http://www.theballstonjournal....sickles-young-henry/

Cynthia Young -
..... I am in favor of the high density commercial “downtown” of Malta......

Thats the only thing that disappoints you?...I'm disappointed.

I see that none of these candidates mention protecting existing communities (Luther Forest particularly) from the most intrusive effects of development of our "down town." And Ryan specifically speaks to concentrating commercial development on Route 9 and Dunning. It seems nobody currently on the board or running as loyal opposition has heard our concerns on this matter.

quote:

Originally posted by merry:
I see that none of these candidates mention protecting existing communities (Luther Forest particularly) from the most intrusive effects of development of our "down town." And Ryan specifically speaks to concentrating commercial development on Route 9 and Dunning. It seems nobody currently on the board or running as loyal opposition has heard our concerns on this matter.

Rt 9 has to be developed. it's called capitalism, it's good for business, the economy and the tax base. you can move to stillwater if you want peace and quiet.

4 story - densely packed buildings, taking up most of the land - leaving very little green space, butting up against single family homes - bother's me. You have just placed city dwellings on top of a quiet, family neighborhood.

When the kids of those apartments have nothing to do --- they will cut across their "backyard" into May Apple and start walking the hood - looking for some action.

Do you really think that they'd cross that 10 foot strip of "forever wild" land? They might get attacked by a wild animal in there.

quote:

Originally posted by UNHOLY:
http://www.theballstonjournal....sickles-young-henry/

Cynthia Young -
..... I am in favor of the high density commercial “downtown” of Malta......

Well, now that the tech park is here, along with Ellsworth Commons, why not? We need businesses in this town that pay their fair share of taxes...

you are correct - we do need businesses to pay their fair share ....and not get huge tax breaks

I'd rather have dense commercial development into the "downtown area" than alternate between strip mall and residential area. I grew up in the sprawl of Sioux Falls, SD and it looks terrible.

If you think long term and make a beautiful downtown area there will be no need for rows of strip malls.

Whether we like it or not Malta is growing and Ellsworth is here - so it is in all of our best interests to make it successful. Since we can't lop off the top few stories and push it back farther into the woods it makes sense to embrace it and hope the retail shops will add to our community.
A moratorium at this point is a little silly in my opinion. If Ellsworth is the only tall structure then it will look ridiculous. I agree that its best to stick with the master plan. Anything else will look disjointed and not thought out.

quote:

Originally posted by Just Maggie:
Whether we like it or not Malta is growing and Ellsworth is here - so it is in all of our best interests to make it successful. Since we can't lop off the top few stories and push it back farther into the woods it makes sense to embrace it and hope the retail shops will add to our community.
A moratorium at this point is a little silly in my opinion. If Ellsworth is the only tall structure then it will look ridiculous. I agree that its best to stick with the master plan. Anything else will look disjointed and not thought out.

My vote will be with Cynthia Young since she is in favor of a downtown Malta. The horse is out of the barn - we have to go with it now!

Friends and neighbors:

I have attached a link to the Spotlight News article that summarizes the correspondence at the Malta Candidate Forum that was held last night at the Hyatt Hotel.

http://www.saratogacospotlight...ndidates-malta-spar/

Thanks,
Ryan Gregoire

No way ...nip it in the bud now ...maybe put 3 story building's next to it -- then 2 ...taper it down .... just because a mistake was made doesn't mean we have to go with it. You can't let this continuously happen. That acreage is extremely developed with no green space ...it crowds right in on a neighborhood - development like that is unacceptable and should not be tolerated or continued.

Do you have any idea how many people could possibly reside in that small of an area ? How many apartment are there ?

quote:

Originally posted by UNHOLY:
No way ...nip it in the bud now ...maybe put 3 story building's next to it -- then 2 ...taper it down .... just because a mistake was made doesn't mean we have to go with it. You can't let this continuously happen. That acreage is extremely developed with no green space ...it crowds right in on a neighborhood - development like that is unacceptable and should not be tolerated or continued.

I think it's too late for that - and I don't want to see the current buildings that have been erected sit unoccupied because we've changed or are confused with our vision of a downtown Malta. Businesses don't want to get caught in that type of scenario or won't want to invest their money. I want to see more developers now - we'll need diverse types of business particularly if the Tech Park is short term - and that is always a distinct possibility.

Why is anyone concerned now with green space,if you came in to Malta after lets say 1960, then you are responsable for the green space gowing away. Your residents was most likely built on green space. You are part of the problem.
I laugh how ignorant some people are.
It is too late to turn back, the town will need to go forward. And in 20-25 years they will make a movie in the ghost town left behind or have a documentery on the Malta slums..

And in 20-25 years you'll be dead.

I expect I should be gone way before then.
I have my peace with God, anytime is good for me. I won't tell you I'll be back to haunt you, as I don't know of anyone that did come back.
Thanks for you incouragement.

Look at it this way: Towns live and die. Industries live and die. Just like people, we live and die. Nothing is forever. Look at Troy. Look at Schenectady. Look at Detroit. Some towns come back, others don't. Do we come back? Depends on what you believe in.

I have lived in Malta since the '70's and seen many changes. As Cynthia Young said at the debate, Malta started changing when the Northway was built. Change is here and continuing. We can't go back and rewrite history. We now have Ellsworth Commons - my hope is that it is successful. The thought of it being empty is truly a nightmare.

I remember when the first bulldozers came to Luther Forest and destroyed our forest and replaced the trees with houses - we got used to it. We will get used to the "downtown". I am hoping for a nice coffee shop and maybe some restaurants. A yarn shop would be nice too
I am starting to really like the look of Ellsworth Commons - the flowers are pretty and I love the sidewalks.

I loved the "old malta" and I am sure I will love the "new malta" - its no use trying to go backwards - the buildings are here, the factory is here and we can either embrace the changes or whine about them.

I think when Mr Sausville talks about returning to the "hamlet" view of Malta it is just silly. That horse is indeed out of the barn. It also strikes me as odd that he was on the planning board when Ellsworth was approved. You just can't go building an enormous structure like that and then say - OOOPs and try to start over. We are committed now and need to work to make sure the plan for a walkable downtown is successful