Glens Falls says DRI projects near completion as Market Center, rehabs and housing move forward

Glens Falls City officials and development partners told a community update that the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) portfolio is entering its final phase, with the Market Center pavilion nearing completion and multiple South Street building rehabs, new commercial space and housing projects under way.

Mayor Collins opened the meeting saying the DRI has been “a relay race” spanning administrations and that his office now has “the baton firmly in hand.” He listed expected outcomes including three fully renovated historic buildings, about 88 new one‑ and two‑bedroom apartments at workforce rental rates, 4,000 square feet of new commercial space on South Street, two new restaurants and a 6,000‑square‑foot event market pavilion that will host the farmers market.

The update gave residents a look at projects already finished and those under construction. Jim Thatcher, a DRI consultant with CT Male Associates, highlighted completed items including the relocated SUNY Adirondack culinary facility at 14 Hudson and streetscape, lighting and stormwater improvements. “One of the first completed DRI projects in Glens Falls is the relocation and expansion of SUNY Adirondack’s culinary school to 14 Hudson,” Thatcher said, noting the facility trains roughly 30 students per semester and has spurred nearby restaurant openings.

Jeff Flagg, the city’s economic development director, described the Market Center as the DRI capstone and said the design was revised from the original 20,000‑square‑foot concept to a smaller, flexible pavilion. Flagg said the site will accommodate farmers‑market vendors indoors and outdoors, allow up to roughly 60 table vendors in some configurations, and be adaptable for larger multi‑day festivals by temporarily closing Elm or South Street. He said the city secured a roughly $750,000 Restore New York grant to help with site demolition and stabilization on adjacent lots and emphasized operating efficiency as a priority.

Contractor and developer representatives detailed work on three South Street buildings (36 Elm, 41 South and 45 South). Mike Geswick, who manages construction, said crews began work in late 2023 and have faced extensive structural repairs, rotten wood and hazardous‑material abatement. He described restoration of original windows and tin ceilings where feasible and replacement of damaged structural elements. Project manager Steve (surname given in the presentation) said the team obtained street‑closure permits and has worked to preserve historic character while stabilizing the buildings for apartments and commercial space.

Judy Calogero, speaking for the Greater Glens Falls Local Development Corporation (LDC), outlined plans for the first floor of 36 Elm Street as a 4,600‑square‑foot flexible space to be operated by an LDC subsidiary currently called “36 Inc.” The planned uses include a commercial kitchen for catering and value‑added food production, a local makers’ market, wayfinding information for downtown vendors, and public restrooms. Calogero said the LDC expects to sign a 10‑year lease with the developer for operation of the first floor and will use revenue from other LDC properties to cover early operating expenses.

Calogero also said the LDC is working with Taste New York and Cornell Cooperative Extension on programming and vendor support. “The plan is to have this as a catering kitchen for events held at the Market Center or other locations,” she said, adding the kitchen could be used for demonstrations, production of packaged foods and for market vendors.

Warren County Economic Development CEO Jim Ciplon praised the DRI’s leverage: city presenters said the original $10,000,000 DRI award has helped catalyze a total investment the mayor put at more than $48,000,000, comprised of state and federal awards, private investment and the city’s long‑term stake. Ciplon and others credited the culinary school relocation and public‑private projects with attracting new restaurants and businesses downtown.

On housing, Jeff Flagg described a planned new construction affordable housing phase at 25–33 South Street: roughly 70 units, about 75,000 square feet, with mixed‑use commercial on the ground floor and mixed incomes. Flagg said the city is targeting an early‑to‑late spring ground‑breaking window and called the project the closing piece of the DRI work.

Presenters gave a high‑level schedule showing the current phase as stabilization and targeted a wrap‑up of the Bonaccio/Benaccio (developer) building rehabs by early fall 2025. Flagg also announced a community ribbon cutting for the Market Center on Friday, May 16; he said state agencies will be invited to the event.

The update included questions and outreach: organizers said they will host the same presentation the following morning and stand by exhibits after the meeting to answer residents’ questions.

The presentation was informational; no formal council votes or binding decisions were recorded in the update meeting transcript. Statements about future dates, leases and construction schedules were described by staff and partners as targets or planned commitments, not final approvals.