The New Street of Dreams.

If you grew up in Glens Falls, you know South Street.
You probably know another name for it too: The Street of Dreams.
Depending on when you lived here, that nickname meant different things. Sometimes it reflected optimism. Sometimes it was spoken with a bit of irony or even sarcasm. But beneath it all was the same idea: South Street has always been a place where people took chances, opened businesses, built livelihoods, and believed something better was possible.
Today, that name feels more fitting than ever.
Walk South Street today and you’ll see restored historic buildings, new housing, thriving small businesses, public gathering spaces, entrepreneurs, arts and culture, and renewed energy. But the story doesn’t end there.
The momentum has spread well beyond South Street.
Across downtown and throughout the City of Glens Falls, nearly $150 million in public and private investment has helped reshape the community. Hundreds of new housing units have been completed or are under construction. Historic buildings have found new life. Restaurants, shops, offices, arts venues, and mixed-use developments have strengthened the heart of our city and created new opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
None of this happened overnight. It began with a vision.
Long before many of today’s transformational projects, local leaders, property owners, entrepreneurs, investors, and community partners believed in the future of downtown and continued investing when success was anything but certain. Among those visionaries was the late EDC President Ed Bartholomew. Ed understood something that remains true today: funding doesn’t create vision, vision attracts funding.
The New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative became a remarkable catalyst, accelerating projects that had been years in the making. The original $9.7 million DRI award leveraged tens of millions of additional public and private investment, helping transform ideas into visible progress. That momentum has continued to grow, with total downtown investment now approaching $150 million.
While we celebrate the buildings, businesses, housing, and public spaces that have transformed our city, perhaps the greatest accomplishment is something less tangible.
People believe in downtown Glens Falls again.
Here’s to everyone who helped write that story, and to those who are writing its next chapter.