The Beginning of a new Era: The South Street Pavilion is Moving
Today, I was walking in downtown Glens Falls when I noticed a new sight on South Street; the Pavilion is gone.
I knew this was coming. The progress of the new Market Center on South Street is nearly complete, the Common Council recently agreed to fund 10% of the deconstruction (and construction) costs of moving the Pavilion to the Shirt Factory for preservation, and the crews had been hard at work over the past couple weeks dismantling the structure. The South Street Pavillion had been a mark of South Street for decades, as Pema Reed, a local resident, explained after persuading the owner of the Shirt Factory to help preserve the historic structure that is celebrating 25 years.
During a public comment on the March 11th Common Council meeting, she eloquently explained her story as she worked with dozens of stakeholders, public officials, and business owners to find a way to save the Pavillion from demolition. If you have the time, definitely watch and listen to her story; it is a beautiful example of how important our voices are to the city.
Standing 180ft long, the South Street Pavilion had been the summer home of weekly Glens Falls Farmer’s Market events on Saturday’s as well as covered parking the rest of the week. Since moving here in 2017, Michael and I have walked around the pavilion countless times, checking out the dozens of vendors at the Farmer’s Market. From the delectable baked goods of Dickinson’s Delights to fresh apple cider and more, it was the home to many local venders. We will always cherish those times, as I started to build relationships with those venders (Hi Jon and Tamberlyn!) and became a part of the community.
I do have a funny personal story regarding the pavilion. After working late on a Friday, I parked under the pavilion, forgetting to move my car later that night since we lived in an apartment on Ridge Street at the time. The next morning, I was stunned to realize that my car was towed away in order to create space for the venders, with the towing company nearly two miles away on Dix Avenue. It was a harsh lesson that still brings an embarrassed chuckle every once in a while.
As I described when I announced my intentions to run for Ward 5 Councilperson, the changes in the city are numerous in the past decade since driving to the city back in 2015. I am eternally grateful for the courage of Pema Reed for helping to orchestrate the deconstruction, and eventual re-construction, of the South Street Pavilion at the Shirt Factory. It will be a wonderful reminder that change, while inevitable, always spurs exciting new developments that bring new life to old streets. And the nostalgia of watching the Pavilion be constructed in a new home will bring new life to the Shirt Factory.
The Shirt Factory, a name that spurs memories of the original tenant decades ago, is a building with dozens of small businesses, from independent bookstores, art galleries, a tea shop, and more. Its rebirth began in 1996, when Eric Unkauf, the current owner, purchased the building at auction and began the process of preservation and restoration. Eventually reopening in 1999, with dozens of rooms for rent, igniting a firestorm of small businesses and artists to eventually call this place home.
As Eric Unkauf oversees its eventual re-construction, I look forward to new memories and events that will take place underneath its preserved structure. Our world is changing, our country is changing, our city is changing, and we are changing. We will persevere, acknowledging the past and strengthening the future together. It all starts with our voices.
