separation for Clean Waters.

Targeted Districting & Progressive Zoning – a

Form Based Code for the Downtown C.O.R.E. Future economic growth, neighborhood stability and

natural resource preservation are directly impacted by

zoning district boundaries; permitted, accessory,

special and prohibited uses; as well as development

requirements. The City of Cohoes not only has in

place a progressive zoning code policy, but one that

that the City will improve and update to realize the

strategies associated with its downtown revitalization

project initiatives, as documented in Cohoes Proud

2017. It is the City’s goal to encourage a mix of uses and

to build densities that help increase the vitality of

neighborhoods and bolster the success and increased

revenues for both start-up and established businesses.

Cohoes’ Downtown Core District is mainly mixed use.

Lionheart Workforce Housing


Land along the river is zoned as office and retail

commercial and waterfront mixed use. There are

two special district within the DRI Core, the Historic

Overlay District that protects the integrity of Cohoes’

beautiful historic architecture, and street to building

enclosure. One of the newer districts is the Arts and

Entertainment Overlay, which overlaps with the

Historic Overlay District. The goal of this

designation is to support the burgeoning restaurant,

arts and entertainment uses within the C.O.R.E. This

will allow for sidewalk cafes and outside dining, and

different building mass regulations to infill and

grow.

Cohoes has Incentive Zoning in place to allow for

public improvements in exchange for higher density.

In the past the City found it challenging to offer

incentives because it had less to offer a developer;

today, the City has the administrative capacity and

policy in place. Developers are more responsive to

incentives to increase their value and investment,

while providing a public amenity to the City.

The City of Cohoes’ is currently in the process of up-

dating its zoning regulations to include form-based

policies for the City’s Civic Core, Downtown Core,

Neighborhood and Transit Corridor districts. These

standards will maintain the integrity of the public

realm while allowing changes to the fabric that may

occur as new mixed-use development and green

urbanism projects are developed. The form-based

code provides standards for building requirements,

sites, parking, signage and lighting. Form-based

zoning places special emphasis on the physical

configuration of the built environment and utilizes

fics to explain what the desired form and

appearance of development should be—with an eye

toward creating beautiful, highly livable places.

Living Policies to Attract Growth & Build on Existing Diversity One of the essential components of Cohoes’ Down-

town Revitalization strategy is to provide its com-

munity with the right balance of amenities to attract

new residents, and to build on the City’s already

healthy diversity. This balance is closely linked to

the synergies that are achieved collectively through

targeted districting and progressive zoning, smart

growth policy, complete street policy, Green Urban-

ism and Infrastructure and Transit Oriented

Development. Cohoes has a number of projects that

arise

Proposed Improvements to Cohoes Music Hall



out of this multi-pronged approach to setting policy that

permit new, innovative project development. Two

important Living Policies that Cohoes has identified as

priority and where project specifics are being worked out

are access to healthy food and the development of high-

speed City-wide Wi-Fi.

Foster a Strong Sense of Place is Smart Growth principle

number 6 in Cohoes Proud 2017. Projects and neighbor-

hoods that incorporate natural features, historic

structures, public art, and place making can help

distinguish a community from its neighbors, enriching it

for those who live there and attracting new residents and

visitors. One of the identified strategies is to provide WiFi

citywide. Through this initiative, the City will encourage

downtown revitalization by attracting professionals and

millennials to the high speed internet is an amenity

highly attractive to professionals, and supports the City’s

aim to sustain a workforce of millennials. Visitors to

Cohoes will also enjoy easy, reliable access to WiFi.

Finally, Cohoes has partnered with local groups to

establish a Community Garden within the Downtown

C.O.R.E. With proximity to the Cohoes Community Center,

the Co- hoes Housing Authority and the Senior

Apartments, the downtown community garden will not

only provide freshly grown produce for the community, it

will also in association with the Community Center serve

as a teaching garden. On another front, Cohoes is working

with land- owners and developers to counter the

perennial problem of the urban food desert with a plan to

integrate an urban market either in or adjacent to the

Downtown Core. The call for a downtown supermarket

has been documented in several of Cohoes’ adopted

plans, is a transformative project, and will become a

reality with the infusion of the DRI funding.

Age Friendly Policies Many residents of Cohoes benefit from the Senior Center

and the senior housing located in the C.O.R.E. District.

Everything that Cohoes is striving to achieve with its

strategic downtown revitalization planning impacts this

important population. Cohoes’ Smart Growth, Complete

Street Policies, Green Urbanism & Green Infrastructure,

Transit-Oriented Development, Living Policies,

Progressive Zoning support the health, safety and well-

being of Cohoes’ elder population. Initiatives rising from

age friendly policy manifests in a variety of ways:

• The 2016 CFA CDBG sidewalk grant brought funds to

reconstruct sidewalks along the northernmost

segment of Remsen Street, the central path from

public senior housing and the senior center to

restaurants, public services, and green spaces in the

DRI area. Se- curing these funds has helped to

increase the safety of Cohoes’ seniors.

• Incorporation of mixed-use and mixed-income

housing in the downtown core gives empty nesters,

retirees and seniors more options for living. The

downtown offers access to services, culture,

shopping and restaurants.

• ADA accessibility is being incorporated into sidewalk

replacement projects as part of the adopted complete

streets law.

Historic Remsen Street Sidewalk


7. Support for the Local Vision

“Five years later, TCB is continuing to invest in Cohoes. TCB is actively pursuing a second initiative as a testament to Cohoes’ extremely supportive and cooperative administration. TCB has already purchased (or has contracts to purchase) 25 parcels of land for an 80 unit mixed income multifamily apartment building. The projects primary focus is on the southern side of Cohoes Downtown Core, the new development will connect the north end project to the south end. Working with the City, Albany County Land Bank, and private property owners, the project will include the demolition of 9 blighted

structures.” Susan McCann, VP Development, The Community Builders



Financial Support for the C.O.R.E. Vision

Cohoes invests in people, and as a result people invest

in Cohoes. Public and private investment that supports

Cohoes’ vision for Downtown Revitalization is

demonstrated in both the funding received and for the

projects realized just this year since the City applied

to the DRI program in 2016, but is also evident in the

commitment of citizens, business owners, residents

and key stakeholders who participate in the public

visioning process. This was most evident during the

drafting and adoption of the City of Cohoes

Comprehensive Plan this year and in the recent

organization of Cohoes’ Downtown Business Advisory

Council. The vitality of engagement that this local

support represents propels the City forward toward

realizing its reinvention as a true All-America, quality

of life city, rich in its diversity, economic opportunity,

affordability, cultural and recreational offerings, and

environmental quality.

Cohoes’ revitalization incubator, the Community &

Economic Development Office, is responsible for

improving economic conditions in the City. This office

will serve as the local lead for the Downtown

Revitalization Planning Process. The local lead

operates in partnership with Cohoes’ newly

reorganized Downtown Business Advisory Council, the

Cohoes Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the

Cohoes Local Development Corporation (CLDC).

Between 2001 and 2017, Cohoes’ economic

development leadership has secured $73,247,594 in

private and public investment. This has created a

precedent of success that, like bees to honey, is

drawing to Cohoes new investors, businesses and

projects, some the first of their s kind. The synergies

created from this investment are lifting Cohoes’ profile

as a city attractive to young professionals, families, and

retirees.

Cohoes is ready for business. Investors are coming to

Cohoes attracted by the pro-active, inventive approach

the City offers to new start-ups and private developers.

Cohoes does not wait for investment to come to its door,

but has created a business friendly policy that will take

risks on new entrepreneurs. Mechanisms have been

set into place to give new business owners what they

need, rather than have them change their plans to meet

the City’s needs. Cohoes invites new business owners

to submit their business plans to the City. The plans

are reviewed and considered on a case-to-case basis.

The City looks for business plans that are well

developed, and weighs carefully the level of experience

of the business owner. When Cohoes selects a plan they

then form a partnership with the new business owner.

The City will act as an ambassador on behalf of the new

business owner, helping them to fine-tune their

business plan and matching the entrepreneur with

both contractors and property owners. The plan of

support does not stop there. The City Council has

created a local developer fund to support businesses in

executing their plans during the first, tender stages of

start-up.

The business community has had a longstanding

organizational history with a fluctuating history of

activity and reinvention. First established as the

Cohoes Business and Industry Council in 1971 with

105 members, the council merged with the Albany

Colonie Chamber of Commerce in 2005. In 2013, the

Council dissolved and in 2014 was recreated again as

Choose Cohoes, this time with paying members.

Because of Cohoes’ current momentum business

owners are seeing the downtown coming alive again. In

response, the business supported community

reinvented itself yet again. In February

2017 Cohoes businesses owners organized to form a

grassroots leadership team called the Downtown

Business Advisory Council under the anagrammatic

title Choose Cohoes: This amazing new organization

has a unique relationship with the City’s

administration. In the past, the effectiveness of the

business community’s organization has been hit or

miss in terms of its effectiveness. The organization

more often has been driven by someone in

government. The City of Cohoes believes that a truly

effective business council has to be grassroots. The

energy and ownership of the business community’s

success comes from the bottom up rather than the top

down. The City took steps to hire a consultant

recommended by the chamber of commerce. Through a

community forum, the business community organized

as the Downtown Business Advisory Council. The

Council is a business owner led group. The City


collaborates with the Council in a purely a facilitative

role and works in concert with the chamber.

The Cohoes’ Business Advisory Council has developed

a clear tri-fold mission: 1.) To focus on downtown and

business initiatives; 2.) To create a fertile environment

for arts and culture; and 3.) To promote Cohoes as a

leisure tourism destination. In a short time this

progressive Council has engaged with planning tools

such as SWOT analysis to evaluate Strengths,

Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities. It has

developed a marketing program using tools including

social media, Inter- net marketing and research. It has

evaluated its business sectors and developed short

term goals to support long term results.

Cohoes City Hall



Local Support for the C.O.R.E. Vision The City of Cohoes’ has been building on its vision for

the City and its downtown C.O.R.E. through planning

projects since 1992. Since then, numerous plans and

studies have been conducted aimed at revitalizing the

City by building on its many assets and taking

advantage of emerging opportunities. Each of these

plans document the evolution of Cohoes’ vision,

which has been remarkably consistent with regard to

downtown revitalization. The City’s planning

approach is holistic and synergistic. Each plan

illustrates how each strategic investment is truly a

series of interlocking parts, and like a mosaic together

creates the blueprint for action and implementation.

To date, many of the initiatives outlined in these plans

have been realized. The City has a longstanding

record of follow-through and achievement.

• Cohoes 2000

• Downtown Redevelopment Plan (2002)

• Reconfiguration of Cohoes Boulevard Expanded

Project Proposal (2004)

• Urban Waterfront Rediscovery Plan (2005)

• Route 470 Corridor Study (2007)

• Van Schaick Island Transportation and Revitalization Plan (2008)

• State Route 787 Corridor Pre-Nomination Study

(2009)

• Delaware Avenue Brownfields Opportunity Area

(BOA) Pre-Nomination Study (2011)

• Cohoes Boulevard Brownfields Opportunity Area

(BOA) Pre-Nomination Study (2014)

• 2017 Cohoes Proud: City of Cohoes Comprehensive Plan (2017)

Importantly, these plans are testimony to the long-

standing tradition of public participation and

engagement process. The story of the City of Cohoes’

community engagement is most powerfully illustrated

over the past year. The citizens of Cohoes have been

integral to the development and direction of 2017

Cohoes Proud: City of Cohoes Comprehensive Plan,

the foundational document for the City of Cohoes

Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

The 2017 Cohoes Proud was intended to build upon

previous plans conducted for the City since adoption

of the last Comprehensive Plan in 1992, to be

consistent with regional policies, and to reflect the

priorities of the Cohoes community. Accordingly,

previous plans were reviewed and their proposed

actions vetted with the public. The community

engagement process for the 2017 Cohoes Proud Plan

was designed to involve a broad range of City

stakeholders, including residents, business owners,

City staff, and elected officials, as well as regional

partners representing areas such as economic

development, transportation and sustainability.

