"Urban Renewal" is most often now a pejorative phrase and a euphemism
for the
poor planning and often unrestrained demolition done in the name of
social
re-engineering. It was a pure product of the glorious `60s when we all
thought
progress meant starting over from scratch. One of the largest examples
of the
downside of Urban renewal (proportionally speaking) is in downtown Glens
Falls,
where in 1969, approximately a quarter of what constituted the business
district
was leveled, and a bit later a hole blown in what remained of the main
street
(Glen Street-- US Rt. 9) to allow for a massive avenue to be
constructed. The
resulting interchange, where 4 streets meet, is a nightmare. The
demolished area
is still nearly empty, its scores of original historic buildings, among
the
oldest in the city and including theaters and probably every imaginable
kind of
business (hundreds of them), gone. In its place reigns a failing civic
center,
all but put out of business by the Pepsi arena, a fast food restaurant
and a few
"new" buildings whose brick facades poorly mimic the older Italianate
19th
century structure they face. There is late sixties Swedish television
show that
documented the beginning of the project, which began in 1967. To see the
buildings that stood then and then to drive the street now and see the
same
site, well al I can say is that it could depress Pollyanna.

Incidentally, the interchange now shoots traffic through -- not to --
downtown.
Pedestrians are at risk crossing the streets...either from the speeding
traffic
or from dying from old age while waiting for the lights to change.

Nor was this the only example of Urban renewal in Glens Falls. But this
one, so
central to the small city's core, served to gut the vitality of it and
the
reason for people to come. Subsequent decades have seen continuing
demolition,
which if left unabated, will gradually render a once building-dense,
historically important downtown, so vital to the region's economy, into
a huge
parking lot.

For those who wish to overcome countries that support terrorists and
other
evils, consider sending them an Urban Renewal project. Although not
faster than
any military operation, it is cheaper, lasts longer, and is totally
effective in
rendering mass stretches of urban areas vacant without ever taking one
human
life. And it's guaranteed to do it in the name of progress.





mike engle wrote:

>   I wasn't around during the Urban Renewal times, But I do quite a bit of
> traveling in NY State.
>
>   Not only urban renewal, but the building of bigger roadways, and
> interchanges is a big effect.
>
> Roadways.
>
>   Utica, effects the end of the downtown and west towards Whitesboro
>   Albany area,  I-787 took out much of the downtown of Watervliet.
>   Binghamton.  Rt 17 and I81 definately displaced people,  probably more
> residential areas (??)
>
> Urban Renewal.
>
>   I'll second North Adams, MA.  a resident commented about urban renewal in
> North Adams, and said "they took the heart out of the community"
>   Ogdensburg.  I was taken back by this town.  I swear, there are maybe
> literally 5 or 6 two story business block buildings left!  They built a
> plaza and covered the walkways.  It's REALLY ugly.
>   Amsterdam, NY - Downtown was basicly a main street, and what they did was
> cut it in half, and put a mall in the middle.   not only is downtown basicly
> dead, but it's a chore to get to what is left.
>   It would seem they took a good chunk of Hornell, NY
>   Elmira, Corning were hurt by the Agnes Flood of 72. but Corning has done a
> good job of preserving their main st of Market St.
>   Glens Falls tore down a whole section to put up an Arena, mostly used for
> Hockey, a parking lot and a burger king at the main intersection in town
> (yawn)
>
> mike Engle
>
> Hungry? - Upstate NY Diners
> http://www.nydiners.com
>
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