Metroplex opening draws political flap Rotterdam GOP says town's nomination to board being ignored by County Legislature chief, who calls it "bogus issue"
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007
ROTTERDAM -- Rotterdam Republicans are accusing Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage of balking at appointing the town's replacement on the county development authority. In early August, the Rotterdam Town Board passed a resolution nominating attorney Patrick Saccocio to finish Arthur Brassard's four-year unexpired term, which began in January. Brassard left the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority Board of Directors in late June to become county GOP elections commissioner.
Town Supervisor Steven Tommasone and Legislator Joseph Suhrada of Rotterdam want Savage, a Niskayuna Democrat, to put the nomination on the legislature's agenda for discussion.
"They are flat out ignoring it and I'd like to know what is going to happen," Suhrada said. "We want a delegate on there as we're entitled to. It's like they are trying to keep Rotterdam in the dark."
He believes the foot-dragging on the nomination is Savage's way to get someone in the post she can control, an assertion Savage denies.
Savage counters that Republicans are the ones playing politics and that only after Labor Day did she get the town's letter dated Aug. 31.
She sent out a Sept. 11 reply to Tommasone asking for Saccocio's resume, and is waiting for his response, before the whole panel will discuss that and development authority nominations from other county communities.
"When they send us a resume, we'll set up hearings, and go from there," said Savage, noting she is unaware of Saccocio or his background. "It's a pretty bogus issue that they are complaining that I have not done anything because we're not treating the Rotterdam nomination any different than what our usual course of business has been."
Rotterdam Town Attorney Gerard Parisi and Suhrada insist the original letter dated Aug. 17 went out to Savage, alerting her of the the town's recommendation.
Asked about the first letter, Savage said she hadn't seen it.
Metroplex has long been criticized by suburban communities for focusing development efforts on downtown Schenectady.
The 11 members who make up the Metroplex Board are from Niskayuna and Glenville, while Duanesburg and Princetown share an appointment and Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton and the City Council each have a representative on the panel. All serve four-year terms while the county has five representatives who serve for five years on the board.
Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said that since early 2004, there have been several projects totaling about $73 million that have or are coming to Rotterdam. Some of the larger ones include the Railex facility, FedEx Freight, and the Swiss company Von Roll.
Metroplex was formed in 1998 to revitalize and improve the quality of life in Schenectady County, its Web site states.
He believes the foot-dragging on the nomination is Savage's way to get someone in the post she can control, an assertion Savage denies
Of course this is what she wants...CONTROL! And she certainly ain't gonna make it easy for a rep to slip in there. Suzie and her sheep pretty much have the city and counties in their grip. My dear freinds, we are living in a true dictatorship! REALLY! Remember that 60% of the population of the city is supported by some government program. Our tax dollar! And Suzie and her sheep are very comfortable with that. They can continue to throw our tax dollar their way, to keep the 'out of the way and in the dark' and continue on their controlling, self serving way. This is a dictatorship at it's best(worst)!
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
Cheap labor is needed too.....SHOW ME THE $$ TRAIL.....I just spoke with someone who owns a home in the city....guess what their taxes are???
hold onto your pants and get out the toilet paper....$12,000.00 ........no land, just a little yard and a 3bedroom house--old house too......SHOW ME THE $$ TRAIL.......
...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
Hey senders...ya wanna see the money trail? Just drive down the two blocks of State Street. Check out the benefits of the SPD. Check out the benefits of the Sheriff's dept. Check out the benefits for all of the public employees. That's a start for ya!
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
Oh, and by the way, anybody that's looking for that Von Roll that they said came to Rotterdam? Well, I found it tonight. Come up the hill from the mall, go straight past the Mobil and when you smell the sewage and see the MFRH on your right, look leftat the next driveway. The part of town that everybody thinks is actually part of Schenectady? That's where Von Roll is hiding. And who knows what they're hiding there, although I must say, they're helping to spread out the tax base, although for school taxes, my bet would be that they are Schenectady City Schools down there. Not really sure, but a possibility.
Von Roll is part of the GE giant...and seems they deal a bit with the EPA...
Permit Status A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Part 373 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit was issued to the facility on September 28, 1993 and regulated the hazardous waste container storage area.
Quoted Text
Potential Threats and Contaminants The site contains numerous solid waste management units and former hazardous waste storage and disposal areas. The facility converted to a less than 90-day storage facility in 1994. Numerous spills have occurred at the plant and in conjunction with plant operations, have resulted in several areas of soil and groundwater contamination. Some areas have been closed under the RCRA corrective action program, others remain to be fully investigated and remediated under the New York State Inactive Hazardous Waste Remediation program. Historical sampling of groundwater, soils, and seep outbreaks at the site have indicated the presence of organic solvents, metals, petroleum products and traces of polychlorinated biphenyls in groundwater beneath the site. Cleanup Approach and Progress The technical work plan for a RCRA Investigation/Feasibility Study at the site was approved by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on May 7, 2001. The scope of work for this investigation was intended to address inactive hazardous waste disposal concerns, as well as resolve outstanding Resource Conservation and Recovery Act issues. Field work began in September 2001 and included monitoring well and soil boring installation, and soil and groundwater sampling. Results of this initial investigation revealed that additional investigations are warranted to delineate soil contamination at depth. This second phase of the investigation is anticipated to begin in 2004.
And where is this place dealing with all these chemicals and possible spills? Where else? Right at the top of the aquifer, of course.
