Hudson River waterfront trail. “That property was, since the 1950s, all railroad; a lot of this property that we’re developing hasn’t been used in a number of years,” explains Stammel. Small businesses are already taking root, with recent openings including a Mexican restaurant, ice cream shop, and a Sunoco convenience store with a food mart. However, gaps still remain. “We’re a bank desert, we haven’t had a bank in many years,” says Bonesteel, citing the closure of KeyBank years ago. A grocery store is another priority, especially after Aldi relocated outside the city. “We’re not going to get the commercial people until we get more people living here in the city,” notes Hulihan, “That’s our objective, provide housing, and therefore, when the market shows that with the number of residents we have here in the city, that will support new businesses showing up as well.” With these projects, Rensselaer isn’t just rebuilding, it’s reimagining what a small city can be. HOUSING AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH Rensselaer’s housing boom represents more than new construction, it’s the foundation for the city’s economic resurgence. Stammel recalls a time when the population exceeded 15,000, today, it stands 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 RENSSELAER, NY
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