ONEONTA _ The city's downtown developer for the last 10 years is not seeking a new contract.
Jeff House was not one of the two proposers who filed documents with the city Purchasing Office by the deadline Friday.
House had a contract worth $42,000 annually that expired April 30.
Dana LaCroix and Tom Harrington, who is doing business as HP Holdings Consultants, are interested in the downtown developer contract, which has typically been renewed annually since 1998, according to the city Purchasing Office.
Their proposals will soon be reviewed by a team of evaluators, Purchasing Agent Edith Polhamus said Monday.
A recommendation coming from a Common Council committee, most likely finance, will be voted on by all aldermen, Mayor John Nader said.
The entire process is expected to take less than a month, he said.
House said Monday that he intends to help the city with the transition.
"I just thought it was a good time to move on and look at other things," House said of his decision. "I'm very proud of what we accomplished over the last 10 years."
These accomplishments of which he said he was a part include the development of the Clarion Hotel, Muller Plaza, Water Street and Foothills Performing Arts Center, as well as the continuation of the low-interest loan and grant programs offered through the city.
He said he does not have any immediate plans for other employment.
"I guess that remains to be seen," House said.
The evaluation team to choose a new downtown developer has yet to be selected, but all aldermen who wish to provide input on the recommendation will be given an evaluation sheet, Nader said.
In the past, the team has consisted of elected officials such as the mayor and city employees, including Community Development Director Joseph Bernier.
The changeover in the downtown developer position comes at a time when several storefronts are vacant.
House said that a few years ago, the city had a 100 percent occupancy rate.
"The last few years have been more challenging," House said.
A weak economy has hit the retail industry hard across the country and this has hurt most downtowns, House said.
As the number of retail businesses has declined on Main Street, he added, restaurants and offices have increased.
"Oneonta has done exceptionally well, comparatively speaking," House said. "I think we tend to forget how small we are."
His advice to whoever might takeover as downtown developer is to be optimistic and listen to the business owners and merchants.
"The business owners know more about business than the government or the media in this area," House said.
Angela Mallett is nearing the one-year anniversary of the opening of her store, Kid Stuff, at 193 Main St.
"I'm doing fine, but I wish we had more (foot) traffic," Mallett said.
Some of the biggest complaints she hears from the customers at her children's toy store are about student behavior and parking.
"What my customers tell me is that there are not enough shops and too many bars," Mallett said.
Mallett said she would personally like to see downtown focus more on families, year-round residents and tourists. After 5 p.m. on the weekends, the college students take over and in the mornings, there are sometimes messes left behind, she said
"I have to clean up things I wouldn't want to," Mallett said.
Nader said the city is embarking on a radio advertising campaign this week to encourage local and regional residents to visit downtown.
"We're certainly going through a difficult stretch," Nader said.
House would not weigh in on whom he would prefer take over as downtown developer.
"They're both very sharp, very smart people," House said.
LaCroix declined to comment on her proposal Monday, but said she has a background in the music and entertainment industry _ internationally and locally _ through arts promotion, event management and contract negotiations.
Last year, LaCroix, 42, working under a contract the city holds with the nonprofit business organization Main Street Oneonta, began fulfilling duties as an events coordinator for Main Street.
Harrington, 59, who recently retired from a 25-year career as a sales executive, also declined comment Monday.
He and his wife, M.D. Poole, own 269 Main St., which was the location for Poole's store, Private Drawers, which recently closed.
Harrington said he doesn't see any conflict of interest in owning property downtown and being the downtown developer.
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