This week's issue of Tompkins Weekly takes a look at the empty storefronts in the Village of Dryden. It's been almost a year since the stores at the four corners all seemed to empty out, and Anthony Hall reports that it's not looking too bright:
At best, occupancy is spotty. In truth, it appears "grim," said one retail employee, who declined to give her name. And it appears more punishing yet, salt in the wound, you might say, after village mayor Reba Taylor just finished orchestrating a spending spress on the downtown area.
While most of the money went for infrastructure, including a new substructure for the West Main portion of Route 13, two large culverts and electrical wiring, almost $10 million has been spent in the past six years on a commercial district that is suddenly bereft of commercial business.
In a small town it is hard to find printable comments about landlords and money, but it also appears, after several conversations, that rent increases are not the primary factor for Dryden's retail predicament....
Both retailers and landlords point to the cyclical nature of a business district, but lament the problem of many businesses leaving all at once.
How can Dryden's downtown revive?
There's also an article on the continuing dreadfulness of NYSEG's Voice Your Choice electricity program, though the least kind thing they call it is "a daunting decision."
Posted by simon at December 19, 2006 6:37 PM in Tompkins Weekly , Village of Dryden , energy