Individual interviews and roundtable discussions

provided the opportunity for in-depth conversations

about particular topics while public open houses held

during the day and in the evening, allowed members

of the general public to drop in at their leisure to

learn about the plan and provide their feedback.

Ultimately, all the input received was used to develop

an overall vision for the City of Cohoes, to hone in on

focus areas for the update of the Comprehensive Plan,

and to flesh out particular recommendations.


8. Readiness

“When I speak with local real estate professionals, property owners/managers, developers and operators, the common theme we all share is that we want to work with municipalities whose building and planning departments enthusiastically work cooperatively with us for the benefit of all parties, including tenants or ‘end users’. Cohoes sets a shining example of such cooperative spirit.”

Todd Drake, Empire Real Estate Management, LLC



Cohoes is Open for Business

Readiness has become a strategic imperative since our

new administration came into office in January of 2016.

Economic and community development is no longer a

‘wait-and-see-what-happens’ approach in hopes that

investors and developers find us. Rather, we now see

our city as a product which needs to be invested in, its

assets identified and packaged and then aggressively

marketed to customers who buy into our vision and see

our potential. Along with the right “customer service”

attitude, coupled with smart incentives, we are rapidly

becoming a destination of choice for a bevy of new in-

vestors, developers and private businesses. With that

as a backdrop, the following transformative projects

reflect the advance planning and partnering that, with

the right infusion of DRI funds, are ready to go.

Our Waterfront - It’s impossible to think Cohoes and not think water. Two rivers, multiple waterfronts, islands, and the great

Cohoes Falls. It became evident that opening up public

access to our waterfronts would clearly establish us as

a destination for boaters, fishing enthusiasts,

restaurant patrons who enjoy a river view and those

just wanting to stroll down a riverfront path.

Project A – Waterfront Mixed-Use Gateway Devel-

opment Project: Sitting at the confluence of the Route

787, Ontario Street and Saratoga Streets; and the Route

32 Bridge to Waterford, is some of the most beautiful

and truly accessible waterfront properties in the re-

gion. The City has successfully reached agreements

with DCG Development and the Canal Corporation to

separate out and convey their adjoining parcels. Once

this process is complete, the City will merge these

parcels with contiguous City-owned land currently

occupied by the City’s Department of Public Works

(DPW) facilities. The City’s next step will be to relocate

the DPW facilities while at the same time, begin

sourcing development partners for the Capital region’s

premier waterfront mixed-use commercial and

recreational project.

While the ultimate layout and programming of the

project will be confirmed through the DRI planning

process, the City will focus on providing a waterfront

destination that is unmatched in the Capital Region

and beyond. The City’s vision includes riverside dining,

entertainment and retail, along with a waterfront park

and outdoor recreational opportunities. This project

will be located at the northern gateway to the City’s

C.O.R.E District and will be integrated with the City’s

pedestrian connections. Not only will many District

and City residents be able to reach this new

destination, those visiting the waterfront amenities

will be able to walk to and enjoy our many other

attractions and services provided in the District and the

surrounding areas, including Cohoes Falls.

The City of Cohoes is moving forward with initial logis-

tics and property organization. Financial assistance

through the DRI would enable us to sustain this posi-

tive momentum, moving the site into shovel ready sta-

tus for one of the most attractive waterfront mixed-use

development opportunities in the Capital District.


Waterfront Projects

Project B – Delaware Avenue Riverfront Dining and

Recreational Access Destination Project: The City’s

second major waterfront destination project is planned

for Van Schaick Island, on the southern end of the

Delaware Avenue and 112th Street Bridge inter-

section. The current vision includes a mixed riverfront

recreation and dining experience. The public riverfront

park will provide canoe and kayak access with a focus

on celebrating our rich waterway and canal history.

The waterfront dining element will be integrated with

the park and unparalleled public gathering and meet-

ing spaces. This section of the river is part of the 200

year old NYS Erie Canal system and the City will seek

to incorporate docking space for various sized vessels,

further diversifying the project’s reach to potential

visitors and customers. In addition to access from the

river and canal system, the park and restaurant will be

within walking distance of the numerous recent water-

front housing developments along Delaware Avenue,

the island’s traditional residential neighborhoods,

Peebles Island State Park and the Van Schaick Island

Country Club. The Peebles Island Bike Path will serve

as the major pedestrian and biking connector to the

new project and out to the surrounding destinations.

The process for planning and designing a more refined

program for this project will involve a truly unique

association of public and private relationships.

Specifically, a partnership has been established

between the City of Cohoes Local Development

Corporation, Prime Properties, and the RPI School of

Architecture to design and make the necessary land

available for a publicly accessible waterfront feature at

this all important deep water section of the river. The

incoming graduate student class (August 2017) will be

broken into teams and will be given the creative license

to let their imaginations transform this area into a

world class design. At the end of the semester, January

2018, a local team will choose which design is the

winner. Prime Proper- ties has committed a section

along the entire river front along with an easement to

connect Delaware Avenue to the waterfront. Prime has

also committed an investment of private funds in an

amount to be determined at a later date. Our LDC will

also be infusing additional funds.

As previously stated, the ultimate layout and

programing of the project will be market tested and

confirmed through the DRI planning process. A DRI

infusion would provide a sufficient bridge to bring the

full project together, allowing initial logistics and

planning work to begin in 2018.

Proposed Delaware Avenue Riverfront Dining and Recreational Access Destination Project Site



Cohoes Falls

Project C – Cohoes Falls View Park Enhancements

and Lighting of the Falls: Annually, thousands visit

our region’s most beautiful natural resource, Cohoes

Falls View Park. Improving the park and lighting of

the falls will transform this already beautiful public

space and iconic natural resource into a year round

destination. The park is right next door to Harmony

Mills and only a 15 minute walk from our C.O.R.E. Dis-

trict and the Waterfront Mixed-Use Gateway Project.

Given its proximity to the District, and significance of

the falls itself, the project will serve as a major eco-

nomic catalyst for our downtown. An infusion of DRI

funds will help facilitate a completion of the project.

The City prepared a feasibility study and a design

for the lighting of the Falls and is ready to implement

with DRI investment funds.

Cohoes Falls View Park


C.O.R.E District Projects

Project A – Extend our complete street program

through to Columbia Street: While the City has made

significant strides enhancing streets and sidewalks,

there are significant additional investments needed to

provide a safe and attractive experience for our resi-

dents, visitors and numerous pedestrians and bicy-

clists we envision traversing our beautiful city. Millions

of dollars have been, and continue to be, invested with-

in the C.O.R.E. District, demonstrating the confidence

the investor community has in the City of Cohoes to see

supporting projects all the way through to completion.

The City begin in August 2017, with the construction of

the first section of the Complete Street program along

Remsen Street from Cayuga to Ontario Streets. The first

section which is now under contract, will be completed

by December 2017 which passes in front of our Music

Hall and Canal Square Park as well as the new BRT Sta-

tion. The City is currently engineering and designing

the next segment of the Remsen Street streetscape en-

hancements, and with a DRI investment coupled with

the City’s CHIPS allocation and landscaping commit-

ment, the City will begin construction as early as the

first quarter of 2018.

Project B – Proposed Multi-Level Parking Structure:

Over the years, several surface parking lots associat-

ed with past business were constructed. With the ebb

and flow of growth in the City, these lots have become

underutilized and poorly positioned in relation to the

C.O.R.E. District’s key attractions and destinations.

These lots also adversely impact the District’s charac-

ter, creating a gap-toothed appearance. While surface

lots are ideal for infill, their scattered nature and multi-

tude of private owners has been impeding progress for

quality infill development.

The City’s goal was to find a location for a parking

structure in close proximity to the main thoroughfare

and offer the existing lots for mixed use or residential

development. Cohoes is proud to have finally found

the perfect location for the parking structure and has

willing and committed partners. Directly behind 122,

130 and 134 Remsen Street sit three contiguous lots,

one being City-owned. The City has recently reached an

agreement with the two private owners. After the de-

sign work is done for the parking structure and mixed-

use residential projects, any additional land needed to

complete the footprint of the parking structure will be

conveyed to the City.

This location has “promenade style” access directly to

Remsen and White Streets and the parking structure

will be well integrated with the surrounding streets-

cape. The building ready condition of the needed

properties combined with the DRI investment will

make this project a near term possibility.

Complete Street Program Design

Future Parking Garage Location


“As with everything else, I want our downtown

concerts to be the biggest and the best. I want our

downtown to be the talk of the Capital Region. A

Thursday night destination for people to enjoy and

showcase our Downtown. Well, if you were one of

the over 12,000 individuals who visited Canal

Square this past summer, …”

-Mayor Morse 2017 State of the City Address on

“Rock the Block”.


Proposed Canal Square Park Improvements

Project C – Canal Square Park improvements and

expansion: Sitting only a few yards from the Music

Hall and at the north gateway to the C.O.R.E District,

Canal Square Park has truly become our City’s com-

munity meeting place. Rarely is there a park of this ca-

liber so conveniently located and easily accessible by

a large downtown population. The park is surround-

ed by our senior housing facility, MacDonald Tower

along with the community center and senior center to

the north, Ogden Mills affordable housing to the west

and market rate units along Remsen to the east. The

park is also two blocks form the Cayuga Street trail-

head for the Cohoes National Heritage Trail leading to

Falls View Park.

set into a world class outdoor performance venue and

green space, the park is in need of an update and

expanded footprint. We have made significant

progress to date. The City’s Local Development

Corporation has the contiguous vacant parcel under

contract with the seller. In addition, the City

Engineering Consultant has already designed the

improvements to the existing park which includes the

expansion. With a DRI investment along with site

work performed by our DPW team and sponsorship

contributions by our businesses, developers and

investors, this project could begin in 2018.

Coming off the City’s most successful summer music

series in the park it was easy to see the inclusiveness

and welcoming attitude of our residents and visitors.

While the park was well integrated into the surround-

ing neighborhoods, is was poorly designed, no longer

sufficient in size and is crumbling due to age and

questionable construction. In order to convert this as-


9. Administrative Capacity

“We were impressed with the people, and with the government officials who knew what it takes to get things done. It is no secret that we had projects in other cities that never got built. That’s the difference between cities with officials that wait for things to happen by themselves, and cities with officials that work with you to make things happen.”

Larry Regan, Regan Development



Partnering with Investors

The City of Cohoes has a skilled and experienced full-

time staff highly capable of overseeing the DRI plan-

ning process and implementing the DRI investment

projects. Under Mayor Morse, the City of Cohoes has

reorganized, redeployed and redesigned the resources

available through the Cohoes Industrial Development

Agency (IDA) and the Cohoes Local Development Cor-

poration (CLDC), with a single focus to revitalize down-

town Cohoes. This bold move was part of the City’s

strategic revitalization plan with the aim to achieve

its vision as a quality of life community. This admin-

istrative transformation was spearheaded by Michael

Jacobson, the former executive director of Habitat for

Humanity and a founding member of Albany County

Land Bank. Under Michael’s leadership, a team of seven

people working through the City’s Economic and Com-

munity Development office sprung into action to cre-

ate partnerships with investors, banks and businesses.

These co-collaborators are making Cohoes’ downtown

revitalization a reality.

As an offshoot from the development of Cohoes Proud

2017: The City of Cohoes Comprehensive Plan and as a

response to the tangible momentum that twenty-nine

# project investments have spurred in downtown Co-

hoes, local businesses owners organized to form a

grassroots leadership team called the Downtown Busi-

ness Advisory Council, an offshoot of the Capital Region

Chamber of Commerce. Founded in February 2017, the

Council has already developed a clear tri-fold mission:

1. to focus on downtown and business initiatives; 2. to

create a fertile environment for arts and culture; and 3.

to promote Cohoes as a leisure tourism destination. As

a ‘boot on the ground’ entity, the Council activates the

City’s administrative capacity at the grassroots level,

organizing resources to support project implementa-

tion. The Council employs every resource it has avail-

able to advance the goals of the City using marketing

tools such as social media, Internet marketing and re-

search. It has evaluated its business sectors and identi-

fied short term goals to support long term results.

