Watkins wants input for downtown plans

Watkins wants input for downtown plans

    WATKINS GLEN—Watkins Glen business leaders met with Benjamin Syden from the Laberge Group in June to discuss the village’s comprehensive plan. The Laberge Group is currently working with the village to develop a comprehensive plan which can be used to secure grant funding and guide the future development of the village. Syden led the meeting and offered some insight into the development and other possibilities the village could envision for its future.
    The discussion ranged from immediate improvements that could be made in a relatively short timeframe to long term, big picture projects that would over time enhance the economic viability and create a stable job market within the village. The small improvements included changes as simple as ensuring that curtains were placed on the upstairs windows of all downtown buildings. Syden also suggested placing a welcome sign, installing lighting and landscaping improvements, creating a single theme or branding that stayed consistent throughout the village, and organizing a core group of business leaders who could spearhead development and work towards creating a cohesive vision among all of the village’s various moving parts.
    The big picture projects focused mostly on waterfront development and then connecting the existing downtown to the waterfront. Syden advised moving the wastewater treatment plant away from its current location and re-purposing the site for more tourist-friendly activities. These activities could include a waterfront restaurant, an aquarium, interactive museum, or a “Watkins Glen interpretive center,” which would serve to educate visitors about the history of the village. He also suggested that the existence of the Clute Park campground was not the most desirable use for that location. Instead Syden proposed that a mixed use commercial residential development would result in a far greater return for both the village and the area in general.
    Syden asked, “what kind of memories do we want to leave people with when they come to Watkins Glen?” He envisioned a more picturesque downtown with pedestrian friendly signage that spills into a vibrant waterfront area. To get there, explained Syden, “you need leadership, commitment, and resources.” He went on to say that the area has good “bones,” but there are challenges and opportunities associated with viable economic development, like extending the tourist season. He added in conclusion that the opportunity is here, “you have an exciting and energetic village board poised to provide a platform for growth,” he continued, “the government does not create jobs, it creates the environment necessary for job creation... it is up to the business leaders and residents of the village to, step up and say ‘I want this for me’.”
    Maps and information for the proposed waterfront development and downtown improvements are available on the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development website, www.scoped.biz. The comprehensive plan project is ongoing and the Village of Watkins Glen seeks input from residents through its website, www.watkinsglen.us.