Yes, to some extent, but there's not always going to be times that they are out and roaming around...and in that case, you only have so many that can go around such an expanse of area. There needs to be one base, central location, as I see it. Look at it this way. If you live in Rotterdam proper, would you want to wait for a police car to come in from Pattersonville in case of an emergency? Or roll the dice and hope one is rolling through your neighborhood or an area near yours? And for communication, since they were just looking at a new radio setup recently, location is everything. That NEEDS to be able to reach the full distance...which it might not be able to do if it is located on one end of the area that needs to be covered. It may be spotty when the officer is trying to determine the address and the radio is breaking up because they're so many miles from the base.
Imagine how residents of the Junction feel with all the cars in Rotterdam "proper"
I understand what you're saying. Really, the best thing would be to have them at both places. The only problem is the good old bottom line. I don't think we could afford to have 2 stations, but in the end, it may be something that is needed. I don't know how far down the line, but it may be something to look into in the future. I imagine, though, that most of the calls (I would even gander a guess that 80-90%) of the calls for the police would be coming from Rotterdam "proper."
I understand what you're saying. Really, the best thing would be to have them at both places. The only problem is the good old bottom line. I don't think we could afford to have 2 stations, but in the end, it may be something that is needed. I don't know how far down the line, but it may be something to look into in the future. I imagine, though, that most of the calls (I would even gander a guess that 80-90%) of the calls for the police would be coming from Rotterdam "proper."
I really am agreeing with you Kevin ... but imagine being one of the 10% that had to wait an extended amount of time when they need an ambulance - or when there's a fire, or being the victim of a crime.
They need to address ALL of Rotterdam, systematically and with purpose. I suppose that's what they call a "Comprehensive Plan", but I could be wrong.
ROTTERDAM Drug store plans OK’d Capitol Plaza sale not yet set BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Rotterdam’s Planning Commission approved plans for a Walgreens pharmacy off Curry Road and Altamont Avenue, but doubts remain about the longawaited demolition of Capitol Plaza. Commission members revisited the project plans Tuesday, giving an approval that will allow the developer to seek a demolition permit and then dismantle the now-vacant 1950sera shopping plaza. The new approval was needed after owner Jeff Musiker and prospective builder Diamond Development LLC couldn’t agree on a sale price for the property before a special use permit for the drug store’s drive-through window expired last spring. However, Musiker said a fi nal sale agreement with Diamond Development hasn’t been completed. He would not discuss specifics. “Nothing has been fully worked out at all,” he said during a phone conversation after the commission meeting Tuesday. Town officials said Bob Blank, a principal with the developers, has assured them he has a contract with Walgreens until May 2009 and that the project could be completed within six months of the demolition. Blank, who did not attend the commission meeting, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday. The re-emergence of the project to build the 14,550-squarefoot drug store and 65-space parking lot comes only weeks after a Walgreens spokeswoman claimed the project was scrapped. Blank later insisted the Rotterdam proposal had only fallen off the company’s active list of projects, after the sale of the property stalled for more than a year. In 2005, developers proposed demolishing Capitol Plaza to make way for the chain pharmacy. Following its approval in 2006, the project faced numerous setbacks, including a lengthy relocation of the plaza’s 14 business tenants and the acquisition of a sliver of state Department of Transportation land adjacent to the plaza. Planing Commission Chairman Lawrence DiLallo said the shopping plaza is in dire need of attention. He urged the developers to “progress as fast as possible” to take down a building that has become an eyesore at a very visible intersection in the town. But during a review of the project, a Capitol Plaza tenant said Musiker was still trying to lease space in the building. Pat Corniello, the owner of Pat’s Men’s Shop, said Musiker had offered spots in Capitol Plaza to him and another business owner this month. “He asked me if I wanted to go back to the store two weeks ago,” said the business owner, who questioned who is telling the truth about the plaza’s future. DiLallo said Blank had assured him something could be worked out during a meeting in late August. He hoped the reissuing of a special use permit would help complete the discussions between Blank and Musiker. “We hope Mr. Musiker and Mr. Blank can get their heads together so we can start this project,” DiLallo said.
Did anyone hear about a car driving into Capital Plaza where the old LaBella's was located last night?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Driver charged with DWI in Rotterdam crash Friday, September 19, 2008
ROTTERDAM -- An 18-year-old Schenectady man was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center Hospital early today after his car slammed into a vacant commercial building at the Capitol Plaza shopping center, according to police.
Joshua Lewis of 2175 Tower Ave.was traveling along Curry Road about 1:15 a.m. when his vehicle veered off the road and into the shopping center at the intersection with Altamont Avenue. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and excessive speed. Police said Lewis' injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The building sustained "major damage," police said.