Grants Partnering with Investors The City of Cohoes has a remarkable capacity to attract

and form partnerships with investors. Each of the pro-

ject initiatives detailed in this Plan thrives because the

City-Investor partnership creates a foundational rela-

tionship that powers a project toward its successful im-

plementation. The Mosaic Village Project is an example

of this dynamic. Mosaic Village is an innovative model

of housing that provides adults with autism spectrum

disorder an opportunity for independent living. The

City is partnering with Scott Townsend from 3t Archi-

tects and members of the Vecino Group to develop re-

claimed downtown parcels for this project, the first of

its kind in the nation.

Grants have well defined benchmarks that require a

high degree of administrative capacity. The City has

a proven track record of effectively managing and

spending these fiscal resources, and meeting the obli-

gation to match funds. Between 2004 and 2016 $ has

been awarded from a total of forty-five grants. Of these

forty-five grants thirty-five are completed - that is ap-

proximately 80% of grant projects completed in twelve

years. The remaining 20% are either under contract or

underway. This success reflects grant related projects

alone, and does not account for the multitude of active

initiatives as well as the seed ideas that are in the pipe-

line. This points to another factor that demonstrates

the depth and breadth of Cohoes’ administrative capac-

ity: its multi-pronged approach.

Cohoes is no stranger to managing a multitude of pro-

jects simultaneously, carrying these projects to their

completion, while generating new projects. Looking at

Cohoes’ 2016 grant history alone illustrates this point.

A CFA CDBG Sidewalk Improvement Grant was award-

ed to the City in December 2016. The City chose to

manage this grant internally and its status is currently

under contract. Through Arts CHPGI the City received

a grant to fund its participation in the Erie Canal Bicen-

tennial Celebration, currently under contract. Through

the Council on the Arts- Arts, Culture and Heritage


New Initiatives - Implementation & Canalway Grant

Program, Cohoes has contracted to construct an in-

teractive canal exhibit for the Cohoes Visitor Center in

time for the Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration, 2017-

2025. Through LISC, the City has underway enhance-

ments to its vacant building registry adopted in 2009.

With NYSDOT TIP funding, Cohoes has implemented

a new traffic signal at Delaware Avenue and Ontario

Street. With State ED funds, the Cohoes Library has

received its window rehabilitation. This recap of 2016

grant awards demonstrates project initiatives ranging

from arts and culture, complete street policy, historic

preservation, heritage tourism, smart growth and land

use alone. What a testimony to Cohoes’ administrative

capacity!

Policy & Project Synergies Influencing Administrative Capacity It is important to note that the mosaic of projects de-

tailed above are all directly related to building the

downtown economy and quality of life that the City has

envisioned and supports through its policies. The cor-

porate policies that guide and shape the City’s revitali-

zation define and further exhibit the City’s administra-

tive capacity. The City has demonstrated through the

drafting of new Form-Based Code and newly adopted

resolutions that it is actively shepherding to implemen-

tation the goals and strategies laid out in Cohoes policy

document Cohoes Proud 2017: The City of Cohoes Com-

prehensive Plan. The shared service agreements are

worthy of notice as they substantiate Cohoes’ proactive

approach to partnering with neighboring communities,

the City’s consideration of the best use of its funding

resources and the City’s multi-pronged approach to

achieving its goals. The following are resolutions from

this year demonstrating the City’s administrative lead

and capacity:

• Bond Ordinance #2 2017 for a Sewer System Capital

Investment Project $1, 430,000

• Resolution 29 2017 for transfer of five City-owned

parcels to the Cohoes Local Development Corpora-

tion

• Resolution 30 2017 approving shared equipment,

vehicles and services agreement between the City

of Cohoes and Green Island



of Cohoes and Watervliet

• Resolution 32 2017 designating the City as Lead

Agency for window repair/replacement and phone

update at City Hall and to implement a web portal

at the Senior Center

• Resolution 34 2017 declaring the City’s intent to

act as a lead agency regarding the comprehensive

plan

• Resolution 35 2017 - resolution authorizing the

DRI funding application



of Cohoes and Troy

One of the best examples of project synergy that show-

cases Cohoes administrative capacity is the story of the

Cohoes Music Hall. The Cohoes Music Hall was built in

1874 by Nichols and Halcott of Albany and only operat-

ed as a theater for short period of time before it became

the National Bank of Cohoes. The theater remained

dormant until the City bought the building for $1.00 in

the 1960’s. As the City started to plot its strategy for

downtown revitalization it was determined that the

Cohoes Music Hall would be the lynchpin to the suc-

cess of the City’s strategic downtown revitalization

economic development plan. As such the City has di-

rected projects and developed partnerships to support

the Music Hall’s success. The City spent $30,000 on in-

terior renovations cleaning, updating sound systems,

replacing seats, adding stage lights, refinishing floors

and providing a working prep kitchen. This investment

was to prepare for the expected 20,000 regional visi-

tors projected to come to the Cohoes Music Hall, which

opened the fall of 2016 under the new management of

the Palace Theater.

The City has evaluated that further renovation to the

exterior is needed. This will include the repair and re-



placement of historic windows and the addition of a

canopy and lighting, an estimated cost of $666,667.

The City had applied in 2016 for New York Main Street

Downtown Anchor Grant to cover these costs, but did

not receive funding and has committed to applying

through CFA again in 2017.

The Cohoes Music Hall is a City success story. The

opening of Cohoes Music Hall was expected to impact

the entire central business district by encouraging new

businesses to open in proximity to the theater. This has

in fact happened. In less than a year the Music Hall is

fully booked with events ranging from classic movies,

musical concerts, and theater. Albany’s Park Playhouse

has performed here and the venue has become the per-

manent residence for Comedy Works. Since it reopened

in the Fall of 2016 the Music Hall has run 72 shows,

which have brought in ~15,000 people. It is reported

that three new restaurants in proximity to the theater

have apparently been flooded with theatergoers. It can

be said that the opening of Cohoes Music Hall has suc-

ceeded in increasing the momentum of its Downtown

Revitalization. The City has become a restaurant incu-

bator. As preparation for the opening of the Cohoes Mu-

sic Hall, the City applied for a sidewalk grant through

CFA in 2016, winning CDBG money to improve existing

infrastructure by installing concrete sidewalks with

concrete curbing edged with existing brick pavers, add-

ing ADA compliant curb ramps, painting new striped

crosswalks, mending street tree wells and offsetting

them with cobblestone unearthed during construc-

tion, mounting more wayfinding signage, resetting

catch basis, resetting existing bricks along the concrete

sidewalks, and improving stormwater drainage. These

physical alterations address the City’s need for side-

walk infrastructure that is safe, attractive and accessi-

ble to meet the needs of the community and to attract

new investment to Cohoes. The sidewalk project is also

synergistic with Cohoes’ adoption of Complete Street

policy. With the Music Hall and new sidewalks. quality

of life is increased for residents, businesses, and visi-

tors, and with it new initiatives are seeded. This story

of success provides a strong incentive for new invest-

ment.

The story of the Cohoes Music Hall recounts the effec-

tiveness, the quality and the reliability of Cohoes’ ad-

ministrative capacity, The City of Cohoes has a remark-

able ability to partner, to see multiple projects through

to implementation, to build momentum through project

synergy and to establish policy that enables the City to

implement each phase of its strategic plan for down-

town revitalization. Cohoes’ administrative capacity

partnered with DRI funds will unquestionably provide

the City the resources to complete select projects that

will push the City’s revitalization into overdrive.


10. Other

“The new administration is investing more public money into downtown infrastructure improvements than the City invested in the past decade. Cohoes Common Council passed Complete Streets local legislation to shape those infrastructure and encourage foot traffic. Concurrently the City, IDA and LDC continue to offer incentives to new investors, businesses and developers in order

to develop Cohoes’ economy.” Ralph Signoracci, Chairman of the IDA



Appendices

Appendix A: Resolution & Common Council Public Hearings Meeting Agenda





Please visit the following links for supporting plan documents:

• Cohoes 2017 Cohoes Proud - Comprehensive Plan

http://www.cohoes.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=34&TPID=6391

• Cohoes Boulevard Brownfield Opportunity Area Final Nomination Study -

https://docs.dos.ny.gov/opd/boa/Cohoes%20Blvd_BOA.pdf

• BOA Cohoes Boulevard Revitalization Plan Power Point -

http://www.cohoes.com/documents/Cohoes%20Blvd%20BOA_City%20Council_Presentation_12%2011%201

2(2).pdf

http://www.cohoes.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=34&TPID=6391

https://docs.dos.ny.gov/opd/boa/Cohoes%20Blvd_BOA.pdf

http://www.cohoes.com/documents/Cohoes%20Blvd%20BOA_City%20Council_Presentation_12%2011%2012(2).pdf

http://www.cohoes.com/documents/Cohoes%20Blvd%20BOA_City%20Council_Presentation_12%2011%2012(2).pdf


Appendix A: Resolution & Common Council Agenda



Appendices









Appendices

2017 State of the City

Thank you, Chris Briggs, for that kind introduction, and more importantly, thank you for your

partnership as President of the City Council. Thank you to the Chamber audience, and all of you

for sharing this special moment with me.

A special thank you to my family, my wife Brenda, the bedrock of our family. My son Christopher

and my two beautiful daughters Adrianna and Madison.

Tonight we are joined by many elected local and state officials, our honorable city judges and

fellow colleagues. We are deeply honored to have you with us.

When I last spoke with many of you, in this very room last year, we just moved passed a very

tough election, and I promised we would move past the political division. Our spirits were high,

we believed in the possibility of change and the opportunity to write our story.

So, tonight, my 2nd State of the City, I share with you, our new story.

It started with an idea. An idea that Cohoes, New York could once again be an All America City,

that we could re-energize our community, and people would feel the pride in being a Cohosier.

So, we rebranded our spirit, and Cohoes Proud was born. I will tell you here tonight, the pride in

this community is beaming and our goal of becoming an All America City is within our reach.

Today I can say with great pleasure, that our community is a different place than it was just one

year ago.

The evidence is in the night sky above our city that illuminates from the beauty of our bell tower.

The American flag shines high from our City Hall, delivering the message that our future is

bright and our City is open for business and Cohosiers have the greatest respect for the men

and women who serve our country- past, present and future!

My favorite quote is “Dream big or don't dream at all.” Who dreams of winning a two dollar

lottery ticket? During my campaign, I shared my bold vision at every doorstep. A vision of a new

and revitalized downtown where investors would come to spend millions of dollars on new

housing and business opportunities. Where the Arts and Entertainment would flourish and our

bars and restaurants would overflow.

Well, as I stand here with you tonight, I can say, that our big dreams of last year are today's

reality.

Let me share with you the many accomplishments of 2016:



Our Comprehensive Plan is receiving its first facelift in 25 years. With funding from

NYSERDA and partnering with The LaBerge Group and the University at Albany

Planning Studio, the citizens and the stakeholders; we are well on our way.

Cohoes Music Hall- the fourth oldest active music hall in the country. Where sadly, the

stage has been silent, the seats empty, and the lights dim for too many years. But

today, because we dreamed big, the Cohoes Music Hall is now our economic engine.

Seeing thousands of visitors passed through its doors to sold out shows and those

visitors packing our bars and restaurants and creating a vibrant downtown. All this in the

first six months of operation. The Cohoes Music Hall has quickly become a premiere

destination in the capital region. This did not happen by accident; it happened when

Holly Brown and Owen Smith from the Palace Theater came to visit our music hall. We

shared our vision and our big dreams for the rebirth of the City, and how the music hall

would be the driving force behind the resurgence of our downtown. I'm excited to say

that several weeks after that visit we become partners with the Palace Theater and the

story written. Holly and Owen, thank you for believing in Cohoes Proud and taking a

chance on us. The partnership has been more that we could have ever hoped for. I can't

wait to see what the next few years bring.

