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Village of Potsdam launches online vision survey; holds work session

Posted 10/30/24

POTSDAM — Do you have ideas for future development in Potsdam?

Is the village headed in the right direction?

What changes would you like to see downtown?

Residents, business …

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Village of Potsdam launches online vision survey; holds work session

Posted

POTSDAM — Do you have ideas for future development in Potsdam?

Is the village headed in the right direction?

What changes would you like to see downtown?

Residents, business owners and those who work in Potsdam now have an opportunity to chime in and contribute to an ongoing brainstorming session in the form of a survey online.

The village’s Office of Planning and Development recently held a workshop to brainstorm ideas about the future of the village, and an online survey has been launched to gather even more input and ideas from residents and those who work or own businesses here.

Village officials, and committee members gathered for the Village of Potsdam Vision Exercise, led by Village Economic Developer David Thurlow, after the Oct. 21 village board meeting to hash out ideas for the future of Potsdam.

“The vision exercise we conducted at the last board meeting brought together the Village board, staff, and committee members,” Thurlow told North Country This Week. “The exercise was meant to build on work the Village has done in the past, and also be a starting point for new ideas and goal setting. We have several transformative projects in the works stemming from our 2019 Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, including opportunities to improve Potsdam’s branding and marketing. For all these projects, we want to make sure everyone on our team is working in the same direction.”

About 25 village officials gathered for the workshop event where they broke into small groups and filled out worksheets with ideas for economic and cultural development in the village. The groups then shared their ideas with the rest of the group and discussed their favorites.

The survey, posted on the village website after the workshop for members of the public, follows along the same path.

The Village of Potsdam Identity & Vision Survey, found online at https://tinyurl.com/mw3zy224 , will gather ideas that help village’s economic developers identify goals for the community, especially in light of extensive project work planned for downtown that is to be funded by the state through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

“This work is meant to help align efforts for our current Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and other future Village projects,” the survey states.

The questionnaire asks the survey taker to identify themselves and their relationship with the community, whether resident, business owner or someone who works here.

Other questions include:

  1. What makes Potsdam special? What can we be proud of that is unique or important to us?
  2. What elements of Potsdam's HISTORY make it special?
  3. What elements of Potsdam's resources, geography, or built environment make it special?
  4. What elements of Potsdam's culture make it special?
  5. What would you say our community should care about, prioritize, or preserve?
  6. What else is great about living here or visiting?
  7. Imagine Potsdam's future in 10 years, where it has grown and evolved into a thriving and successful village. What does this future look like?
  8. What has improved (10 years from now)? e.g., not specific ideas, but general reasons people like to live here or visit.
  9. How should Potsdam feel as a village? What kind of atmosphere should it have? e.g., how would someone describe it to an outsider?
  10. What else should be included in a shared vision for what we want Potsdam to be?

The village is in the midst of several projects funded from some of its $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award it was promised by New York State in 2019.

Numerous businesses and organizations have received, or will receive, funding from the DRI award as well, including the North Country Children’s Museum, SLC Arts, Jernabi Coffee, rehab of the Market Square Mall and the Potsdam Food Co-op.

On the village’s workbench are two extensive and multi-tiered projects — the Downtown Streetscape and Riverwalk Trail projects, which together cost more than $4 million  paid for in DRI funding channeled through the state Department of State.

Potsdam’s Downtown Streetscape Enhancement project will include areas of Market Street from its intersection with Depot Street to the intersection with Maple and Main Streets, and Raymond Street from the intersection with Market Street to its terminus at Garner Park. New sidewalks, pedestrian safety features, decorative crosswalks, pedestrian-scaled LED street lighting through National Grid, stormwater management facilities, new street trees, way-finding signage, and street furnishings are some of the enhancements expected under the project.

The village's Downtown Riverwalk Trail Project area includes the section of Maple Street between Market Street and Clarkson Ave., Maple Street Park at the intersection of Maple Street, Clarkson Ave., and Sandstone Drive, and a connection between Sandstone Drive and Garner Park. The scope of work of that project will include bicycle lanes, new sidewalks, pedestrian safety features, a pocket park, pedestrian-scaled LED street lighting, new street trees, and way-finding signage.

“A strong community is one that has a shared sense of identity; where there is some agreement and understanding of what we care about, what makes us special, and what we are proud of,” Thurlow said. “Potsdam's history, resources, and culture are rich and unique, and we have the opportunity to keep improving. We want to gather input from the community on all of these elements to help us define that collective identity and vision. This survey invites everyone to share their thoughts and ideas. We also expect more opportunities for public input on specific upcoming projects, such as branding and marketing, in the near future.”