GF Drive deadline March 12
The deadline for applications for the “GF Business DRIVE” initiative is 4 p.m., March 12, says a press release from Glens Falls Mayor Dan Hall’s office. The program will offer forgivable loans to new or young businesses in the downtown Glens Falls area.
Jeff Flagg, the director of economic development for the city, said he does not know the number of applications that have been submitted so far, but people are curious.
"We've had a little over two dozen people who've inquired," he said. About half of the inquiries have been from the greater Glens Falls area, and half of those were from existing businesses. Most of the rest have been from the Capital Region, he said.
Applicants will agree to move into un- or under-used spaces in the downtown area, and if they follow the terms of the agreement for five years, the loans will be forgiven. The use of the money is flexible. [Read our coverage here.]
According to the press release:
GF DRIVE Applications will be available through an email request to Ms. Collins, at acollins@cityofglensfalls.com. Project Proposals must be submitted to the city by 4:00 p.m. on March 12, 2021 to be considered for the first round of funding.
Glens Falls Planning Board OKs Stewarts and changes to former Rock Hill Bakery
Miller Designs/Patten Property Dev. via GF Planning Board (2021)
19 Exchange St.
Although the Glens Falls Planning Board was lukewarm to Chris Patten when he presented his idea to build a four-storey building on the open lot on Bay Street in downtown Glens Falls [read more here], they were much more receptive to his redevelopment plan for 19 Exchange St.
Patten wants to change his building use from a food service building and turn it into office space. Patten had larger plans for the building before the pandemic hit, including adding an additional floor and making room for apartments, a bar and restaurant, but he had pulled back from that plan.
Patten said he has already made changes to the building that once housed the Rock Hill Bakery. The roof has been repaired and the six parking spaces on the property have been repaved, Patten said.
He was looking to change the exterior of the building. The only trouble came from planning board member Brigit Culligan, who wondered about the use of cultured stone. Patten pushed back somewhat and the discussion was dropped quickly.
"I can tell you, when I get done with it, it's going to look beautiful," Patten told the board.
Courtesdy Stewart's Shops (2021)
Also at the Glens Falls Planning Board meeting, Stewart’s Shops got the final go-ahead to build a store at 118 Broad St. They already have a store at that location. The plan is to build a new, larger store behind the current one and then raze the old building. With the space, they will install a two-pump gas island. They have already passed through the board of zoning appeals, so the project is ready to move forward.
In order to keep the current store open during construction, Stewart’s may look to the city council for help, Chris Potter, the representative from Stewart’s, said. They may want to use portions of the sidewalk or some parking spaces on the street for staging the construction. [Read our coverage here.]