The Cohoes Hotel- Once the crown jewel for the wealthy and powerful who visited

Cohoes while doing business at the great Harmony Mills, has sadly, become downtown's

biggest eyesore. Over the past ten years, we have seen this beautiful structure filled with

drugs, rodents and slowly decay from its days of glory. But today, because we dream big

and our vision and commitment to revitalizing our downtown is not looked upon as

political rhetoric. Rather a genuine strategy with the political will and courage to think out

of the box. The calculated risk to fight through the bureaucracy that often leads to the

status quo and the commitment to put our money where our mouth is! Paul and John

Bonacquisti and their team will invest over 3 million dollars to restore the Cohoes Hotel

back to its days of glory with new world class apartments. Also adding a new addition to

the hotel, which will house twenty-three new market rate apartments that fit into our plan

to repopulate our downtown. In addition to the 3 million dollar renovation of the Cohoes

Hotel, Paul and John have just purchased the Harmony Market Place which consist of

three buildings on Remsen Street and will invest tens of thousands of dollars in each of

these properties. Paul and John, thank you for believing in Cohoes Proud and our vision

of a new and thriving Remsen Street. With people like you believing in us we can't miss!

I look forward to standing with you and your team as we become that All America City

once again.

The Remsen Street Project- by Capital Companies NY. Number 122 & 130 Remsen

Street on the west side and 95, 103, 109 & 113 Remsen Street on the east side are all

under contract with one of the Capital Regions most successful young developers.

Thirteen (13) months ago, Cohoes, New York wasn't even a dot on the radar of Capital

Companies - nevermind Remsen Street. But after spending an afternoon with us and

listening to our vision of how Capital Companies could be part of the transformation of



our downtown, owner of Capital Companies Daniel Oh agreed. Following that

agreement, Oh has since invested well over a million dollars to purchase all of these

properties and will spend millions more in renovations. Furthermore, Danny is looking for

more investment opportunities throughout our community that he will turn into top notch

housing and business opportunities. Danny, it is awesome to have you as one of our

partners. Your commitment to the City of Cohoes in just a few short months is incredible.

Thank you for trusting in us, and thank you for taking such a huge leap of faith on a

street called Remsen.

Mosaic Village – Scott Townsend from 3t Architects and members from the Vecino

Group take our slogan on Cohoes Proud to a whole new level. The Mosaic Village is an

innovative, supportive and integrated model of housing that offers independent living for

adults with autism spectrum disorder. This is the first project of its kind to ever be

announced in the entire United States and with hopes of funding on the State level will

someday soon be a reality.

“Rock The Block” concert series- As with everything else, I want our downtown concerts

to be the biggest and the best. I want our downtown to be the talk of the capital region. A

Thursday night destination for people to enjoy and showcase our Downtown. Well, if you

were one of the over 12,000 individuals who visited Canal Square this past summer, you

know we ROCK THE BLOCK and it's only getting better. Soon, we will release our 2017

line up. If you like great music, I suggest you get yourself some dancing shoes and come

on down!

The Facility Dude- Last year I shared with you that for the first time in the City's history

our residents would have the ability to go to the City website and fill out their personal

work order. Requesting things like pothole repair, streetlight replacement, and garbage

pickup. I'm proud to say, the employees of the DPW answered over 700 citizens

requests for assistance and fixed their problems with 48 hours of their request. Also, the

program allowed us to track all of the work we do as a city, and by having a better

tracking system from a-z, we completed over 4800 work orders and saved $75,000 in do

it. Great Job DPW employees, especially Comissioner Radliff.

Safe Streets Initiative + 2nd Shift of Detectives = a crime drop rate of 40% in our

downtown and 33% citywide. New Assistant Chief Tom Ross, Captain Todd Pucci and

Chief Heslin, you have made our city one of the safest in the Capital Region. You and all

of your officers should be very proud! I know we are proud of you.

The Cohoes Fire Department as always is the first call people make in time of need; this

year was not different, over 3300 calls for assistant in 2016 and I'm proud to say we

have the best fire department in the country. You may see a new gold color firetruck,

with Cohoes Tiger logo on it around town. It's just another way of showing pride for our

community.

Citywide improvements of many aspects occurred in 2016. From new modern blue and

white street signs that are easier to read and see, paving of a dozen major roadways to



new sidewalks along City Hall, I need to take this opportunity to thank Director of

Operations Ralph Signoracci for all his hardwork and dedication to both visually enhance

and priortize many safety aspects throughout our City.

Recreation Department 2016- we had the opportunity to partner with my good friend

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. Through this partnership, we were able to bring

to the City of Cohoes for the first time real AAU sports. We had over 100 kids partake in

our weekly Karate program; we may have the toughest kids in America. We offered

basketball, soccer, and tennis clinics. We had a full slate of summer programs for our

community. Not just for kids, but adults alike. We hosted the park to park golf game and

this coming weekend, a winter carnival. Even our beloved dog community has a Howl-o-

ween party. Overall 2016 was a great year for family recreation, and 2017 will only be

better. Thank you to Dan Hytko. You are one dedicated man and your comment to this

community is second to none.

Project Clean Streets –There is nothing more important than the appearance of your

community, it is the first thing people notice when entering our city. Will they see

garbage and broken windows, or will they see a gateway that beams with pride? I don’t

have to tell you what our choice was. New legislation passed by our Common Council to

change the code requiring stricter fines on absentee landlords and educational classes

for others was the first step to clean up our streets Melissa Cherubino and all the code

officers and staff, we are a cleaner city today than ever before because of your hard

work and dedication.

Quite Zone- Finally, after many years of hard work the quiet zone is now in place and

now every resident will have to invest in alarm clocks. The horns that once blasted

throughout the community have been silenced. This improvement is especially benefecial

to both residents and developers who would shy away from doing business in our city

due to the loud train horns. A special thank you to our former Mayor and my Uncle,

George Primeau who jumpstarted this project.

Cayuga Plaza Towers- Anchoring our northern entrance to downtown is our 200 unit

senior housing complex. The building has just sold to a downstate developer and a 20

million dollar renovation, and expansion will begin next year. Preservation Development

Partners has seen our community burst with economic development opportunities and

knew it was best to also get onboard the Cohoes Proud bandwagon.

LDC and IDA policies and by-laws have been updated and are now in compliance with

the Authority Budget Office and Public Authority rules and regulations.

The LDC and IDA have partnered to acquire a line of credit to allow us to strategically

acquire properties integral to our cities vision before they go on the market.



As you can see, we have been very busy over the past 12 months rebuilding our community,

and believe me; we are just getting started! Most communities would be thrilled to have just one

of the many great projects we have underway. But, for me, I will never be satisfied. We will work

day and night until we receive that All America City status. Then and only then will I kick back,

have a cigar and a glass of wine. Just for one day! And then back to work!

The success of our City is not squarely on my shoulders or that of the City Council. Indeed it

rests in the hands of our hard working dedicated City employees.They are the ones I credit with

the success of our community. They are the ones that make us Cohoes Proud. They are the

ones who will lead us to an All America City. On behalf of all the citizens on Cohoes, thank you

for what you do every day to make us a better community.

Here we are in 2017, just a few months into the new year. The question is how can we compete

with last year? How can we do better than 2016? Is it even possible? Well, let me tell why we

will be better. It all starts with Michael Jacobson (MJ), the Director of Economic Development

and his staff. (Debbie Jacques, Melissa Cherubino who is our Director of Building Planning and

Grant Writing and Garry Nathan our City Engineer) . MJ is the mastermind behind every one of

the projects that I share with you tonight…

I guess my greatest accomplishment as Mayor was convincing MJ to come and be my partner.

1. Grants 450,000 new complete streets from Cayuga St to corner of Ontario and Remsen

Street. New sidewalks, roads, streetscapes, bike lanes will be installed so people, bikes,

cars, and buses can live in perfect harmony.

2. We also received funding to improve our historic visitors center to include a working canal

lock model and river with other interactive kiosks to celebrate and educate our rich canal

history.

3. We also just receive word that the City received $850,000 from Bridge NY for repair to

the culvert on Columbia Street.

Now if that was not enough for the first six weeks of 2017, let me share with you two major

developments that are being announced for the first time here at the State of the City. A real

game changer, one in the heart of Remsen Street and one that sits at the gateway into our

downtown.

1. Number 12 White Street (Corner of Remsen and White)-currently a vacant lot that was

reclaimed by the Cohoes Local Development Corporation with hopes of future

development. This lot was once the home of the Cohoes Movie Theater where sadly it

has been vacant for many years and one of our community eyesores. However today, it

will rise again and be know as Remsen Place. A beautiful four story mixed use building

with 20 rental units and 9,000 square feet of commercial space. A welcome addition to

our community and a staple to our plan to repopulate our downtown as we continue to

reinvest in Cohoes. Thank you to Dan Odabashian and Eric Moses of Remsen Place

Apartments and partners Paul Halvax and Scott Townsend.



2. 100 Mohawk Street- A gateway corner to our downtown that once housed HSBC Bank

will once again see new life after years of deterioration. I can't tell you how excited I am

to announce for the first time tonight that Pioneer Bank will become part of the Cohoes

family. Pioneer Bank is not just another bank, they are truly part of the community. Their

reputation as the premier community bank is not in words alone but their actions. Thank

you Thomas Amell, Frank Sarratori and David Farstad that you for believe in us, and

seeing that we are a community on the rise and well on our way to being an All America

City once again.

3. And finally, I have saved the sweet new addition of our community to the end….. and if

you can say this three times fast, you will win a treat!!! Cake Street Sweets will be our

newest addition to Remsen Street. A new specialty bakery that will be housed at the

former Harmony Market Place. Congrats to Kayla Renfroe and welcome to Cohoes. We

are proud to have the opportunity to sample Cake Street Sweets delicious treats tonight

as they were gracious enough to provide the refreshments.





Appendices

JOHN T. McDONALD III

Assemblymember 108th District

THE ASSEMBLY

STATE OF NEW YORK

ALBANY

CHAIR Subcommittee

on Effective Treatment

COMMITTEES

Aging

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Cities

Higher Education Real

Property Taxation Ways

and Means

June 6, 2017

As the Assemblymember for the 108th

Assembly District, former Mayor of the City of Cohoes, business owner in

the downtown core and a lifelong resident of Cohoes, I strongly support Cohoes’ Downtown Revitalization

Initiative (DRI) application as I believe now is the time for the DRI investment in Cohoes.

Cohoes, by virtue of its compact downtown and the ongoing efforts of its community leaders, espouses the same

values and goals as those outlined in the Regional Economic Development Council’s Regional Guidance. Consider

the following list of Cohoes’ attributes that make its downtown core ideal for the DRI award:

1. A well-defined, sizable downtown core with ample opportunity for growth.

2. Attractive, historic mixed-use buildings and necessary services in a walkable downtown that serves a

diverse population.

3. Continued growth as Cohoes ranked second amongst growing cities in NYS Capital Region with a 2.3%

population increase. This follows the first increase in the population of the city at the 2010 census and the

first increase since 1930.

4. Public support that rallies around downtown investment as evidenced during public hearings,

neighborhood meetings, charrettes and social media commentary.

5. Ongoing investment in the downtown confirmed by the long list of public projects, private investment

and grants administered over the past ten years.

6. High quality of life principles reflected in the recently updated Comprehensive Plan, upcoming zoning

code amendment and Complete Streets legislation.

7. The readiness to implement projects proven by investment in preliminary site designs, a plethora of

studies, site control of key properties by willing partners, secured funding, and developer and investors’

commitments.

I firmly believe the time is now for the City as the leadership in the community is serious about economic

development and are adhering closely to past and current plans for economic development that reflect the will of

the community, hence no opposition. The City of Cohoes Economic Development team continues to work with the

Albany County Land Bank, Cohoes LDC, Cohoes IDA, Choose Cohoes business group and private investors to

ensure an additional $50 million in private investment improvements to the downtown. As one can determine, the

City of Cohoes has all the tools at it’s disposable to implement development.

