For a while now, Carl Paladino has been floating around the idea of converting the former Baker’s Shoe store into luxury apartments. The project was announced at the same time of his intentions to redevelop the Courtyard Mall next door.

The Courtyard Mall ended up being the new NYS Parole Office and ideas were floated around last year for the office component (1st floor) of Baker’s Shoes to be a spot for institutionalized people with mental disorders AND luxury apartments on top (concept FAIL). I don’t think that is still in the works. Parolees and the mentally unstable deserve good facilities but it doesn’t quite fit in with what Main Street downtown should have.

Anyways, not much if any work has happened on Baker’s but now that the Courtyard Mall rehab is complete (and oh what a rehab it was!) it might be Baker’s turn now. Apparently a gutting of the facility is taking place now. Hopefully that actually is the case.

The Pearl Street side of the building is actually quite attractive and its a very deceptive structure-I never think of it as a 7-floor building when I see it on Main. Here’s hoping the rehab is underway and that it works-not sure how easy it will be to get people with money to live next to a parole facility.

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