City of Amsterdam Northern/Eastern Neighborhoods Step 1 Pre-Nomination Report NYS

131 Pages·2015·15.55 MB·English

by  Daniel Shearer

City of Amsterdam
Northern/Eastern Neighborhoods

Step 1
Pre-Nomination Report
NYS Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

Prepared for: The City of Amsterdam, NY
Date: June 2015

Prepared by:

This report was prepared for the City of Amsterdam and the New
York State Department of State with state funds provided through
the Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program.
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City of Amsterdam East End and Northern Neighborhoods Pre-Nomination Study
Table of Contents

SECTION 1 Project Description and Boundary

1.1 Project Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Introduction to the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program ............................................... 2
1.3 Community Overview and Description ............................................................................... 4
1.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.3.2 Historical Background ......................................................................................................... 5
1.3.3 Socio-Demographic Context ............................................................................................... 6
1.3.4 Planning Efforts Related to the Proposed East End and
Northern Neighborhoods BOAs ........................................................................................ 18
1.4 Project Overview and Description .................................................................................... 21
1.5 Brownfield Opportunity Area Boundary Description and Justification ............................ 23
1.5.1 The Proposed East End BOA ............................................................................................. 23
1.5.2 The Proposed Northern Neighborhood BOA .................................................................... 25
1.6 Community Vision, Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 26
1.6.1 Proposed East End BOA Vision Statement ........................................................................ 26
1.6.2 Proposed Northern Neighborhoods BOA Vision Statement ............................................. 28
1.7 Community Participation .................................................................................................. 29

SECTION 2 Preliminary Analysis of the Proposed Brownfield Opportunity Areas

2.1 Land Use and Zoning ........................................................................................................ 33
2.1.1 Existing Land Uses ............................................................................................................. 33
2.1.2 Existing Zoning .................................................................................................................. 35
2.2 Development Designations .............................................................................................. 35
2.3 Brownfield, Abandoned, Underutilized and Vacant Sites................................................. 36
2.4 Transportation and Infrastructure ................................................................................... 43
2.4.1 Transportation .................................................................................................................. 43
2.4.2 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................... 46
2.5 Land Ownership ................................................................................................................ 47
2.6 Natural Resources ............................................................................................................. 48
2.7 Summary of Preliminary Analysis and Recommendations .............................................. 50
2.7.1 Proposed East End BOA .................................................................................................... 50
2.7.2 Proposed Northern Neighborhoods BOA ......................................................................... 56
APPENDICES

 Appendix A: Maps
Map 1-Community Context Map
Map 2-Study Area Context Map
Map 3-Brownfield Opportunity Area Boundary
Map 4A-Existing Land Use Map East End
Map 4B-Existing Land Use Map Northern Neighborhoods
Map 5A-Existing Zoning Map East End
Map 5B-Existing Zoning Map Northern Neighborhoods
Map 6A-East End Proposed Zoning
Map 6B-Northern Neighborhoods Proposed Zoning
Map 7A-East End Priority Sites Map
Map 7B-1-Northern Neighborhoods Priority Sites Map - North
Map 7B-2-Northern Neighborhoods Priority Sites Map - South
Map 8-Transportation & Infrastructure Map
Map 9A-Existing Land Ownership East End
Map 9B-Existing Land Ownership Northern Neighborhoods
Map 10-Natural Resource
Map 11A-Actions for Revitalization East End
Map 11B-Actions for Revitalization Northern Neighborhoods
 Appendix B: Public Participation Plan
 Appendix C: Descriptive Profiles for Brownfields, Potential Brownfields, Vacant and
Underutilized Properties and Buildings

TABLES
Table 1-City of Amsterdam Basic Characteristics ............................................................................ 5
Table 2-Population Trends (2000-2010) .......................................................................................... 7
Table 3-2010 Population: City and Proposed BOAs ......................................................................... 8
Table 4-Population Change: City and Proposed BOAs ..................................................................... 8
Table 5-Age Cohort Project 2011 ..................................................................................................... 8
Table 6-Proposed BOA Age Cohort Profile 2011 ............................................................................. 9
Table 7-Self-Identified Ethnicity within the Proposed BOAs ......................................................... 10
Table 8-Income Comparison .......................................................................................................... 12
Table 9-Income for Proposed BOAs ............................................................................................... 12
Table 10-Unemployment Rate for Proposed BOAs ....................................................................... 14
Table 11-Percent Change in Share of Workers by Industry (1990-2010) ...................................... 14
Table 12-Share of Workers by Industry 2011 ................................................................................ 15
Table 13-Housing Characteristics 2011 .......................................................................................... 16
Table 14-Housing Characteristics for Proposed BOAs 2011 .......................................................... 17
Table 17-Existing Land Use ............................................................................................................ 34
Table 18-Existing Zoning ................................................................................................................ 35
Table 19-Proposed East End BOA – Priority Sites ......................................................................... 36
Table 20-Proposed Northern Neighborhoods BOA – Priority Sites ............................................... 41
Table 21-East End Land Ownership Patterns ................................................................................. 48
Table 22-Northern Neighborhood Land Ownership Patterns ....................................................... 48

