To the Editor:

In a hurry to get the Costco construction started, the company that brought you Crossgates Mall, Pyramid, went ahead and plowed down a lot of trees near Lawton Terrace on the east side of that mall during late March [“Protester sits on blade to try to stop tree-cutting for Costco,” The Altamont Enterprise, March 27, 2020].

This was done knowing that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, required by state law, had not even been officially reviewed by the town of Guilderland. Steve Wickham, who chairs the steering committee of the Guilderland Citizens for Responsible Growth, was not able to bring to a halt the operation I believe to be illegal. Later that day, a temporary injunction, issued by the town of Guilderland, has kept any more trees from being taken down for the time being. 

Economic growth is often a growing pain. Many do not like seeing it but it does indeed bring jobs and a greater tax base to a community. However, in this case, construction will also invade the precious Pine Bush, a unique preserved inland pine barren, one of the only 20 in the world.

A group called the “Save the Pine Bush” was created as a watchdog team to make sure what was left of the Pine Bush would not get developed. The Guilderland Citizens for Responsible Growth wants to see any growth done in a way that will not negatively impact the town of Guilderland.

To make matters worse, we are currently enduring a pandemic, the likes that we have not seen in over 100 years. The United States has lost as many lives from COVID-19 in a couple of months as we did with the entire Vietnam War, which lasted over a decade! Our booming economy, which many thought was over inflated, like a balloon, has indeed burst as COVID-19 has ravaged many sections of our country. 

When we finally claim victory over this nasty virus, it appears likely that many retail stores will not be coming back. JC Penny is one example of one that might not as it is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Even before the pandemic, the Sears retail store went out of business at the Colonie Center and has since been vacant.  

Here is an idea. Why not wait until the pandemic is over and see what anchor stores actually vacate at Crossgates? Perhaps, just perhaps, Costco can move into one of these abandoned buildings. Parking should be plentiful and the impact of traffic would be less severe than if it were located in front of the mall, on Western Avenue, near Johnston Road.  

The company should not proceed with construction during our period of social isolation as an attempt by the town of Guilderland to hold a town board meeting remotely has not been successful. Last but not least, again, let’s see how much of Crossgates Mall comes back to life.

Hugh Johnson

Albany