The city still struggles with household income, in spite of the fact that since 2000 the city has seen significant

residential growth by over 2000 housing units, as evidenced by its increase in population. Still household income

continues to lag behind the region due to low income census tracts that have not garnered the attention for prime

redevelopment. Many of these properties lie within districts that are eligible for historic tax credits among many other

programs and therefore will be synergistic with the DRI Funds to provide a strong return on the state’s investment.



For the above mentioned reasons and beyond, I am very supportive of this year’s application and encourage the

review committee to take a close hard look at this application and the City of Cohoes. You will not be

disappointed.

Sincerely,

Member of Assembly

John T. McDonald III



June 1, 2017

Dr. James Barba

Dr. James Stellar

Capital Region REDC Co-Chairs

433 River Street – Suite 1003

Troy, NY 12180

Dear Dr. Barba and Dr. Stellar:

In Albany County, we are lucky to have a strong municipality with the historical charm of Cohoes as one

of northern-most municipalities. The Spindle City is a great example of how a river community that

bustled with activity decades prior, can reinvent itself as the industries that drive the economic success

of our region change today.

Take a look at downtown Cohoes and you will see a flurry of activity from new residential, to

storefronts, to regionally respected businesses. Working directly with our Albany County Land Bank has

ensured private investment as sites are put back on the tax rolls, while serving as home for new small

businesses.

I applaud the renewed focus on revitalizing downtown Cohoes, specifically Remsen Street. With this

renewed excitement, I believe the City of Cohoes is the ideal candidate for the Downtown Revitalization

Initiative, and I am proud to support their application.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. McCoy

Albany County Executive


2017 Cho


ose Cohoes 109















June 9, 2017

To whom it may concern,


10 Cayuga Plaza

Cohoes, NY 12047

518-235-2420

www.cohoesseniorcenter.org

The Senior Center and Senior Services Association support the City of Cohoes Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) application. Cohoes Senior Center serves a

group of seniors who live predominantly in neighboring senior housing in McDonald

Tower, Cayuga Plaza and Ogden Mills. As a community-based organization located

in the downtown corridor, the population served by the Senior Center will benefit

greatly from the transformational downtown projects.

Many of the seniors suffer from mobility impairments, but need a place to congregate

during the day. Canal Square Park and the Music Hall, located one block south of the

Senior Center, fulfill that need. The City will reconstruct access to the Park as Remsen

Street receives a Complete Street upgrade.

Seniors also use the necessary services clustered in the downtown. Residents can

access government services such as City Hall and the Post Office, pharmacies,

restaurants, hair salons, convenience stores and doctor/dentist offices within three

blocks of the Senior Center. Within a mile south, residents benefit from gift shops, a

bakery, professional offices, clothing stores, nail salons and banks.

The downtown revitalization projects contemplated by the City will greatly enhance

quality of life for seniors and all Cohoes’ residents and visitors. Mingling the

populations at community events in the downtown core supports seniors better than

any segregated programming. Transformational projects under the DRI can create the

environment to cultivate collaborative community programming.

Respectfully yours,

M. Boeckmann

Monika Boeckmann

Executive Director


http://www.cohoesseniorcenter.org/

http://www.cohoesseniorcenter.org/



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June 9, 2017 f or art de sign + cul ture

re : letter of suppor t

To Whom It May Concern,

119 remsen stree t

co ho e s , new york 1 2 0 4 7

telephone 518 229

f o2r

17a3rt de sign + culture

www.thefoundrysite.com

I support the City of Cohoes application for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative on behalf of “Choose Cohoes,” the Downtown Business Advisory group, and The Foundry for Art Design + Culture.

Why? Cohoes’ new Mayor and his administration both bring a renewed commitment and energy to our downtown core. As a result the timing has never been better to put this award to visibly good use. Co- hoes business leaders’ sense of hope has never been higher as we are beginning to see years of disinvest- ment turn around.

The evidence? Recent announcements and significant interest from developers and new businesses taking a second look at Cohoes and what it has to offer. Rehabilitation of the Cohoes Hotel. Expansion of the Cohoes Music Hall. New construction slated for the Mosaic Village mixed-use development. Cohoes downtown features many more opportunities for (re-)development. Part of the newly updated comprehensive plan and zoning code updates includes a reduction in downtown parking and an increase on alternative transportation. Electric vehicle charging stations, bike lanes and a CDTA BRT line bus stop will encourage the walkable downtown originally constructed in this section of Cohoes over 100 years ago.

What do stakeholders think? The spirit of our residents and investors is high as evidenced by their kind words of support both in person and by way of social media. City officials held business and developer’s roundtable discussions as well as public meetings with residents reflect that support. What we hear? Cohoes residents and developers support downtown redevelopment. Residents and developers know that attracting visitors downtown lifts the City. In fact, residents and developers feel City Officials heard and addressed their concerns.

To that end the City hired a consultant to develop a new comprehensive plan reflecting stakeholders’ suggestions. Proposed zoning Code updates will enforce the ideas generated through public meetings. Changes proposed create neighborhood scale mixed-use and increase density in the downtown while reducing parking reliance.

At the same time the City invested in infrastructure improvements. The City repaved several downtown streets, creating a complete streetscape that welcomes the public. The Mayor implemented the Quiet Zone to stop the train whistle in the middle of the night. Cohoes thinks of the unseen quality of life is- sues: water tank upgrades and culvert replacements.

The ten million dollar DRI award would leverage tens of millions more in private and public dollars. As more projects take place more developers take note. So to award Cohoes the DRI would be to truly make a visible difference in our goal to be the downtown of choice in the capital district.

Sincerely,

Alana Sparrow

Founder + Creative Director

a new york state minority women-owned business


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.thefoundrysite.com/




June 9, 2017

To whom it may concern;

I submit this statement on behalf of Cohoes Music Hall in support of the City’s Downtown Revitalization

Initiative (DRI) application.

In the fall of 2016, City officials formed a partnership with the Palace Performing Arts Center to take the Cohoes

Music Hall to a new level. Under Palace leadership, the Music Hall’s event schedule has already seen significant

growth and attendance has soared, with standing-room-only events becoming more frequent. Diverse program

offerings range from classic movies to concerts, musicals, plays, family shows and comedians.

Collaboration between the City and the Music Hall continues with plans for streetscape improvements and the

redevelopment of both the Canal Square Park and the first floor of the Music Hall. Streetscape improvements that

will be underway in 2017 will improve the curb appeal of the Music Hall as well as the guest experience. The City

will convert the Music Hall’s first floor into a restaurant capable of servicing the general public as well as

attendees of events. Canal Square Park renovations will create a beautiful outdoor community space that will

accommodate plays, concerts and other events. The synergy created by complementary projects such as the

restaurant and park are invaluable to a venue like the Music Hall.

Cohoes’ resurgence is due in large part to the administration’s recent strategic decisions and willingness to

invest in the City. These decisions reflect the commitment of City officials to listen to community leaders and

stakeholders, and address their concerns responsively and responsibly.

As management of the Music Hall, we have confidence that Cohoes officials will continue to foster opportunities

for mutually beneficial projects. It is our hope that the DRI will become a part of that momentum.

Sincerely,

Holly Brown

Executive Director Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc.

The Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc. Administrative Offices: 518-465-3335 dba The Palace Theatre Box Office: 518-465-4663 19 Clinton Avenue Fax: 518-427-0151 Albany, NY 12207 www.palacealbany.org


http://www.palacealbany.org/








June 7, 2017

To Whom it May Concern:

Re: Letter of Support for the City of Cohoes

I am writing to communicate my strong support for the City of Cohoes’ application for the Downtown

Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant for New York state funding assistance. With this generous $10 million

grant, Cohoes intends to develop plans for and implement transformational projects to catalyze future

investment in Cohoes. The DRI, which Governor Cuomo introduced in 2016, invests $100 million in ten

downtown communities to ‘unlock dormant potential in ways that create and propose the resurgence of

urban areas throughout the state’. Cohoes is already on a path to do just that, and this grant would

provide tremendous opportunity to continue its revitalization.

Over this past year, 3t has worked closely with the City of Cohoes and various team members to develop a

project that will be the first in the state. A housing development offering units catering to those on the

Autism Spectrum and it is now on track to be built in 2018 in downtown Cohoes; along with market rate

apartments, supportive services, and on-site daycare. There are several reasons that this site, and Cohoes

specifically, was chosen for this transformative project:

• Cohoes, once a manufacturing hub of textiles, cotton and water power, has seen a similar decline as

other capital region cities. Rich in history, beautiful buildings, and a real sense of community,

Cohoes has seen similar cities’ (Glens Falls, Troy, etc) experiencing successful resurgences that

have instilled a sense of hope and great potential that Cohoes can do the same.

• Our firm had been located in Albany for several years before moving to downtown Troy. We see

through our projects and everyday business that Cohoes is up and coming and the next City in the

Capital Region to do big things. Developers appear to be flocking to the City; like 3t when they

see the city they might feel, see, and think the same and with that, the City of Cohoes is welcoming

them and supporting them.

I strongly believe that this grant will result in immediate and long term revitalization and economic benefits

that will span beyond the community and the City of Cohoes. Your close and careful consideration to

awarding the City of Cohoes with this year’s DRI is genuinely appreciated and is much deserved.

Sincerely,

Scott Townsend

Partner, 3tarchitects





Developers Comments

Richbell Capital

Capital District Properties

8 Paddocks Circle

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Office: 518.786.7100

Mobile: 518.365.9629

William M. Hoblock, Esq. Executive Vice President

Melissa, as an active real estate development company, we chose the City of Cohoes for a large scale residential community due in large part to its pro-business attitude. City officials took a proactive role during the entitlement and development process that made a generally uncertain process much more certain. I commend the City of Cohoes for being a municipality that is truly open for business, welcoming of good, responsible development and leading the way for economic growth in the Capital Region.

Bill Lexington Hills

Uri Kaufman Harmony Mills

We chose to invest in Cohoes because of the incredible history surrounding us in every structure, and because of the enormous potential it had as a successful bedroom community 15 minutes from Albany.

We were also impressed with the people, and with the government officials who knew what it takes to get things done. It is no secret that we had projects in other cities that never got built. That's the difference between cities with officials that wait for things to happen by themselves, and cities with officials that work with you to make things happen.



Larry Regan Regan Development Lion Heart Apartments

The city of Cohoes provided a welcoming environment that actually sought out our workforce housing development to service the needs of the local community and the region. All of the departments and the leadership of the city work closely with us as developers to come up with a plan and design that benefited not only the community but our residents as well. The city is a great place to do business. We strongly support the city and its efforts to grow and continue to be a regional example of how public and private interest can come together to benefit all.

Paul Bonacquisti

President

98 Niver Street – Suite 200 ▪ Cohoes ▪ New York ▪ 12047

(518) 238-2115 Office ▪ (518) 238-2117 Fax

Cohoes is rich in history, very centrally located, and has many old and historically significant buildings that are just waiting for rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. It also has Remsen Street, with plenty of opportunities for people to live, work and play. In my opinion, potentially the best “Main Street” in the capital district.

Todd Drake Empire Real Estate Management, LLC Real Estate Marketing & Property Management 720 4th Street Watervliet, NY 12189 518.369.7247 office 518.320.8584 fax www.empirerealestatemgt.com

When I speak with local real estate professionals, property owners/ managers, developers and operators, the common theme we all share is that we want to work with municipalities whose building and planning departments enthusiastically work cooperatively with us for the benefit of all parties, including tenants or "end users". Cohoes sets a shining example of such cooperative spirit. I find that everyone we work with, from building and codes to the Assessor's office provides us with helpful insight, guidance and service. This contrasts starkly with many other local cities and towns, often cited during those conversations. Recently I spoke of this with Ralph Signoracci, and I'll repeat my sentiments here: I find it refreshing to work with a municipality that offers responsiveness and cooperation, and that is earnest about getting things done.


http://www.empirerealestatemgt.com/


Todd Curley

Prime Companies chose the City of Cohoes in large part for its multifamily-based residential development and commercial real estate investment potential. With a location proximate to major cities and highways, a landscape filled with beautiful river views and lush parks, and historic buildings ready to house the next great startup - all managed by local Government officials who support companies with a vision for the future - Cohoes has it all.