FIGURES
Figure 1-Census Tract Locations ...................................................................................................... 6
Figure 2-City of Amsterdam Population Change 1940-2010 ........................................................... 7
Figure 3-Comparing Educational Attainment ................................................................................ 10
Figure 4-Educational Attainment for Proposed BOAs ................................................................... 10
Figure 5-Unemployment Rate Comparison ................................................................................... 13
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Section 1 Project Description and Boundary

1.1 Project Introduction

The City of Amsterdam was awarded a grant under the NYS Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA)
Program to complete a Pre-Nomination Study for several suspected brownfield sites in the City’s East
End and Northern Neighborhoods. The original Pre-Nomination Grant Application submitted by the City
identified five sites suspected as being brownfields. These sites are referred to as the DeGraff St. (Lower
Mills), Edward Street, 5-Corners Plaza, Willow Street and Mohasco Mill.

Upon further investigation through this planning process, additional potential brownfields, vacant and
underutilized properties and buildings were identified. As a result, two main proposed Brownfield
Opportunity Areas have been delineated around all of the identified sites and referred to as the East End
BOA and the Northern Neighborhoods BOA. The East End contains 421 parcels and covers an area of
129+/- acres. The Northern Neighborhoods proposed BOA encompasses an area of 309+/- acres and is
made up of 898 parcels.

These properties were chosen due to identified past industrial activities and are therefore a source of
environmental concern. The likelihood of contamination within the study area may complicate or even
prohibit future revitalization efforts without a strategic revitalization approach. The primary goal of
participating in the BOA program and preparing a revitalization strategy is to eliminate or reduce
impediments to reuse/redevelop these brownfield sites.

This Step 1 Report begins with an overview of the State’s BOA Program including the purpose, goals,
objectives, different steps, and key outcomes. The next section includes a summary of the proposed East
End and Northern Neighborhoods BOAs’ socio-demographic, land use, zoning, and environmental
conditions. The final section outlines the recommended revitalization techniques for the proposed BOAs.

Upon completion of the Step 1 planning process, the City may seek additional funding to prepare a Step 2
Nomination Report for one or both of the proposed BOAs being studied through this process.

In accordance with the requirements of the BOA program, the Pre-Nomination Study will provide a
preliminary description and analysis of the proposed BOAs. Key objectives include:
 Identifying and providing a clear description and justification of a manageable study area and
associated boundaries;
 Establishing a community participation process to begin identifying a common vision for the
area, including goals and objectives;
 Identifying the multi-agency, private-sector, and other community partnerships necessary to
inform the process and leverage assistance for revitalizing the community; and
 Completing a preliminary analysis of the study area and preliminary recommendations to
revitalize the area.

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1.2 Introduction to the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

The NYS BOA Program, which is intended to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and brownfield areas,
provides grants and technical support to help municipalities and community-based organizations complete
and implement site assessments and revitalization plans for neighborhoods or areas affected by
brownfields or economic distress. The NYS Department of State (DOS) administers the program and it is
their goal to work in partnership with local communities and organizations to develop and realize a
community vision for development and revitalization.

In general, brownfields are dormant properties where contamination or perceived contamination has
impeded investment and redevelopment, making them an economic and environmental drain on localities.
The legal definition is as follows:
A “brownfield” or “brownfield site” is defined in New York State Environmental Conservation
Law Article 27, Title 14, as any real property, the redevelopment or reuse of which may be
complicated by the presence or potential presence of a contaminant. Brownfields are typically
properties that were historically used for industrial or commercial operations, which may have
resulted in environmental impairment. The presence of brownfields may discourage investment in
surrounding properties and, as a result, can facilitate neighborhood blight.

The Purpose of the BOA Program

The neighborhood or area-wide approach of the BOA Program enables communities to comprehensively
assess existing economic and environmental conditions associated with brownfield blight and impacted
areas, identify and prioritize community-supported redevelopment opportunities, and attract public and
private investment. The neighborhoods and areas where program resources are generally applied include
industrial/manufacturing, commercial corridors, residential, downtowns and waterfronts. Through the
program, brownfields can be transformed from liabilities to community assets that generate businesses,
jobs, and revenues for local economies and provide new housing and public amenities.

The Program goals are to assist communities in:
 Assessing the full range of redevelopment opportunities posed by a concentration of brownfields
and economic distress.
 Building a shared community vision and consensus on the reuse and redevelopment of strategic
sites and actions to achieve community revitalization.
 Coordinating and collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies, community groups and
private sector partners to identify and implement solutions to improve communities.
 Developing public-sector partnerships necessary to leverage investment to advance and
implement development projects that can revitalize diverse local neighborhoods.

