SCHENECTADY - There are signs of construction up and down Lower State Street, a spurt of redevelopment that officials hope will revive a once forlorn part of downtown.

Mayor Gary McCarthy said that several of the construction projects should be done by the fall.

The work is happening on several blocks to west of the so-called Proctors block, the city's downtown entertainment area that features several restaurants as well as the theater and Bow-Tie Cinema.

"There's been significant amount of investment and interest in that section of State Street," McCarthy said of the new work. "It's good for Schenectady, it's good for the whole region because it shows that people are looking at urban areas differently where people want to move and invest."

One linchpin projects is the $25 million Mill Artisan District, a proposal by developer and architect JT Pollard to convert several mostly vacant properties at State and North Church Streets and Mill Lane into 74 apartments, space for tech companies, culinary, restaurants and brewing programs. The project is also expected to include a large shared space that will host a brewery, distillery and a cooperage.

In February, the Jahnel Group, a software development company, announced it would be making the move to the top floor of the Breslaw building, which is being built as part of the project.

Pollard, who owns Re4orm Architecture in downtown Schenectady, said last week that he would have more to say about the project in coming weeks.

Ray Gillen the chairman of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, said Pollard has "new tenants that he's working on" and would likely make an announcement by the fall.

Work is also continuing on several other projects, including the 105 luxury apartments that are part of the $20 million Electric City Apartments at the corner of State Street and Erie Boulevard.

The building, which is being developed jointly by Highbridge Development and Prime Companies, will also feature nearly 10,000 square-feet

On the western edge of State Street, the former YMCA at 13 State St. has been transformed into 61 apartments for senior citizens by a Norstar Development of Buffalo.

The 104,000-square-foot, four-story structure comes with a fitness center, library plus a community and entertainment room. Roughly about 8,650 square-feet on the first floor is being leased by Schenectady County Community College.

Not far from there, is the community college's Kindl Building at 201 State Street. The structure, named for late local engineer Fred Kindl, is the new $1.6 million home for the college's workforce development program, which features office space, classrooms, a computer lab and meeting rooms.

Earlier this year, the New York BizLab, a start-up incubator, celebrated the opening of its new location at 251 State St. after spending nearly $2 million to upgrade the 25,000-square-foot building that once housed the county's DMV office.

Across from the YMCA, the erstwhile Liberty Park has expanded and the more pedestrian-friendly green space with a plaza is now known as Gateway Park.

In June, the Board of Trustees for SCCC voted to lease space at the Mill Artisan District for the school's craft beer brewing program and culinary arts program. Additionally, SCCC's new craft distillation program will be using the space.