æt ðə tˈaɪm ʌvðə pɹˈɑːdʒɛkt, dˈaʊntaʊn pˈoʊkiːpsi wʌz fˈeɪsd wɪððə kˌɑːmpətˈɪʃən ʌvðə pˈoʊkiːpsi plˈɑːzə mˈɔːl ˌɔn ɹˈaʊt nˈaɪn æz wˈɛl æz dˈʌtʃɛs mˈɔːl tˈɛn mˈaɪlz sˈaʊθ ɹˈaʊt nˈaɪn ɪn fˈɪʃkɪl.
At the time of the project, downtown Poughkeepsie was faced with the competition of the Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall on Route 9 as well as Dutchess Mall ten miles south Route 9 in Fishkill.