On Monday, March 3, 2008, Riverspace held a public meeting to discuss a proposal to develop the downtown “superblock” currently occupied by the building on Main Street holding the theatre and businesses, the M&T building, and all the parking owned by the Village of Nyack. The project is at the very earliest stages, where the Riverspace and M&T property have been secured with options, but there has been no feasibility analysis yet.
The developer would be a non-profit corporation, run by Josh Goldberg and Debbie Reich, who are on the Riverspace board. The concept is to have a mixed use development with an arts center as the anchor. The M&T and Riverspace buildings would be taken down and the street grid restored. The project would include a parking structure, retail, office and possibly residential space. One idea is to have a park on the roof (that’s right, with trees, grass, etc.) of the building which would panoramic views. The idea of having a non-profit would be to use the revenues to help subsidize the arts use, rather than having it as profits earmarked for the developer and investors. Even though it was not stated, the proposal is to have the Village give the parking property to the developer for the project.
The Riverspace theatre was nearly full, with probably 450 attending the meeting (the theatre has 583 seats). There was a “panel”
making the presentation, including Bill Irwin, co-Artistic Director Elliott Forrest, Josh Goldberg, Debbie Reich. School
Superintendent and Riverspace board member Valencia Douglas gave a short speech in support. NYC developers Richard Dattner and Daniel Heuberger from Dattner Architects, who said they would do the project, gave a presentation.
There was a lively follow up discussion, mostly with a positive tone with reservations. Various politicians stood up and
supported the project, including Thom Kleiner, Town of Orangetown Supervisor, and Mayor John Shields, who said “if not this, then
what”. A primary concern with the project was financing, and the risk of village property owners being responsible in the end if
the project loses money. The development would benefit most of Rockland County, and definitely residents of Upper Nyack, South
Nyack, West Nyack and the Town, but they would get all the benefit with none of the risk.
The meeting in the end was inspirational in the turnout and overall energy of hope and support. There will be follow up
discussions on April 7, May 5 and on June 5 the findings will be discussed. Information will be available and suggestions taken
at www.riverspace.org.
RiverSpace Meeting 3-3-08: Thoughts and Comments
First, I want to applaud the effort in bringing this matter to the public. As we saw by the large and interested audience, there is significant interest in the future and well being of the Village, particularly what is to happen at this particular location.
The observations below are offered as a first blush impression of the meeting and to help anticipate the more detailed public inquiries that will surface as this discussion moves forward.
2. We should not lose sight of the fact that the two existing parking lots within the 4 acres belong to the Village and its tax payers. The proposal assumes the Village will “donate” the land for this development. There may be some who resist this due to the fact that this property is valuable and other alternative development and uses would serve the Village equally as well but at perhaps a reduced cost. As an example, all the Village property within the 4 acre parcel could be offered to a developer, with some zoning modifications to increase density, where in exchange for significant commercial and residential uses, the developer would absorb the cost of a 300 space parking facility.
3. One of the things that makes the Village what it is, is the number of people residing within walking distance of the downtown. This is achieved via apartments, condos and other residential units. A key “planning principle” in keeping downtowns vital is increasing the number of “people” within close proximity to the core. There is a proven and positive multiplier impact on businesses, the emotional vitality of its residents, the variety of experience, numerous community events, greater appreciation of the arts, etc.
4. Is a theatre-arts center really the best and highest use for this property/site? I don’t know the answer to that question. But some will raise it. There needs to be careful thought about this given the theatre’s history over the past ten years. One would need to be careful not to be swayed by the notion “if we build it they will come”. If that is the thinking, it needs to be supported with real facts and figures in a like situation to Nyack.
5. How long will this project take to complete? Perhaps 5 years under ideal circumstances. We know, based on past experience, how fast the Village acts. The problems in the Village exist today and have for some time. If parking is the biggest perceived problem and its main infrastructure shortfall, do people want to wait 5 years or longer to address it? Should they?
6. What are the opportunities, if any, for a large donation to the Riverspace, say $5 or $10 million? People read about these things, so maybe someone will ask.
7. Maybe some thinking “outside the box” is needed. For instance, some might think that the center of the Village, if developed as residential-commercial and parking would be more than adequate to help re-vitalize the downtown. That a better idea would be to construct the theatre and arts center at the base of the hill in Memorial Park along the majestic Hudson, replacing the basketball, tennis and ball field. It could have the stream and green area along its south boundary and a river-walk park area between it and the river. Perhaps a community center as well. This would be a great catalyst for this poorly used property. Maybe a better location would be for it to be located where the River Club and Marina are. Fill in the marina and the property to its south making a consistent waterfront edge. This could spur additional development including shops and residential uses.
8. There was mention of the impact of a project like this on residential taxes and some conversation about the tax burden being shared by a number of river Villages beyond just Nyack. I’m not at all certain this would be at all possible. Someone will bring this up if there is continued discussion of this possibility.
9. Lastly, tonight was a great opportunity for RiverSpace, however. I think people were somewhat let down. My sense from comments I heard was that they had hoped to see-hear some realistic proposals for the site and not a lot of rhetoric about the importance of an arts center for the Village. At the next presentation by the Riverspace Team, the presentation needs to be more substantive with renderings, other successful examples in a location similar to Nyack, projected time frames, dollars needed, etc.
Here’s the Journal News article on this story: http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NEWS03/803040392/1019
This could be the single most important project for the future of The Nyacks. If done correctly, a “superblock” will make Nyack the cultural center of Rockland County and The Lower Hudson Valley, providing an exponential increase in daytime tourism, economic activity and poperty values.
Hopefully, the community has the same vision for this development project as I do.