Tom Amell President/Chief Executive Officer 652 Albany-Shaker Rd., Albany, NY 12211 T: 518.730.3051 F: 518.730.3051

Pioneer Bank made the decision to acquire a piece of property in Cohoes to establish a new branch location solely based on the economic momentum that is clearly building in that community. We firmly believe that Cohoes is a city on the rise once again and Pioneer Bank wants to be part of that resurgence.

Daniel C. Oh Capital Companies NY

I chose to invest in Cohoes for two reasons. First, there's so much potential in the beautiful historic buildings in downtown Cohoes. Second, the people; both residents and the city who have been phenomenal to work with and are truly working hard to improve this beautiful City. Their passion is contagious and it seems like momentum is building with each day - it’s so great to see. As far as the city has come, it still has a long way to go, so if awarded this grant I'm confident the city will put it to great use.

Francine Kellman Preservation Development Partners

Preservation Development Partners is proud to be a part of the revitalization of Cohoes.By helping seniors live better and more comfortable lives we have played a small part in maintaining the history and institutional knowledge of the City.

Nathan Marks Hudson Development & Property Management

I chose to invest in the City of Cohoes for many reasons, amongst them being a centralized location, a pro business environment, value in restoring two architecturally historic buildings, and opportunity to be involved in the revitalization of a city with a great past and a promising future.





Appendices 2017 Choose Cohoes 131






















Pioneer Bank moving Watervliet branch, investing in Cohoes development Page 1 of 2

The Record (http://www.troyrecord.com)

Pioneer Bank moving Watervliet branch, investing in Cohoes development

Pioneer Bank moving Watervliet location, getting new space in Cohoes

By Nicholas Buonanno, [email protected] , @NickBuonanno on Twitter

Friday, March 31, 2017

COHOES, N.Y. >> Officials from Pioneer Bank recently announced plans for new locations in the Spindle City and

also in the city of Watervliet.

Groundbreaking for the Watervliet project, which will

replace Pioneer’s current branch on Second Avenue, is planned for April. Once completed, the bank will operate a

2,500-square-foot banking center in the building alongside

a 3,000-square-foot Stewart’s. The banking center will become a tenant of Stewart’s.

Stewart’s Shops purchased the property to be developed

from Pioneer, and the existing bank branch will remain open during construction, with the expected

completion of the project to be finished sometime this summer.

“I’m glad they’re staying and reinvesting to make their business more efficient,” said Watervliet Mayor Michael Manning.

Pioneer Bank also announced it will be adding a new location in the city of Cohoes at 100 Mohawk

Street, which once housed First Niagara Bank but has been deteriorating over the past several years that it has been vacant.

During his State of the City speech in February, Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse made the original

announcement about Pioneer Bank coming to the community and he was thrilled to have them invest

in the city.

“Pioneer Bank is not just another bank; they are truly part of the community,” said Morse during his

second annual State of the City address. “Their reputation as the premier community bank is not in words alone but their actions.”

Pioneer Bank officials said they wanted to invest in these cities because they have good market shares

in them.

“Watervliet, Cohoes, and Green Island, that entire market and that entire corridor is really a cornerstone

of what Pioneer Bank has been about for many, many years,” said Pioneer Bank President and CEO Tom Amell. “We really see that as a great opportunity because we currently have a large

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Pioneer Bank moving Watervliet branch, investing in Cohoes development Page 2 of 2

market share in that area and we also see a resurgence and growth in that area, specifically in Cohoes,

so we made the decision that we wanted to invest in that market.”

Amell said the bank partnered with the city of Cohoes to purchase that old First Niagara Bank vacant

property. He said part of the arrangement after the bank purchased the property was that it would

invest in remodeling the interior, and part of the agreement was that the Common Council would

contribute $50,000 towards the façade of the building. Amell said the remodeling of the new Cohoes

location should also be ready sometime this summer.

On Tuesday night, the Cohoes Common Council voted with a 5-1 decision to allow $125,000 to be

transferred into a designated economic development fund account, with $50,000 expected to be going

towards the Pioneer Bank project.

“Simply, what we did last year was we set up an economic development designated fund in order to

use that money for economic development as the director sees,” explained Morse. “When we took

over we had some funding set aside for another purpose that we no longer needed it for, so we

renamed that fund.”

The one vote against transferring funds into the economic development fund was Councilman Randy

Koniowka from the 6th Ward in Cohoes.

“I think obviously Pioneer Bank is certainly a great local bank and I’m very pleased to say that they

are coming to Cohoes. However, I just have a serious philosophical disagreement with my colleagues

as to public funds, taxpayers’ dollars, being given to a bank,” explained Koniowka after Tuesday

night’s meeting.

With these two new locations and investments, Amell said bank officials decided that they will soon

close the Green Island Pioneer Bank branch on George Street.

“We took a close look at our customer base in Green Island and we have the entire market share there,

but what we found was most of our transactions were occurring with customers that lived equally as

close or closer to Cohoes or Watervliet or downtown Troy,” said Amell. “With closing this facility we

will still be able to accommodate our customers since they could get to three of our other facilities

equally as fast.”

Last year, Pioneer Bank sold two adjacent buildings that they owned on 2nd Street in downtown Troy,

so that they could move its headquarters from Troy to a brand new location in Colonie. The bank

branch on 2nd Street is still open at the same location though.

The new headquarters and banking center is located at the corner of Albany-Shaker Road and Wolf

Road in Colonie.

URL: http://www.troyrecord.com/business/20170331/pioneer-bank-moving-watervliet-branch-investing-in-cohoes-development

© 2017 The Record (http://www.troyrecord.com)

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Historic renovation, addition planned for Hotel Cohoes Page 1 of 2


Historic renovation, addition planned for Hotel Cohoes


Sunday, May 15, 2016

COHOES >> Within the next few weeks, the old Hotel Cohoes building will begin its transformation into an apartment building.

At the next planning board meeting on June 13, developer Paul Bonacquisti, president of 100N5, and his partners, Sean Curtin and John Bonacquisti, will seek approval for their proposed Hotel Cohoes Project.

“The Hotel Cohoes project is one we feel will significantly kickstart the regeneration of an amazing downtown main street, Remsen Street,” said Bonacquisti.

Once the project moves forward, the old hotel at 143 Remsen St. will be renovated in two phases. Phase one is scheduled to begin this fall and include an historic renovation of the existing building. During this phase, the building will be divided up into six apartments.

“We are hoping to save as many of the building’s exterior and interior features as possible,” said Bonacquisti.

Some work will be done outside the building, as well. The existing courtyard will be maintained and turned into a community space for building residents. The outdoor area will also include enough space for a garden, patio and cooking areas.

Soon after the first phase is completed, phase two will begin, including construction of an addition to the existing building. That addition will include as many as 20 additional apartments, as well as commercial space on the ground floor of the White Street side of the property. All of the units will include high-end features, such as hardwood floors, washer and dryer, granite counters, off-street parking, community and fitness rooms, and a rooftop patio.

The estimated budget for the project is around $2,750,000, according to the developers, and the estimated time frame for the renovation is about 10 to 12 months.

Michael Jacobson, the city’s director of economic and community development, believes the project will be good for a variety of reasons.

“First and foremost, the Hotel Cohoes, which is really in the crosshairs of our downtown area, has had kind of a tainted reputation for many years for it being a boarding house,” said Jacobson. “It kind of

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Historic renovation, addition planned for Hotel Cohoes Page 2 of 2

has been an eyesore for our city and that has been a big disappointment not only to this current

administration, but also past administrations.”

He went on to add how important it is for the city to have developers like the Bonacquisti’s and

Curtin who are willing to work so well with the city.

“I think private investors and organizations like 100N5, LLC, are actually buying into [Mayor Shawn

Morse’s] mantra of ‘Let’s be easy to do busy with and create a good working environment for

ourselves and for our developers,’” said Jacobson.

The project is viewed as part of the city’s larger mission of revitalizing the downtown area. Along

with the recent announcement of Albany’s Palace Theater coming in to manage the historic Cohoes

Music Hall, city officials see Remsen Street bouncing back.

“Not only is a wonderful historic landmark going to be restored to all of its architectural beauty, it’s

also going to be expanded,” said Jacobson. “Putting 20 something apartment units downtown is really

exciting for the city.”

Nicholas Buonanno can be reached at 290-3941.

URL: http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20160515/historic-renovation-addition-planned-for-hotel-cohoes




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Music Hall sees increased attendance, prepares for new comedy series Page 1 of 2


Music Hall sees increased attendance, prepares for new comedy series


Thursday, March 2, 2017

resurrect it.”

COHOES , N.Y. >> Since the Palace Performing Arts

Center took over the historic Cohoes Music Hall last year,

the fourth oldest active music hall in the country has since

seen an increased number of guests visiting the hall for

many different kinds of performances. “Just a short time ago, this stage was quite bare and the

seats were very empty and the lights were pretty dim,” said

Mayor Shawn Morse during an announcement at the Music

Hall Thursday afternoon. “The city of Cohoes recognized

that this music hall was one of the most important parts of

the community and we needed to figure out how to

In the first six months since the Palace took over management of the Music Hall, Morse indicated

that, since that time, over 7,000 patrons have enjoyed a show at the revitalized hall. The Palace

management team has exceeded their goal of hosting over 60 live events in the Hall in this first year

of management.

“The Palace Theatre has certainly exceeded our expectations and has become our economic engine

that drives success to our downtown,” said Morse.

During the news conference, the Palace management team also announced new information about

upcoming programming initiatives at the Hall. Palace Executive Director Holly Brown announced a

new partnership with Comedy Works.

Comedy Works is owned by Tommy Nicchi, and for years they have been bringing local, regional and

national names in comedy to the Capital Region. Brown noted that Comedy Works will bring a

regular series of comedians to a “Comedy Works at the Cohoes Music Hall” series.

Nicchi announced that the comedy series will kick off with three events: Nick DiPaolo on March 25,

Hacksaw Jim Duggan on April 22 and Gilbert Gottfried on May 13. Palace officials hope to see at

least one live comedy event at the Cohoes Music Hall on average each month.

“We have been working hard to bring in events to this gorgeous space,” said Brown. “I am very excited

to discuss this announcement because I know Tommy will be bringing in great comedians into the

music hall.”





Music Hall sees increased attendance, prepares for new comedy series Page 2 of 2

“The Comedy Works is completely blown away that we are able to make this happen,” added Nicchi.

“When I found out that this was a possibility, I jumped on. We have the ability to bring first class

talent into this room right here.”

In addition to the new comedy initiative, Brown also announced the Palace team’s excitement at

bringing musical theatre back to the Cohoes Music Hall through an on-going partnership with Park

Playhouse.

Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith said that the first of these musical theatre

presentations will kick off this weekend with the classic rock musical “Godspell,” to be performed by

students in the Park Playhouse II training program, and later next month with the Sondheim classic”

Into the Woods”, also to be performed by Playhouse students.

“The Cohoes Music Hall provides us with a venue in which to significantly grow our programming

outside of the summer season,” Smith said, “and especially allows us to engage our students with

performance opportunities year-round.”

Smith said that Park Playhouse plans to bring four musical presentations to the Music Hall next

season, two of which will be performed by students, while two will be performed by professional

casts. Production titles and dates will be announced later in the spring, ahead of the Playhouse

summer season.

Tickets for all these upcoming shows are now on sale at the Cohoes Music Hall Box Office, the

Palace Theatre Box office, or by calling 465-4663.

