Capriotti Announces Improvements To Clemens Square Have Begun

[Twin Tiers Living 489]

ON a Facebook post earlier this week, Capriotti Properties announced the following:

Quote

 

The build-out of Centertown Social Club has officially begun, in the next step of the total transformation of Downtown Elmira's Clemens Square! Our vision for the full development of the Square is best captured in these sketches provided by the talented local artist Lindy Packard in creative partnership with Community Arts of Elmira, who will also be providing the interior finishes to our new gaming area, giving additional local flair to the space.

This is just the first of several projects we have underway along the square! Moving from west to east, our new Italian Deli/Bakery at the southeast corner of Clemens Square and North Main will offer ready-made sandwiches and pastries with a high standard of ingredients. Next, a commercial kitchen/food court is underway at the rear of the former Iszard's building, facing into the square and highlighting several kiosk style vendors with different ethnic & traditional food options. The former Diester and Butler space will be transformed into a Tapas style restaurant adjacent to a juice bar, followed by Centertown Social, a brewery-style bar and restaurant with a large gaming area featuring the newest golf simulators, a rooftop deck, an outdoor stage area, and custom night lighting features to anchor this new and exciting community gathering space. We have our culinary team and management team headed by Dain Reese in place and are excited about the experience and creative inspiration they will bring to the new indoor and outdoor food, drink, and entertainment options in the Square!

Elmira Works Coworking Space will continue to offer its all-inclusive and inspiring shared workspace and will continue to bring a vibrancy that has set the tone for the Square's environment. We would also like to thank Mayor Mandell and the City Council for their ongoing support of the revitalization of Clemens Square. We will be entering into an agreement with the city that will have us provide ongoing maintenance and cleanup, as well as handle entertainment programming in the Square through Centertown Social.

In addition to 20 plus condominiums to be built out on the upper floors of the former Iszard's Building, this critically underutilized block is slated to become the epicenter of entertainment in Elmira, conveniently flanked by the Clemens Center to the east and the First Arena to the west. Although a project this large takes some time to come to fruition, we are committed to the full and complete build-out of Clemens Square and are excited by the impact it will have on the great transformation already underway in Elmira’s Downtown!

 

Pics included in the post below:

 

[Chris 3,211]

Looks great and I wish them all the luck in the world. I also hope they have a way to keep the local transients from turning this into another daytime lounge like Wisner Park seems to be turning into. 

[Zapp Brannigan 223]

2 hours ago, Chris said:

Looks great and I wish them all the luck in the world. I also hope they have a way to keep the local transients from turning this into another daytime lounge like Wisner Park seems to be turning into. 

It looks great. Will make an even better open air restroom for the bridge dwellers 

[Pvt Snowball 44]

Is this rebuilt going to attract the residents and tourists?

[MsKreed 1,570]

2 hours ago, Pvt snowball said:

Is this rebuilt going to attract the residents and tourists?

That sure seems like that's what they're "hoping" for. 

It's been a yeas since the City of Elmira handed them more than half a million dollars for a plan they said was supposed to be up and running by now:

Quote

Capriotti Properties also received a $550,000 tourism grant from the City of Elmira to develop the property. The money is from the American Rescue Plan.

 “We’re just trying to get something for people to have to do in downtown Elmira year-round,” said Krusen. The goal is for ‘Centertown Social’ to open at the end of 2023 or early in 2024.   Source

Cleaning up the blight, debris and general shabbiness is absolutely essential if the City wants their 'investment' to draw business/revenue. 

Without that effort, I can't see 'tourists' (even from nearby towns outside the city) showing up, or any residents (of actual dwellings - not under a bridge) spending any time or money there. 

 

Edited May 25 by MsKreed

[KarenK 503]

1 hour ago, MsKreed said:

That sure seems like that's what they're "hoping" for. 

It's been a yeas since the City of Elmira handed them more than half a million dollars for a plan they said was supposed to be up and running by now:

Cleaning up the blight, debris and general shabbiness is absolutely essential if the City wants their 'investment' to draw business/revenue. 

Without that effort, I can't see 'tourists' (even from nearby towns outside the city) showing up, or any residents (of actual dwellings - not under a bridge) spending any time or money there. 

 

Agree.  When they have their evening events and even larger daytime ones (AA5, Street Festival are some) they manage to draw very large crowds and keeps things clean.  

The parking garage is going to be their main area of concern no matter how you look at it.  It's disgusting and as an long time employee of downtown Elmira I can tell you that it's been that way since the 80's when I parked there every day.  Wouldn't walk to my car alone when I got out of work at Newberrys at 9pm.  That is definitely not new, but I didn't have social media in the 80's.

Security is going to be their only hope, at least during the day when the larger crowds don't come in.  Most of those folks under the bridge have no interest in interacting with people.