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| May 05, 2024 |
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General News: Chamber Pushes for Main St. Improvements
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| Bob DeWit says the community wants changes. |
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| Buildings that are not maintained |
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| make it hard for other businesses to stay open. |
May 08, 2008
The Cornwall business community wants a stepped-up effort to clean up Main Street. On Monday, Bob DeWit, the president of the Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce asked the town board to create an architectural review board that would help create a more uniform look in signs, building colors and other areas. He also proposed that the town find more parking spaces and suggested two areas where he thought space could be available.
DeWit also asked for tougher enforcement of existing building codes, saying that few fines have been imposed for violations of code. He cited the results of a survey* by the chamber in which many people said they want owners to fix up their buildings.
“We can no longer accept answers like ‘we can’t do anything about it,’” DeWit told the board. “The time is ripe to make those changes.”
After the meeting, Cornwall building inspector Gary Vinson said that he wants to see more property owners pay fines if they don’t fix violations. He said that’s why he has started sending his cases to the courtroom of Judge Francis Navarra. “Under Judge Thomson, cases would get adjourned quite frequently,” Vinson said. “Judge Navarra is more agreeable to getting fines.” Fines can run up to $250 a day per violation and Vinson said that Judge Navarra has issued a couple of $500 fines already this year.
Vinson said that he is planning a survey of all the buildings on Main Street to look for problems with chimneys, doors, windows, gutters, and other exterior features. He said that his office cannot single out an individual property by selectively enforcing building codes.
He also noted that he is in court this week with property owners who have been cited for violations – including one who has 17 violations on a property on Continental Avenue. That same property owner is also responsible for one of the seemingly abandoned storefronts on Main Street.
“My goal is to get compliance with the building code,” Vinson said, describing the series of steps he takes to get property owners to fix problems. “We go to court when we see no action.”
DeWit agrees that it is time for action on Main Street. “Put the shovel in the ground today and perhaps in a few years you’ll have something,” he urged the board.
*The Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce surveyed subscribers to this website to determine their concerns about shopping at local businesses on Main Street in Cornwall and on Hudson Street in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they want to shop locally but many cited a lack of variety of goods, an unattractive atmosphere, and difficult parking as obstacles.
Comments:
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Bravo! Main Street has become an eyesore. The most beautiful part is in the village between Quigly Funeral home and the blinking light. It would be lovely if the whole street was able to maintain some aesthetic appeal. Instead, it looks like a dump! Shame on the building owners!
posted by ey on 05/08/08 at 8:58 AM
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The slumlord that owns that disgusting black lacquer store front on main street has neglected that building since the 1970's!!!! Is there no building code or environmental standard for that mess? The main street vista is important because it gives newcomers the first impression. A building can be old without being decrepit and disgustingly filthy.
As far as parking - Washingtonville seems to thrive despite a lack of easy parking. People have to park and walk or squeeze into main street spots. It can be done, what is the draw? Maybe we could leave Bridge street closed and make it a few more parking spots; several parallel spots or a few pull-ins. Keeping it for the sake of nostalgia does nobody any good.
posted by kate benson on 05/08/08 at 11:20 PM
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As a lifelong Cornwall resident I was embarrassed last week when I was approached on Main St. and asked, "what's happening here, I would consider living here but your Main St. looks so depressed" I agreed with her, but had no words to offer that made sense. I asked her to please call the town supervisor. Finally reading this article perhaps more people will really voice their opinion and changes will be made. The old echo there is nothing we can do is shameful. Lets be proud of our Main Street in the heart of Cornwall.
posted by kellyel on 05/09/08 at 9:01 AM
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