Afraid that their town is at a critical crossroads and in danger of losing both its historical buildings and rural nature, Concerned Citizens for Preserving Jefferson’s Historic Character is hoping to gain support for Jefferson Corners.
The proposal, put together by part-time resident Alberto Foyo, an architectural professor at City College of New York, and his students, would create an open-air farmer’s market, artisan’s hub with exhibition space and a year-round retail outlet, a free internet hub, and a one-acre pond for swimming and outdoor recreation at the corner of Main Street and Route 10.
It’s a site Dollar General wants to build on and even those who’d like to see the idea succeed have questions over parking and sewer.
“This is just a pre-preliminary design,” Mr. Foyo said Thursday in the Jefferson Maple Museum, where a model Jefferson Commons is being stored.
“I’m an architect. This needs the collaboration of everyone in Jefferson if it’s to become feasible.”
The project would preserve and restore two existing crossroads at the Route 10 corner, creating the open market and covered pergola around them.
New barn-like buildings would be built behind them with the pond adjacent to existing wetlands.
Both CUNY and SUNY Cobleskill are interested in using some of the space for their students, Mr. Foyo said.
The project also includes space for a year-round medical clinic, space for children’s day care and a senior center, and public gardens.
Construction costs are very preliminarily projected at $2.18 million—not including the cost of purchasing the land—with projected revenue from sales and renting space projected at $400,000 for the first year.
The space would create 15 jobs and the intent is that all of them, as well as materials for the project will, be local.
The Albany Law School Rural Law Initiative is already working with Concerned Citizens to create a Community Development Corporation that could apply for and receive grants for the project; the CDC would also oversee the construction and manage the facility.
There’s also an investor interested in the project, supporters said.
Mr. Foyo and some of his students unveiled the project in August.
Thursday, supporters pitched the idea again to members of the Jefferson Town Board.
Afterwards, Councilmen Russell Danforth and Margaret Terk joined Mr. Foyo and members of Concerned Citizens in viewing the model.
“It’s ugly,” said Ms. Terk. “I wouldn’t want to look at that thing when I came into my town. Nope. No way.”
Would she support the concept if it looked more historic?
“No”, Ms. Terk said again--though she said she did agree with the importance of creating local jobs and preserving Jefferson’s sense of history.
Then she asked if the project—which would be up to the Planning Board and not the Town Board to approve if it comes to that—would take land off the tax rolls.
No, said Barb Palmer, a member of Concerned Citizens. “We understand Jefferson relies on that [taxes].”
Mr. Danforth said his primary concern is getting the Route 10 and Main Street intersection cleaned up.
He’s also concerned about parking for Jefferson Commons and said he’s unsure whether it would be viable year-round.
He also pointed out the lack of a municipal sewer system hinders almost any growth on the Village Green.
“I have mixed feelings,” he said, “but if we could find a way to make it work, maybe scale it down, it could be worthwhile.”