ROTTERDAM Car rolls through plate glass window Driver charged with DWI, speed
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Town police said a local man is facing drunken driving charges after he rolled his car, crashing through a plate glass window of the vacant Capitol Plaza early Friday morning. Police Lt. Michael Brown said Joshua Lewis, 18, of Tower Avenue, was traveling east on Curry Road in a 1988 Chevy Celebrity when he failed to negotiate a bend in the road at the intersection of Altamont Avenue. Lewis’ car sailed over the concrete median and then rolled through the parking lot before crashing into the shopping center around 1:15 a.m. Emergency personnel initially feared the teen suffered life-threatening injuries, so he was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center. However, Brown said Lewis’ injuries were not as severe as feared. A hospital spokeswoman listed Lewis’ in stable condition Friday afternoon. Lewis awaits arraignment on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge and was also cited for speeding. Crash scene investigators determined Lewis was traveling at a high rate of speed. Plaza owner Jeff Musiker is involved in negotiations to sell the property to a private development company, which has proposed demolishing the building and replacing it with a Walgreens pharmacy. The demolition was originally expected in March, but was held back after Musiker and Diamond Development LLC couldn’t reach an agreement. The town’s Planning Commission re-approved a special use permit for the pharmacy’s proposed drive-thru window this week, but Muskier said the sale still hasn’t gone through. Commission members have advocated for the plaza’s demolition lately, citing it as an eyesore at one of the town’s most trafficked intersections. Town code inspectors examined the building after the crash and determined that it did not sustain any major structural damage. “There was some structural damage, but the building is not at risk of collapsing,” Brown said. Musiker was dismayed to learn of the damage to Capitol Plaza, even as Diamond Development maneuvers to demolish the structure. He said the damage was the second sustained by the empty plaza this week, after someone apparently shot holes through one of the windows along Curry Road.
After the Rotterdam Planning Commission on Tuesday again approved a project that should never have been approved in the fi rst place — a proposed drugstore at the corner of Curry Road and Altamont Avenue — its chairman urged the developers to move as quickly as possible to remove an “eyesore” at that very visible intersection. We don’t find the funky, charming 1950s-era Capitol Plaza an eyesore — certainly no more of one than a new, suburban-style big-box drugstore, complete with oversized parking lot, would be. But even if it were an eyesore, it’s one of the town’s own making. When this project was approved two years ago, Capitol Plaza was a vibrant shopping plaza with 14 tenants, a wide range of local businesses from restaurant to dance studio to dry cleaners to print shop. But those tenants all got displaced after the Planning Commission gave its blessing to an out-of-town developer’s proposal to demolish the plaza and bring in a Walgreens pharmacy. Supposedly the developer and shopping plaza owner, an absentee landlord, had agreed on a price, but the sale was never consummated, the project was delayed, and a few months ago a Walgreens spokesperson said the company was no longer interested. Obviously the owner was foolish to give up his tenants before actually getting money for the property — he has been paying for taxes and maintenance the last two years with no income, and he is in a much weaker bargaining position to sell it now. But what about the planning commission’s and town board’s hands-off role in a deal between real estate speculators that was not in the best interest of the town? Not only would the tenants be forced to move, but there was no need for a new chain drugstore with a half-dozen, including supermarket locations, already in close proximity. The town also should have been quite wary about emptying out a viable shopping plaza when it has several large old ones nearby sitting vacant. Ideally the plaza would be refilled with small businesses. But that would probably require a new owner, since would-be tenants couldn’t trust the current one, seeing how he treated the old tenants. The Planning Commission has made such a sale less likely by once again approving the project, despite the lack of a final sale agreement and without confirming that Walgreens is again interested and will be coming. We don’t know what you’d call it, but it certainly isn’t planning
Would someone tell me exactly how smart and informed the gazette is?
Quoted Text
After the Rotterdam Planning Commission on Tuesday again approved a project that should never have been approved in the fi rst place — a proposed drugstore at the corner of Curry Road and Altamont Avenue — its chairman urged the developers to move as quickly as possible to remove an “eyesore” at that very visible intersection. We don’t find the funky, charming 1950s-era Capitol Plaza an eyesore — certainly no more of one than a new, suburban-style big-box drugstore, complete with oversized parking lot, would be. But even if it were an eyesore, it’s one of the town’s own making.
The Planning Commission is not in the legal position to tell a private property owner who or what developer to sell to. They may not 'like' the idea of a big box pharmacy being built in an already drug store saturated area...but that is not their call. Their job is to make sure these developments are with in the town codes.
Quoted Text
When this project was approved two years ago, Capitol Plaza was a vibrant shopping plaza with 14 tenants, a wide range of local businesses from restaurant to dance studio to dry cleaners to print shop
VIBRANT? Most people never really knew what was in that plaza. And the plaza owners did not seem to keep up their property either. There were never any improvements let alone keeping up with general maintenance.
Quoted Text
Ideally the plaza would be refilled with small businesses. But that would probably require a new owner, since would-be tenants couldn’t trust the current one, seeing how he treated the old tenants. The Planning Commission has made such a sale less likely by once again approving the project, despite the lack of a final sale agreement and without confirming that Walgreens is again interested and will be coming. We don’t know what you’d call it, but it certainly isn’t planning
I'm sure you'se wouldn't call it planning...since you'se don't know what the heck your are talking about. Businesses enter into contracts everyday and are given ample time to decide if the area is viable for their business. If not...they are gone...happens EVERY SINGLE DAY!.....A typical gazette spin.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I spoke with the owner of Capital Plaza. Their contract with Walgreens expired March 15, 2008 and has not been renewed. So they are now looking to make repairs and possibly update the building and is currently looking for new tenants.
I spoke with the owner of Capital Plaza. Their contract with Walgreens expired March 15, 2008 and has not been renewed. So they are now looking to make repairs and possibly update the building and is currently looking for new tenants.
nothing tried nothing gained.....and the best laid plans of mice and men........something will happen......just take a look at the Curry Rd shopping center..
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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