URL: http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20170302/music-hall-sees-increased-attendance-prepares-for-new-comedy-series




http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20170302/music-hall-sees-increased-attendance-prepares-for-new-comedy-series


The Saratogian Blogs: In The Biz: New luxury apartments contribute to Cohoes revitalization

New luxury apartments contribute to Cohoes

revitalization

$2.7 million dollar investment turns historic building into new style of living

Warehouse 71 Ribbon Cutting and Open House

Thursday, August 20th at 4:00pm

71 Canvass Street Cohoes, NY 12047

On Thursday August 20th at 4:00pm, Bonacquisti Brothers Construction and Paragon Residential

Management will host a community event to celebrate the revitalization taking place in the city of

Cohoes with the introduction of the Warehouse 71 apartments. The event will feature a ribbon

cutting

and open house providing the community a look into this newly renovated historical building of

luxury apartments.

Warehouse 71, a $2.7 million dollar investment, is an “Adaptive Reuse” project that renovated a

historical warehouse originally built in 1883. Adaptive Reuse is the process of reusing an old

building for a purpose other than what it was originally built or designed for. The Warehouse was

built by C.M. Blaisdell to serve the textile and knitting trade in the bustling city of post-Civil War

Cohoes. Close attention was paid to maintaining and preserving the original structure and interior

features of the Canvass Street Warehouse.

“Our goal was to be respectful of the original building and its Architectural features, while

transforming it in to a modern and unique facility.” – Paul Bonacquisti, Bonacquisti Brothers

Construction.

The luxurious apartments feature affordable pricing and high end finishes including granite

countertops, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, washers and dryers in every unit,

exposed brick and wood beams, high ceilings, and large “tombstone-style” windows. Each of the

22 apartments is unique from the rest giving this building character that can’t be found in most

modern day apartment communities.

“These new apartments are a great addition to our revitalization efforts in the City of Cohoes. This

community will help to bring more residents to the area and we thank Bonacquisti Brothers

Construction for making this investment in the City of Cohoes.” – City of Cohoes Mayor George

Primeau.

“Preserving and restoring historic buildings such as Warehouse 71 give the community character

while providing functionality at the same time. This building will serve as a historical marker in

Cohoes, NY for years to come.” – Julian Adams Bureau of Community Preservation Services –

NYS Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation.

The principal owners include Paul Bonacquisti, John Bonacquisti, and Sean Curtin. Bonacquisti

Brothers Construction has specialized in both residential and commercial construction since 1985

and has worked extensively on projects throughout New York State. Paragon Residential

Management has more than 20 years of experience having helped finance, develop, and/or

manage over 3,000 multifamily units.

For more information about Warehouse 71, please call 518-640-4080 or visit

www.warehouse71lofts.com

posted by Lauren Halligan at 11:51 AM

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http://www.warehouse71lofts.com/

http://www.warehouse71lofts.com/

http://inthebizcolumn.blogspot.com/2015/08/new-luxury-apartments-contribute-to.html

The announcement of the project is expected to happen at 11 a.m. Last year, Mayor Shawn Morse outlined the goals for improvements on the street in

response to three pedestrian fatalities on the major commuter route in 17 years.


http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/StateCohoesunveilingsafetyimprovementsfor11196221.php

State, Cohoes unveiling safety improvements for deadly street

IMAGE 1 OF 5

Brittany Knight, a Cohoes High School sophomore, was killed when she was hit by a car Thursday night,

June 16, 2016, on Interstate 787, the city school district announced Friday morning.

COHOES - A $15 million project is being put in place to improve safety on Route

787, a busy thoroughfare that has been the scene of fatal crashes involving

pedestrians, State transportation officials and city leaders will announce Monday.

WA N T T O G E T

N E WS

G ET BREA K I N G N EWS


http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State


Some work has already been done, including the installation of a 35-second walk

signal that halts traffic in all directions at Bridge Avenue and Route 787.

That's where 16-year-old Brittany Knight was killed by a vehicle as she tried to cross

last year.

Related Stories

Local roads and

intersections we like

to avoid

© 2017 Hearst Communications, Inc.

WA N T T O G E T

N E WS

G E T B R E A K I N G

N E W S




PROPERTY ADDRESS AMOUNT INVESTED # UNITS UNIT TYPE POPULATION STATUS

21 Oliver Street 21 Oliver Street $3,500,000 7 Market Rate C

31 Ontario Street 31 Ontario Street $2,300,000 40 Market Rate C

Community Builders Scattered Sites $17,000,000 66 Lower Income Workers Affordable C

Eagles Nest James St/ Krug Place $2,000,000 22 Market Rate C

Harmony Mills 100 North Mohawk St $33,000,000 250 Luxury C

Lion Heart William Street $20,000,000 76 Lower Income Workers C

Masten Avenue 160 Masten Avenue $2,000,000 9 Market Rate/ $200,000 range C

Northeast Health 421 Columbia Street $13,880,000 384 Hospital Grade Senior Housing C

Oneida Street 59-61 Canvass Street $900,000 5 Market Rate C

Warehouse 71 71 Canvass Street $1,700,000 14 Market Rate C

Waterside Dyke Avenue $3,650,000 132 Market Rate > 55 Yrs Housing C

Watersview Gansevoort Avenue $10,360,000 222 Market Rate C

Cayuga Plaza 8 Remsen Street $2,500,000 127 Lower Income Workers Low Income Senior HousingU

12 White Street 12 White Street $5,000,000 40 Market Rate Autistic/Senior U

188-194 Remsen St 188-194 Remsen St $2,100,000 7 Market Rate U

24 Amity 24 Amity $1,250,000 13 Market Rate U

Admirals Walk Delaware Avenue 76 Market Rate U

Captains Lookout 6 Delaware Avenue $8,000,000 144 Market Rate U

City Lofts 192 Saratoga Street $3,000,000 42 Market Rate U

Cohoes Hotel 134 Remsen Street $5,200,000 26 Market Rate U

Community Builders Scattered Sites $20,000,000 80 Lower Income Workers Mixed-Use U

Capital Companies NY 113 Remsen Street $200,000 5 Market Rate U



Capital Companies NY 103,109,122 Remsen St $800,000 14 Market Rate U

Delaware Ave/Prime 70 Delaware Avenue $20,000,000 unknown Market Rate U

Delaware Ave/Shelco 30 Delaware Avenue $12,500,000 40 Market Rate U

Hudson Square Continental Avenue $1,400,000 165 Market Rate U

Lexington Hills 89 St Agnes HWY $100,000,000 468 Luxury U

Mosaic Village 55 Sargent Street $22,000,000 72 Market Rate (25%) Adults with Autism U

Surprenant Way 9& 11 Surprenant Way $4,600,000 7 Market Rate U

TOTALS $319,335,000 2,567

C= Complete U+ Underway

NEW HOUSING INVENTORY

PROPERTY ADDRESS AMOUNT INVESTED DESCRIPTION STATUS

Burger King 60 Saratoga Street $5,060,000 Restaurant Reconstruction Complete

Cap Com Credit Union 219 Ontario Street $440,000 Commercial Bank Complete

Cumberland Farms 77 Delaware Avenue $13,000,000 Gas and Convenience Store Complete

Hudson River Credit Union 35 Niver Street $4,000,000 Commercial Bank Complete

Stewarts 480 Columbia Street $390,000 Gas and Convenience Store Complete

Pioneer Bank 100 Mohawk Street $560,000 Commercial Bank Current

TOTALS $23,450,000

PRIVATE INVESTMENT INVENTORY C.O.R.E. DISTRICT

PROPERTY ADDRESS AMOUNT INVESTED DESCRIPTION STATUS

City Hall 97 Mohawk Street $205,200 City Hall Roof Repair Past

Police Station 97 Mohawk Street $129,422 Police Station Upgrades Past

Scattered Sites 23 Harmony, 57 Reservoir, 75 Vliet, 45 Cayuga, 30 Lancaster Streets $114,000 Demo Group M Past

Scattered Sites 7 Richmond,12 White, 69 Vliet, 26 Congress, 86 Chestnut Streets, and 58 Continental, 110 Heartt Avenues $116,700 Demo Group O Past

33 and 48 Main Street 33 and 48 Main Street $31,449 Demo 33 and 48 Main Street Past

Cedar Street Cedar Street $26,690 Cedar Street Reconstruction Past

Main and White Streets Main Street and White Streets $209,814 Main St Porous Parking Lot Installation Past

TOTALS $833,275.00

Reservoir 3 $47,300 Reservoir 3 Tree Removal Past

Reservoir 3 $261,275 Reshaping Embankment at Reservoir Past

Clearview Court Clearview Court $20,900 Clearview Court Waterline Extension Past

Pump Station $28,700 Water Pump Station Roof Project Past

TOTALS $358,175.00

PUBLIC INVESTMENT INVENTORY -C.O.R.E DISTRICT

PUBLIC INVESTMENT INVENTORY - INTERNAL CATCHMENT AREA

PROJECT FUNDER/AGENCY YEAR AMOUNT STATUS

Comprehensive Plan Development NYSERDA CGC2 2014 51,500 C

Home Rehab Grants NYSDHCR 2008 $400,000 C



Sidewalk Improvement Project HCR CDBGPIPF 2016 $300,000 UC

Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration Arts CHPGI 2016 $62,500 UC

Cohoes Visitor Center Canals 2016 $62,000 UC

Middle Vliet Sewer Separation DEC WQIP NSAC 2015 $900,000 U

Combined Sewer Overflow Clean Water Project DEC EPGP 2014 $30,000 U

Remsen Street Revitalization Program CDBG 2005 $649,990

CDBG-Microenterprise 2004 $400,000

Technical Assistance Restore New York-Round 2 $544,900

Technical Assistance CDBG 2004 $19,000



Lancaster Street Sewer Improvement CDBG 2001 $374,000


TOTALS $4,646,390

STATE GRANTS THROUGH REDC

INVENTORY OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT

PROJECT FUNDER/AGENCY YEAR AMOUNT STATUS

Comprehensive Plan Development NYSERDA CGC2 2014 51,500 C




Sidewalk Improvement Project HCR CDBGPIPF 2016 $300,000 UC

Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration Arts CHPGI 2016 $62,500 UC

Cohoes Visitor Center Canals 2016 $62,000 UC

Middle Vliet Sewer Separation DEC WQIP NSAC 2015 $900,000 U

Combined Sewer Overflow Clean Water Project DEC EPGP 2014 $30,000 U

Remsen Street Revitalization Program CDBG 2005 $649,990

CDBG-Microenterprise 2004 $400,000

Technical Assistance Restore New York-Round 2 $544,900




Lancaster Street Sewer Improvement CDBG 2001 $374,000


TOTALS $4,646,390

Bike Rodeo Event and Wayfinding Signage CDTC 2017 $4,200 C

Traffic Signal at Delaware Avenue and Ontario St NYSDOT Tip Set-aside 2016 $300,000 C

Library Windows Rehab State Ed 2016 $96,091 C

City Hall Windows DASNY/Assembly 2015 $250,000 C

Veterans Park/Lansing Park Landscaping DASNY 2015 $150,000 C

Quiet Zone from RR Horn Downtown DOT/RR 2015 $520,000 C

Library Windows Rehab State Ed 2015 $54,517 C

Clinton's Ditch and Heritage Trail DOT 2014 $788,872 C

Library Boiler State Ed 2014 $54,000 C

Laserfiche for Clerk Recordkeeping SARA 2014 C

Black Bridge DOT 2013 $801,154 C

Waterfront Technical Report NYSDOS 2013 C

Senior Center Roof, Window and HVAC NYSERDA 2012 $120,000 C

Sewer Separation EFC 2012 $2,301,672 C

Music Hall Refinishing Interior DOS 2012 $110,000 C

VSI Water Improvements CDBG 2011 $615,000 C

Delaware Avenue South Trail Riverspark 2011 $155,759 C

Delaware Avenue North Trail DOT 2011 $255,591 C

Vliet Waterline Replacement CDBG 2010 $809,000 C

BOA Study 787 NYSDOS/DEC 2010 C

Bridge Aveenue Bridge Repairs NYSDOT/ARRA 2009 $7,000,000 C

Study to Merge Fire Department w/ Watervliet NYSDOS Local Efficiency 2009 $50,000 C

