Although Greenberg was present, the presentation to the Planning Commission was made by another lawyer, introduced as Joe Catalano, an authority in municipal law. He explained that the market would be an "urban model type of grocery store" and hence the plan for offstreet parking had been abandoned. Mike Welti of Behan Planning and Design in Saratoga Springs reported that his analysis of onstreet parking in the vicinity of the market found that at any given time during the day there were at least 12 parking spaces available within 450 feet of the site. Although Planning Commission members Cleveland Samuels and Laura Margolis expressed their personal opinions that they would be unlikely to shop at the new market if there was no parking, Catalano stressed walkability in an urban location and explained that the business owners believed there was no need for offstreet parking.
The plans for Filli's Fresh Market seem to encourage the old world habit of shopping for fresh food daily rather than stocking up at a supermarket for weeks at a time. The market will offer groceries, meat, produce, dairy products, frozen food, baked goods, beverages, and general merchandise. There will also be a deli and a pizzeria, both of which will be take out only. Shopping baskets will be provided but only a few shopping carts, and it will not be possible to take those carts out of the store. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day; the pizzeria, however, will stay open until 11 p.m. on weekends.
How dare you!
ReplyDeleteYes you do need off street parking to go shopping. What person wants to lug 2, 3 or more bags of groceries back home?
Why is there a major issue w/ offstreet parking?
The alternative of "circling the block" didn't work before for the former Hudson markets & it will not work for the future Fili's.
Attention Fili's: no parking; don't move to Hudson location.
I shop daily for our food, and I would walk to this location, but the "no parking needed" stance seems to be short sighted at best. It would be interesting to know at what time of the day (or night) 12 spaces were available. Certainly not during the day, or most anytime on weekends.
ReplyDeleteBob--According to their parking study, 12 spaces were available within 450 feet of the building "at any given time during the daytime," and later, in the evening, there were even more spaces. I think the 450 feet is significant. That's a pretty substantial distance. They were counting spaces on Union Street and South Fifth Street as well as Warren Street.
DeleteThis is fantastic news! I applaud Tony Thompson, he has been on message about this all along.
ReplyDeleteParking is not an entitlement, especially in a City where the built environment is the very reason there aren't many spots on weekends to begin with!
When TrustCo closes each evening, there are at least 15 spaces available. It would have been a shame had that lot been mirrored across the street.
I agree totally with Alderman Marston.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing Hudson needs is another parking lot. Especially on our main business street in a Historic District.
If you have a car and need to drive and park so as to not carry groceries but a few steps, there are Food-stores with parking galore on Fairveiw Ave and just down the way Big Box store central.
To many residents in Hudson rich or poor or inbetween ,this is a walking town. Walking on Warren Street is pleasant because of all the Historic Buildings ,bumping into neighbors for a chat and fascinating shop-windows to appreciate.The same cannot be said of walking up treeless Columbia Street with its endless sea of cement and parking-lots and cars ,cars and more cars.
and at night desolation.
Many residents here do not have cars or perfer to walk.These are the people that will benefit most by having a grocery store on Warren & 5th,as we have none close by ,except very nice ,but very expensive cheese & specialty - type shops and limited overpriced corner-stores; and especially now as the Co-op has been delayed indefinitely and the Farmers Market is seasonal and sells primarily produce.
Local seniors will benefit ,as Hudson has no transit system of its own now ,except for the private Greenport catch as catch can bus service ,that ends at 2pm -no Sundays.
Pedestrian shoppers do not need to park anything.A bike rack would be helpful for cyclist shoppers ,though.
For all the myriad of problems in Hudson ,self created by its self destructive and corrupt inbred "government" compulsively destroying anything left of value or tradition or from nature or history they can get their hands on.And now this horrendous threat now taking shape because of greed and stupid meaningless power , completely needlessly and egomaniacally by Industry of Poverty Harvard trained Carpetbagger and snake oil salesmen from the hooked up main line of Homelessness as Big Business of NYC-T. Eric Galloway . And the ridiculous taxes and slim to no city services and 2 major truck rtes tearing through these ancient streets,and the systematic destruction of the waterfront and its remaining character,that dodged a bullet during the bulldozing of the rest of the 2nd Ward during "Urban Redevelopment",but seems to be slated for yet another parking lot...
though all of this mess
Walking is the saving grace I have found here in Hudson that costs me nothing , as are my many diverse and friendly neighbors, my love of architecture and history and the River and being surrounded by it and WALKING.
Walking is what I love about Hudson. I love I can walk to Amtrak through our Historic District Streets ,taking in all the details, watching individual owners labors of love,slowly come closer to fruition,on their Historic houses and buildings and small shops and leave from our beautifully restored train station with its friendly staff and just
watch the River & 2hrs later I walk out onto 8th Ave, and my streets or keep going-No car or parking involved
I walk here to the hospital ,where my doctors group is located.I can walk to the river,the pharmacy. All of the cultural venues.ETC. and if I could afford it ,its many restaurants . I can walk to cafes,and all of the curious shops and galleries.
I just can't walk to a grocery store near by ,because there isn't one.
Those who are unfamiliar with this way of life,I suggest they buy a shopping cart,like a good majority of the residents in Hudson on foot do,save the gas and harmful emissions and get some exercise ,meet your neighbors and enjoy the best of our little city at a slower pace.
Great rant Prison Alley !!!
ReplyDeleteSo it's acceptable to have parking lots at Amtrak, on Warren St just above 3rd, at Trustco Bank, on Columbia St above 3rd (that is great for the Office Bldg & HOH) & City parking on Columbia above 6th St, parking lot at the St. Charles Hotel, Warren Inn on Warren St, Soc.Security at 8th St & any other lots that I may have missed but not for a small side parking strip that will be for about 6 to 8 cars.
ReplyDeleteAnd should the estimate of 12 parking spaces be correct how many will be needed for Fili's employees?
Please visit the existing Fili's aka Claverack Food Market & see how a small parking area satisfies Fili's, a packaged store & the Claverack Post Office.
Use an old fashion shopping cart or a child's wagon to carry your groceries home. You could park a walkable distance from the market, pulling a wagon or personal shopping cart with you to and fro your car. Winter may prove a problem? Use a sled.
ReplyDelete