The red goats are coming … back?

“Because there was so much positive feedback about the red goats, there are already at least some business people who would like to see that used as a mascot,” said Paulsen. “Even if they’re not placed on the planters, they could be used in some other way.”

Gallo said that he would be open to some form of art on the planters, even the return of the red goats, but only under certain conditions. According to Gallo, the commission would need to develop a consensus among Uptown stakeholders regarding the content and composition of the artwork. Gallo added that he wanted to see a process in place for choosing the art as well as clear lines of responsibility for maintenance and graffiti removal.

“If those questions can be answered, and there’s a consensus, I’m wholeheartedly in support of it,” said Gallo.

Kingston Common Council Majority Leader Tom Hoffay (D-Ward 2), who represents the Stockade District, acknowledged that the planters, in their current form, were unpopular and called the discussion about potential improvements “positive.” But Hoffay noted that the red-goat graffiti had led to bitter disagreement and rancor between those who believed the goats were harmless guerilla art and those who saw them as no different from the graffiti tags which blight the city. Their return as a city-sanctioned public art project, Hoffay predicted, would likely reignite the furor.

“What works for the art community may or may not work for the retail community,” said Hoffay. “This is an opportunity for discussion, but if they just go ahead and put up red goats, they are going to turn off a lot of people who felt what happened was not legitimate.”

Pike Plan Commission members and stakeholders praised Gallo for showing up at all. During the lengthy and torturous development and execution of the renovation, property owners frequently lamented that former mayor James Sottile had adopted a hands-off approach and that complaints about the project to City Hall fell on deaf ears. Anger over the project helped contribute to the election to the Pike Plan Commission of die-hard opponents of the restoration who wanted the circa-1975 portico torn down (the majority of commission members are elected by 39 stakeholders who own property abutting the canopies).

Along with the art proposals, discussion at the meeting included a plan to reverse the course of traffic on Wall Street, redevelopment of the site of a former city parking garage onNorth Front Streetand addressing leaky roofs on the newly refurbished canopies.

“Notwithstanding some of the bad feelings about the project there’s still a sense (among Pike Plan stakeholders) of cooperation and a willingness to work with the city,” said Gallo.