What's Happening With Nyack's Downtown Redevelopment?

Nyack's Superblock Study—which examines the possible revitalization of 3.65 acres downtown—is an ambitious and sprawling project. It is aimed at eventually redeveloping the area where the Riverspace theater, parking lots and M&T bank stand into shops, apartments and a cultural hub.

The project's roots can be traced back to the 1960s, when urban renewal replaced downtown infrastructure and landscape with parking, and left many residents with a sour taste.

On Sept. 14, Nyack residents will have an opportunity to hear village officials and HR&A representatives—the primary consultants for the Superblock Study—speak about the project's progress, feasibility and purpose.

The meeting will be held at the Nyack Center, located at 58 Depew Ave., at 7 p.m.

"HR&A and the other consultants have spent the summer getting to know the superblock site and everybody involved in the arts, business and development in the village," wrote trustee Doug Foster in a recent press release. "They have worked through various options for redeveloping the Superblock and done a preliminary analysis on their feasibility."

At the meeting, officials, consultants and the public will examine the four possible redevelopment plans that have come out of the $75,000 study.

At this point, a few readers may be scratching their heads and asking, "is the Superblock project related to the Riverspace Downtown Plan?"

The Superblock project was preceded by the Riverspace Downtown Plan, a concept put forth in February of 2008 that aimed at introducing an arts center and several news shops and apartments to Nyack's downtown.

This plan transformed into the Superblock project approximately one year ago; the village introduced the Superblock Feasability Study, which was financed by South Nyack's Rosie O'Donnell.

The study is a ten-step process aimed at determining if downtown redevelopment is economically possible, and consists of three major elements: a use study (which examines what the area can be used for), a market study (which examines the demand for said uses) and a parking study (which examines the consequent increase in and solution for parking demands).  

Next week's meeting is the halfway point for the ten-step process. It's a chance for curious, receptive and unsupportive resident alike to become part of the process.

"This is 'the' meeting where the community will have a chance to discern what type of downtown we want," Foster said.

The ten-step plan will conclude this November, culminating in HR&A's official recommendation for downtown revitalization.