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Downtown Randolph
Randolph, Cattaraugus County
threat: demolition; municipal disinvestment
The
Village of Randolph, East Randolph and the Town of Randolph in
rural Cattaraugus County, are currently exploring the opportunity
to upgrade their combined administrative facilities in a new location.
Unfortunately, in what is an all too common decision by local governments
today, the municipalities are proposing to build a new complex
outside of the existing commercial center. If this were to happen,
it would truly be a missed opportunity for the people of Randolph
to see the best, and perhaps only, chance for substantial investment
in the future of their downtown and in the historic fabric that
defines the unique character of their community.
A decision by the
local municipalities to re-use one, or potentially two, of the
underutilized buildings along Main Street would set a positive
example for communities across New York State with similar opportunities.
Too often, municipal office facilities are located today in new,
single-story structures surrounded by parking. These non-descript
buildings do not adequately inspire a sense of pride in or contribute
to a community’s vitality
or unique sense of place. In addition, the common location of
these new facilities outside of downtowns further contributes
to the deterioration of older central business districts.
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