Auburn Arterial

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Forty years ago, Auburn was in the midst of one of the most transformative periods in its history: urban renewal.

The transformation mostly consisted of three distinct but inseparable components: the demolition and replacement of several downtown buildings through the City Center Urban Renewal Project, the construction of the Arterial highway and the creation of Loop Road.

Even today, conflicting feelings linger over the transformation — many of which concern how Auburn, with assistance from the state and federal governments, accomplished it.

Read more about the history of Urban Renewal in Auburn. https://auburnpub.com/news/local/auburns-great-divide-how-urban-renewal-the-arterial-have-affected-the-city/article_99f07eeb-81b8-53a7-b164-1c126e840991.html

The propane flare burns into the night by suburban office 🏢

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I stopped at Tractor Supply to fill my propane tank, so I should have plenty for summer vacation. Picked up my bicycle with the flat tire at the office and decided it would be a nice night for a walk at Peebles Island.

As I walk at Peebles Island I’m reminded of the girl from work who died of brain 🧠 cancer. She was all about Waterford, an old mill town 🏭 about ten miles north of Albany still known for the paper factories and and GE Silicones that not only save energy but leave behind massive mounds of toxic chemicals just north of the city. Just north of the factories where they mix oily substances and hazardous waste, burn it a high temperature and take shale, heat it and expand it for lightweight aggregate to build buildings and roads on it. 🪨Pure madness I am told.

I was going to go to the Henry Hudson Park and sit down there until we’ll after dark and read 📖 but ultimately decided on Peebles Island. I’m sure come 8:15, Moses men will be reminding me it’s time to go home 🏡. I mean, they’re probably not wrong. I might go to Waterford then and sit there until dusk 🌆 then head back home, stopping at Wally World for supplies and groceries.

Waterford is a charming small town. 🏫 Ignoring the pollution from the factories 🏭 maybe it’s a place I should consider moving to. That new Blue Busplus line 🚍 would be convenient and it’s Saratoga County with lower taxes and better sheriff’s department if I wanted to eventually get my pistol permit. 🔫 Probably cheaper too then anywhere around Albany for a decent neighborhood. Maybe it’s just pretty with the moonlight and a great sunset. A lot of the downtown is on street parking 🅿 which sucks. I do get why that colleague loved 😍 her small town so much.

Tomorrow I’ll probably camp at Cole Hill or Rensselearville State Forest. 🏕 Going to be a a beautiful moonlit night even if the day is a bit cool and cloudy. 🌥 Then Sunday spend riding trail at Partridge Run and maybe cool off with an e-book 📖 in the Switz Kill before going out to see the folks.