Saving an endangered
Adirondack species
By Webster Parker
Posted on: Wednesday, October 3, 2007
When asked to identify Saranac Lake’s greatest asset, many citizens
reply “community.” They are referring to a collection of elements
largely delivered and maintained by committed year-around residents and
their families. The continuity, civility, stewardship and volunteerism
they bring have maintained Saranac Lake as a “hometown.”
The recently completed (mostly by volunteers) regional Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy initiative acknowledges what many already
sense as they bear witness to declining school enrollments and the
growing inventory of modest village homes for sale: Our key local
“species” of the robust year-around residential family is endangered.
The number of working families has been decreasing in the area for
decades, and they are on a track to virtual extinction, or at least
marginalization, within the next generation without aggressive
intervention. The introduction of more second homes with seasonal and
transient residents will not fill the void left with their departure.
Perhaps this is the inevitable outcome of Western demographic trends in
conjunction with the well documented exodus of the young and upwardly
mobile from upstate New York. Some may argue it is an unintended (or
even intended) consequence of larger efforts to “preserve” the
Adirondacks. But given our community’s precious uniqueness, it deserves
a closer look. For Saranac Lake, the causes, effects and possible
solutions to this decline may lie in its economy, downtown and
government:
¯The economy: The local, state-funded jobs in categories of
caregiving and incarceration have provided the core community economic
base now for generations. These jobs, in turn, have driven the demand
for other services, such as education and health care, which are also
major employers. Real wage growth in this state sector has, as of late,
gone from generally low to negative with disproportionate local spikes
in housing and energy. To make ends meet, more are commuting to these
jobs from outside the area. Additionally, the security of these careers
is now in question with the new governor’s commitment to explore the
“consolidation” of upstate prisons and lower health provider subsidies.
Our decrease in political influence, partially caused by our relative
(perhaps absolute) drop in voting population, will probably not
immunize us from this trend or score a genuine replacement from
cash-poor Albany.
It is difficult to identify an alternative from the private sector.
Retail and hospitality (aka tourism) careers, which are regularly cited
by Forbes as among the “25 Worst Jobs,” will not fill this gap. Given
the local cost and regulatory environment, the prospects of a company
bringing hundreds of stable, high-quality jobs are on par with Lower
Saranac Lake becoming the preferred habitat of whales.
A viable option may lie in leveraging our asset of “lifestyle” by
applying available technology that has an invisible ecological
footprint. A number of our year-around residents are doing very well
serving global clients and employers via the Internet. This evolved on
its own upon our gaining broadband connections. A higher broadband
initiative, now under review here (driven by volunteers), could widen
the possibilities for scientists, engineers, media technicians,
academics and others seeking faster high-volume data transfers. If
successful, such families could come with the purpose of enjoying and
preserving the hometown lifestyle. As they apply their human and
financial capital, the benefits will cascade throughout the community.
But before they make such a commitment, they will need to see progress
on the next two items.
¯The downtown: Our “Little City ” business district is the
physical manifestation and vital cornerstone of our community identity
and social fabric. For decades it has been in slow decline, starting
with the larger chain stores being established on the outskirts of the
village that have since drawn new businesses to co-locate with them.
More recently, the malls of Plattsburgh have become the more common
commercial venue where many of us see our neighbors. The discussion of
this problem has been highly divisive for our community, with lines
strictly drawn between pro- and anti-mega-retail factions. Large
retail, taken in isolation, is arguably a net drag on the tax base and
lifestyle. Shunning it, however, we are putting another economic nail
in the coffin of the very species we are seeking to protect and
attract, without whom the downtown will wither even further.
Our task is not to court a mega-retailer per se, but a developer who
has the imagination and wherewithal to bring a multi-purpose,
multi-level and tasteful project to our downtown that will include
proper facilities for 21st-century grocery and goods shopping. Done
right, the character of this area could be greatly enhanced while
adjacent local businesses, including many that currently exist, will
flourish. Our commercial center of gravity will re-establish itself
downtown for good.
Creating a detailed and credible vision that will attract the attention
of such a developer could be a key challenge to the recently mobilized
volunteers on the Urban Planning Advisory Team and Comprehensive
Planning Committee.
¯The government: As eloquently covered by others in this column,
“Saranac Lake” is a community concept not reflected by its government
structure. We are fragmented by two counties, three towns and a
village. The lack of sufficient authority by any one of the town or
village boards (volunteers) relegates them to escalating competition
over control and a revenue base that is shrinking relative to rising
obligations. Gridlock and frustrated attempts to deliver joint
efficiencies reinforce the conclusion that significant strategic
measures are too hard to take on within the existing framework. Without
decisive, bold and quick action to form an effective government
structure, the prospects of our addressing really tough issues,
including the economy and downtown, are bleak.
A solution that our current leadership is pursuing is one of
permanently removing a layer of local government. The “co-terminus
borders” scenario calls for the extension of the village line to
include the entirety of Harrietstown. While the process and political
details are many, there is one thing that is very clear: Our success in
achieving any major government initiative will hinge on whether we, the
citizens and electorate (as volunteers), close ranks and support them.
The survival of the year-around residential family species that now
defines our community of Saranac Lake is at a tipping point. History
will record this moment as when we made a conscious decision to restore
its habitat and save it, or let it go.
Webster Parker is a year-around resident with a family in Saranac Lake.
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