Program Flexibility

The BOA Program recognizes that successful brownfield redevelopment comes in many forms and that
each community has its own unique revitalization goals and opportunities. Successful redevelopment and
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revitalization require strong local leadership; inclusive and meaningful public engagement; a clear and
realistic vision for revitalization; and diverse public and private partnerships for implementation.
Together, these ingredients ensure communities – large and small – become better places to live, work,
and recreate. The program provides a flexible framework, consisting of three phases, so communities can
tailor their approach to redevelopment of strategic sites and affected areas through a locally-driven
process.

Phase 1: Pre-Nomination Study – The Pre-Nomination Study provides a basic preliminary analysis of
the area affected by brownfield sites including: a description and justification of the study area and
associated boundaries; a basic description and understanding of current land uses and zoning; the
delineation and description of existing brownfield sites and other underutilized properties; and a
description of the area’s potential for revitalization.

Phase 2: Nomination Study – The Nomination provides an in-depth and thorough description and
analysis, including an economic and market trends analysis of existing conditions, opportunities, and
reuse potential for properties located in the BOA with an emphasis on the identification and reuse
potential of strategic sites that are catalysts for revitalization. The Nomination concludes with a
description of key findings and recommendations to advance redevelopment of strategic sites and to
revitalize the area.

Phase 3: Implementation Strategy – The Implementation strategy funds a range of techniques and
actions to achieve revitalization objectives by advancing redevelopment of strategic sites and improving
supporting infrastructure and overall neighborhood revitalization through investment, provision for public
amenities, and improved environmental quality. Specifically, Phase 3 focuses on individual site
assessments, when required, to determine remediation strategies and needs. For strategic sites, detailed
reuse and redevelopment strategies are created along with marketing strategies.

Key Program Outcomes

Through a community-driven process, primary outcomes upon completion of all three Phases include:
 Clear and effective redevelopment strategies to achieve revitalization more quickly, resulting in
development that has a positive impact on the community.
 Informed site clean-ups – By conducting site assessments to better understand contamination
issues, clean-up options, potential future uses, and costs are better understood.
 Shovel-ready sites, ripe for redevelopment and investment for a range of businesses and uses.
 Established priorities for public and private investment.
 Environmental justice issues and concerns related to negative environmental consequences are
addressed and countered.
 Marketing materials are generated to attract interest and investment. Development projects that
are proposed consistent with the BOA Plan may receive a two percent tax credit bonus if the site
has been accepted in the Brownfield Clean-up Program.
 Multi-agency and private-sector partnerships are established to leverage investments to redevelop
sites, improve supporting infrastructure, and provide needed community facilities.
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1.3 Community Overview and Description

1.3.1 Introduction

The Community Overview section provides a broad understanding and context for the proposed East End
and Northern Neighborhoods BOAs as they relate to their location within the City of Amsterdam and
Montgomery County. The community overview includes a summary of demographic, social, and
economic characteristics, as well as a discussion of key community features and historical trends relevant
to the BOA planning process. An understanding of existing conditions and trends in the study areas will
inform the planning process and can assist community leaders in making decisions regarding the future of
their neighborhoods.

The City of Amsterdam is a small riverfront community in the historic Mohawk Valley region of New
York State. Located in northeastern Montgomery County, the city encompasses an area of approximately
6.3 square miles. A majority of the city is developed, with limited previously undeveloped land for new
growth. As is evident in the following analysis, there is significant acreage of previously developed land
within the city which should be targeted for reinvestment and revitalization.

The New York State Thruway (I-90) passes just north of the city with a direct connection to the
downtown. Amsterdam is an important crossroads location between population centers in eastern and
central New York State, as well as the recreational resources of the Catskill Mountains to the south and
the Adirondack Mountains to the north. In addition to the NYS Thruway, NYS Routes 30, 67, and 5 all
converge at Amsterdam.

The city is also located along a major east-west rail corridor, with CSX freight and Amtrak passenger
lines running along the north bank of the Mohawk River. Amtrak passenger trains currently stop at the
Amsterdam station three times each day allowing riders to access destinations along Amtrak’s nationwide
routes. The train station is located at the western edge of the city.

The Mohawk River is part of the New York State Canal System connecting the Hudson River at Albany
with the Great Lakes at Oswego and Buffalo. The historic Erie Canal is an important resource for boaters
and land-side recreational users enjoying the hiking and biking opportunities offered by the Erie
Canalway Trail which parallels the south side of the Mohawk River at Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is within a short drive of many important economic centers in eastern New York State. New
York State's capitol, Albany and the City of Saratoga Springs are each approximately 40 minutes by car
from Amsterdam. Johnstown and Gloversville are approximately 15 minutes away. The Luther Forest
Technology Campus and Global Foundries in Malta are approximately 40 minutes to the east and the City
of Utica and Marcy NanoCenter at SUNYIT are approximately 60 minutes to the west. Fulton
Montgomery Community College is just 10 minutes west.

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