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.
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.