For movie fans looking for a downtown alternative to the Saratoga Film Forum, the answer may soon arrive in the form of a multiplex proposed for Lake Avenue, as a part of two of the three proposals submitted to the city today to develop the High Rock parking lot.

A movie theater downtown has been bandied about before. Most notably during a Team Saratoga survey conducted by former Commissioner of Finance Matthew McCabe. The survey found that while what people wanted most to make the city more urban-feeling was a high-end grocery store. What they wanted second as an in-town movie theater. (The survey came to light again when discussion of the possible closure of the Rail Road Place Price Chopper was at it's peak.)

I, however, have been wondering whether of not a medium-sized movie theater would be able to make a stand in Saratoga Springs, when the Wilton Mall is only a short drive away, and the super-duper-stadium seating at Cross Gates Mall.

While I only attend the movies once in a long while, I would be much more likely to attend a movie that I could walk to. That being said, I'm pretty sure that I'm not a representative sample in this case.

On the other hand, Saratoga is an ideal place for the quintessential dinner-and-a-movie date, and why shouldn't we cash in on the extra sales tax revenue generated by movie ticket sales. And, if it's been proposed by two developers, the idea must have some ecnomic legs. We'll have to see what shakes out.