Outdoor plaza has worked for Batavia. Would it work in Utica?

This would offer tourists and townspeople alike more options to shop as well as more to do while visiting our quaint village.

—  Amanda Carter, Utica Business Association president

Utica Mayor David Stewart was pleased with the feedback to the outdoor plaza the village proposes to build north of the tornado memorial. He’s excited about its potential.

Then, he got some numbers from the Batavia Boardwalk, one of the outdoor plazas Utica used as a model. Now, Stewart is really excited.

The shops manager for the Batavia Boardwalk reported combined sales for 2020 (eight boardwalk shops) of $369,617, with an average of 323 transactions per shop per month. The 2021 numbers aren’t final yet, but through September the combined sales (10 shops) came to $265,234 and counting, with an average of 248 transactions per shop per month.

“Those are some pretty astonishing numbers,” Stewart said. “The 2020 numbers looked incredible considering that was when the pandemic began.

“We are hopeful to see a large increase, as well.”

The data comes courtesy of Jamie Saam, Boardwalk shops manager, who told Utica officials they are welcome to call her for guidance on how to develop the project. It is, in fact, an idea that’s catching on elsewhere.

“I just helped Berwyn launch their take on our project (berwynshops.com),” Saam said, “and actually went to their groundbreaking.”

Whether the project takes off in Utica depends on whether the village gets a grant of more than $1 million. As previously reported, the village board agreed to apply for the Rebuild Downtown and Main Street Grant Program. If awarded, a retail plaza with 12 portable buildings [working title: Mini Mill Street Shops] would be located north of the tornado memorial.

Projected costs are between $1.2 million to $1.5 million. The board passed a companion vote pledging $250,000, or 20% of the costs, to the project – but only if the grant is awarded.

The idea of an outdoor shopping plaza began brewing after Utica’s success with outdoor dining on Mill Street. If people enjoyed dining outdoors, why not have an outdoor shopping component nearby?

The Utica Business Association, for one, is on board.

“The proposed element of seasonal retail space to the downtown area would be an excellent addition for not only the Village of North Utica, but for all Utica businesses,” UBA president Amanda Carter said. “This would offer tourists and townspeople alike more options to shop as well as more to do while visiting our quaint village. The expected uptick in visitors would surely boost incoming traffic to our current village businesses.”

The project created a buzz. Stewart said he hasn’t received any applications – business owners understand the project won’t fly without a grant – but he’s been pleased with the feedback and the preliminary inquiries.

“I have received a couple calls with questions on the buildings and how the rental structure would work,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of details currently, as this project is all hinged on receiving the grant the village is applying for. We are very hopeful we will qualify, and will see the project completed.”

The parcels have been vacant since a 2004 tornado leveled the Milestone Restaurant and Lounge [killing the eight people who took cover inside] and the surrounding buildings. The lot is in the Clark’s Run flood plain, which has scared off past developers. Village Engineer Kevin Heitz said previously creating the outdoor plaza does not preclude building permanent structures.

“Although I really see this taking off,” Heitz said, “I’d like to keep these portable in case brick-and-mortar construction comes along.”