Recycling Vehicle Purchase NYSDEC 2008 $92,500 C

Music Hall A/C Compressor NYSERDA 2007 $111,000 C

Pump Station Improvements EFC 2007 $999,580 C

Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan (LWRP) DOS 2005 $79,000 C

Pump Station Alarm EFC WQI 2004 $80,000 C

Vacant Building Registry/Computers and Education LISC 2016 $100,000 U

One Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at VS Park Pond NYSDEC EVSE 2017 $10,000 UC

Two Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on Remsen St NYSDEC EVSE 2017 $25,000 UC

TOTALS $15,932,936

VSI Linkage Study CDTC $70,000 C

TOTALS $70,000

Albany County Rail Trail Development Project 2012 $500,000Albany/Rennselaer County Regional Combined

Sewer Overflow Governance & Implementation Program CDCPC 2013 $854,526

TOTALS $1,354,526

Two Electric Vehicles for Code Enforcement NYSDEC Betterment 2014 $50,000 C

Fire Equipment NYSDEC Betterment 2014 $100,000 C

Stone Arch and Sewer Repairs FEMA reimbursement 2011 $84,220 C

Water Filtration Improvements EFC Loan 2010 $65,000 C

Scattered Site Improvements NYPA Bond 2010 $1,000,000 C

New Firehouse on Ontario Street G.O. City Bond 2009 $1,000,000 C

TOTALS $2,299,220

ALL GRANTS TOTALS $24,303,072

STATE GRANTS THROUGH REDC

STATE GRANTS NOT THROUGH REDC

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING/NOT GRANTS

INVENTORY OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT

REGIONAL GRANTS

OTHER GRANTS

TOTALS COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES DRI AS % OF CITY WIDE

Total Employment 1,262 4,706 26.80%

Total Businesses 144 388 37.1%

Total Employees 1,262 4,706 26.8%

Average # of Employees / Business 8.8 12.1

Total Residential Population 2,581 17,158 15.0%

Employee/Residential Population Ratio 0.49:1 0.27:1

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES DRI AS % OF CITY WIDE

Manufacturing 210 504 41.7%

Public Administration 181 366 49.5%

Transportation & Warehousing 150 194 77.3%

Retail Trade 138 334 41.3%

Finance & Insurance 130 250 52.0%

Personal & Repair Services 113 278 40.6%

Accommodations & Food Services 92 192 47.9%

Health Care & Social Assistance 76 1,255 6.1%

Construction 33 120 27.5%

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation 33 260 12.7%

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services 29 91 31.9%

Educational Services 29 561 5.2%

Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 16 152 10.5%

All Other Industries 32 149 21.5%

Source: ESRI Business Analyst and InfoGroup Inc.

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE C.O.R.E DRI AND THE CITY OF COHOES

BUSINESS NAME INDUSTRY YEAR

Cake Street Sweets Bakery 2017

Law Office of Danielle R. Lange Professional services 2017

Babe’s Café Food services 2016

Breakfast Spot Food services 2015

Olde Mercantile Retail 2015

Spindles on Remsen Wine & Tapas Bar Food services 2014

Vince Kendrick Jewelers Retail 2013

Dennis Holzman Antiques Retail 2012

The Foundry for Art Design + Culture Gallery 2011

Wilson Stark & Basila CPA Professional services 2010

Bike Barn Cycling & Fitness Retail/service 2010

Spiral Design Studio Professional services 2009

RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS IN THE C.O.R.E. DRI

BUSINESS NAME INDUSTRY

Albany Medical Center Bakery

Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp. Professional services

Center For Disability Services Food services

Ellis Hospital Food services

General Electric Co. Retail

GlobalFoundries Food services

Hannaford Supermarkets Retail

Price Chopper Retail

St. Peter's Hospital Gallery

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Professional services

Source: NYS DOL Division of Research & Statistics analysis of infoUSA ARC employer

LARGEST PRIVATE-SECTOR EMPLOYERS IN THE CAPITAL REGION

TOTALS

Number Number

Total Businesses 2,746 6,776

Total Employees 44,911 114,606

Employment by Industry

Health Care & Social Assistance 11,255 18,515

Public Administration 5,690 19,000

Educational Services 4,313 8,689

Retail Trade 4,237 10,972

Manufacturing 3,522 7,241

Accommodations & Food Services 3,052 6,899

Personal & Repair Services 2,313 7,464

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services1,843 9,398

Finance & Insurance 1,296 5,434

Information 1,283 3,671

Construction 1,194 3,945

Transportation & Warehousing 1,156 2,663

Wholesale Trade 942 3,090

Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 924 2,568

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation 529 1,690

All Other Industries 1,362 3,367

SUMMARY OF REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT

10-MIN

DRIVE

15-Min

Drive

000000 Total All Industries 570,150 638,830 68,680 12.0%

000671 Total Self Employed and Unpaid Family Workers, All Jobs 33,510 35,440 1,930 5.8%

11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 3,090 3,520 430 13.9%111 Crop Production 890 870 -20 -2.2%112 Animal Production 1,830 2,310 480 26.2%113 Forestry and Logging 180 160 -20 -11.1%114 Fishing, Hunting and Trapping 20 20 0 0.0%115 Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry 170 160 -10 -5.9%

21 Mining 710 810 100 14.1%212 Mining (except Oil and Gas) 710 810 100 14.1%

22 Utilities 1,840 1,780 -60 -3.3%

23 Construction 20,340 24,190 3,850 18.9%236 Construction of Buildings 5,060 5,810 750 14.8%237 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 2,210 2,260 50 2.3%238 Specialty Trade Contractors 13,070 16,120 3,050 23.3%

31 Manufacturing 31,060 34,500 3,440 11.1%311 Food Manufacturing 1,970 2,060 90 4.6%312 Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing 580 600 20 3.4%313 Textile Mills 310 210 -100 -32.3%314 Textile Product Mills 160 120 -40 -25.0%315 Apparel Manufacturing 140 140 0 0.0%321 Wood Product Manufacturing 800 900 100 12.5%322 Paper Manufacturing 2,990 3,090 100 3.3%323 Printing and Related Support Activities 1,670 1,700 30 1.8%324 Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 190 150 -40 -21.1%325 Chemical Manufacturing 3,700 3,890 190 5.1%326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing 1,220 1,270 50 4.1%327 Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 1,880 1,920 40 2.1%331 Primary Metal Manufacturing 150 150 0 0.0%332 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 2,590 2,820 230 8.9%333 Machinery Manufacturing 4,580 4,590 10 0.2%334 Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing 2,920 5,570 2,650 90.8%335 Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing 330 340 10 3.0%336 Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 610 540 -70 -11.5%337 Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing 1,360 1,430 70 5.1%339 Miscellaneous Manufacturing 2,900 3,000 100 3.4%

42 Wholesale Trade 15,660 17,020 1,360 8.7%423 Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 8,610 9,560 950 11.0%424 Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 5,200 5,450 250 4.8%425 Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers 1,850 2,010 160 8.6%

44 Retail Trade 58,800 64,290 5,490 9.3%441 Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers 6,570 7,300 730 11.1%442 Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores 1,780 2,060 280 15.7%443 Electronics and Appliance Stores 1,840 2,070 230 12.5%444 Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers 5,800 6,440 640 11.0%445 Food and Beverage Stores 13,190 13,860 670 5.1%446 Health and Personal Care Stores 4,220 4,970 750 17.8%447 Gasoline Stations 3,350 3,540 190 5.7%448 Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores 4,790 5,100 310 6.5%451 Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores 2,130 2,210 80 3.8%452 General Merchandise Stores 10,630 12,390 1,760 16.6%453 Miscellaneous Store Retailers 3,050 2,980 -70 -2.3%454 Nonstore Retailers 1,450 1,370 -80 -5.5%

48 Transportation and Warehousing 12,810 14,560 1,750 13.7%481 Air Transportation 310 280 -30 -9.7%

4821 Rail Transportation 1,350 1,550 200 14.8%484 Truck Transportation 3,240 3,560 320 9.9%485 Transit and Ground Passenger Transportion 2,230 2,680 450 20.2%488 Support Activities for Transportation 760 820 60 7.9%492 Couriers and Messengers 1,730 1,760 30 1.7%493 Warehousing and Storage 3,020 3,680 660 21.9%

51 Information 9,830 9,850 20 0.2%511 Publishing Industries (except Internet) 2,440 2,000 -440 -18.0%512 Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries 650 710 60 9.2%515 Broadcasting (except Internet) 920 890 -30 -3.3%517 Telecommunications 3,190 2,920 -270 -8.5%518 Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services 1,440 1,400 -40 -2.8%519 Other Information Services 1,190 1,930 740 62.2%

52 Finance and Insurance 27,590 27,890 300 1.1%522 Credit Intermediation and Related Activities 6,000 5,820 -180 -3.0%523 Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 2,150 2,250 100 4.7%524 Insurance Carriers and Related Activities 13,560 13,400 -160 -1.2%525 Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles 530 500 -30 -5.7%531 Real Estate 3,880 4,310 430 11.1%532 Rental and Leasing Services 1,460 1,600 140 9.6%

1024 Professional and Business Services 59,320 72,400 13,080 22.0%541 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 32,120 40,100 7,980 24.8%551 Management of Companies and Enterprises 7,780 9,310 1,530 19.7%561 Administrative and Support Services 17,730 20,600 2,870 16.2%562 Waste Management and Remediation Service 1,690 2,390 700 41.4%

61 Educational Services 64,770 69,950 5,180 8.0%

62 Health Care and Social Assistance 75,620 91,230 15,610 20.6%621 Ambulatory Health Care Services 21,180 26,770 5,590 26.4%622 Hospitals 22,310 24,100 1,790 8.0%623 Nursing and Residential Care Facilities 17,160 21,550 4,390 25.6%624 Social Assistance 14,970 18,810 3,840 25.7%

71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 7,830 10,460 2,630 33.6%711 Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries 1,510 1,830 320 21.2%712 Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institution 330 390 60 18.2%713 Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries 5,990 8,240 2,250 37.6%

72 Accommodation and Food Services 38,900 48,790 9,890 25.4%721 Accommodation, including Hotels and Motels 6,020 7,340 1,320 21.9%722 Food Services and Drinking Places 32,880 41,450 8,570 26.1%

81 Other Services (except Government) 23,100 27,990 4,890 21.2%811 Repair and Maintenance 3,990 4,540 550 13.8%812 Personal and Laundry Services 4,040 4,640 600 14.9%813 Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations 14,220 17,930 3,710 26.1%814 Private Households 850 880 30 3.5%

9 Government 85,370 84,160 -1,210 -1.4%9991 Federal Government, Excluding Post Office 4,710 4,310 -400 -8.5%4911 Postal Service 2,430 1,790 -640 -26.3%9992 State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals 48,980 48,080 -900 -1.8%9993 Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals 29,250 29,980 730 2.5%

Source:

NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LONG-TERM INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS, 2012-2022

Capital Region: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington Counties

New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research and Statistics

Employment

Net Change Percent

Change2012 2022NAICS Industry Title

COHOES DRI CITY OF COHOES 10-MIN DRIVE

15-MIN

DRIVE

Residential Population (2010) 2,512 16,168 67,996 161,374

Residential Population 2,581 17,158 70,464 166,481

Total Daytime Population 2,394 12,594 73,549 179,069

Median Age (2010) 33.3 39.4 35.4 36.4

Median Age 34.3 40.3 36.6 37.6

% 18-24 9.3% 8.5% 13.3% 13.5%

% 25-34 16.8% 15.0% 15.4% 14.1%

% 35-54 26.0% 26.4% 25.0% 24.5%

% 65 and over 12.8% 17.5% 14.5% 15.7%

% Minority 17.4% 11.9% 22.4% 26.0%

Median Household Income $26,775 $39,515 $40,829 $48,219

% Earning <$25,000 47.1% 32.2% 30.4% 26.3%

BASIC STATISTICS FOR THE COHOES DRI AND SURROUNDING AREA

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