Excellent investigative reporting there BK. I did know where VonRol was located. For years it always appeared to be hidden away, like it was making undercover secret somethings.
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
Has anyone ever kept track of all of the private businesses that we, the taxpayer, through the metroplex, have failed? We know that the Van Dyke went down the tubes, along with that mexican resturant that is closed and now what will happen to the Bistro. That is the downtown bar where someone was fatally shot last week. They lost their liquor liceince. Oh and lets not forget Luigi's that closed due to back sales tax that was owed. I mean what the heck, the metroplex kept Van Dyke afloat longer than it should have, but you would think that the tragedy Luigi's went through, they would have cut them some slack. I am not a fan of Metroplex, but as long as there is one, there should be more of a balance.
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
The business that was supposed to make the athletic shoes and sneakers went under too.
I forgot about that one. And does anyone know how the new Bow Tie Theater is doing? I heard that it has slowed down quite a bit. I guess Crossgates is still the number one choice for movie goers. It will be real interesting to see how the Bow Tie will weather the opening of yet another theater at Mohawk Commons.
I know that if I were going to go to the movies, the Bow Tie wouldn't even be in the running. Too scary down there for me.
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
SCHENECTADY $600K funding to continue work on downtown Facade program getting largest grant BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Grants totaling $600,000 will be used to prepare a coffee house in the Proctors complex for a grand opening Sunday, to build a “vertical garden” near the Hampton Inn and to continue improving the facades of downtown businesses. The Metroplex Development Authority board agreed Monday to distribute the grants to the downtown projects. The largest grant of $495,000 goes to the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp.’s facade program, which Metroplex hopes to turn into a countywide program next year. The DSIC facade program improves the exteriors of downtown businesses using established architectural guidelines. Business owners who participate must at least match the Metroplex grant. Monday’s grant brings to $1.6 million the total Metroplex has distributed to the DSIC facade program since 2002. The grants have, in turn, have sparked owners to provide an additional $2 million in matching funds and to make a further investment of more than $4 million in interior building improvements, said Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen. The current round of grants is targeted toward “key properties in and around the Proctors’ block,” Gillen said. Since 2002, the DSIC facade program has provided grants for 72 facade and sign improvements projects. The Metroplex grant allocates $60,000 for program administration and $40,000 for architectural services. An architect under contract to the DSIC offers technical guidance in project development and construction oversight, officials said. “We view this program as such a success that we are thinking of making it countywide,” Gillen said. “We are looking about expanding the program to the Hamburg Street corridor, the Scotia business district and to some of the other commercial corridors, including the corridor in Duanesburg,” he said. Metroplex is already providing grants to the Upper Union Street Business Improvement District for facade work. The awards have totaled $730,000 since 2004. “It’s nice to have a BID to work with. If we didn’t have a group like a BID, we would administer the grants directly or use a contractor,” Gillen said. Union Street formed its BID in November 2001. The Hamburg Street Merchants Association in Rotterdam is considering the formation of its own BID, officials said. COFFEE HOUSE In other awards, Metroplex gave a $50,000 grant to James Svetz to prepare 4,000 square feet inside the former Carl Co. for his Muddy Cup Coffee House and Cafe. The cafe is scheduled to open Sunday for Proctors open house of its $30 million expansion and restoration project. “I’m a determined person and I hope to be ready,” Svetz said Monday. He was taking a break from interviewing more than 100 candidates for 12 full-time slots at the Muddy Cup. As he spoke, workers were building the Muddy Cup from the ground up around him. “Everything is ready and in place, and everybody is working with us,” Svetz said. “We will offer a limited menu and all of our coffee house drinks on Sunday.” The Muddy Cup will occupy space in Robb Alley, the name given to the first floor renovated space of the former Carl. Co., which lies off Golub Arcade in the Proctors building. Svetz has already received a $50,000 loan from the Schenectady Local Development Corp. and plans to invest $50,000 in private financing to open the cafe. This would be his ninth cafe in New York state. Svetz said the cafe will be open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and to midnight on weekends. “It’s important to be open after 5 p.m. as part of an area’s redevelopment,” he said. “There is going to be a night life here and people will be coming down.” To stimulate the night life, Proctors and the Muddy Cup plan to schedule concerts, poetry readings, open mike nights and more in open space opposite the cafe in Robb Alley. Clark Music was slated for the space, but backed out, citing delays in the opening of the area. Both Morris and Svetz see the open space as a positive for the community. “It’s great to have this extra space. We will use it,” Svetz said. The space can hold up to 150 people. Morris said other activities will include chess tournaments and more. VERTICAL GARDEN A third grant of $73,000 is going to Proctors’ 440 State St. to create a “living wall” opposite the Hampton Inn. Morris said the plan is to build a trellis along the exposed wall that faces the Hampton Inn parking entrance. “We will grow a vertical garden, which will be started next spring. This winter, we will paint the wall,” he said. The wall was exposed when adjacent buildings were demolished to create shovel-ready space for the aborted Diamond Cinema project years ago and then for the Hampton Inn. The 440 State St. building is owned by Proctors and contains a 100-seat theater and other space for cultural activities. It is part of the new Proctors facility, consisting of the Proctors main stage and the GE Theatre, which contains 450 seats and offers Iwerks movies.
“We are looking about expanding the program to the Hamburg Street corridor, the Scotia business district and to some of the other commercial corridors, including the corridor in Duanesburg,” he said.
Well this sounds promising. I think! I am hoping that they already have plans for these areas. The metroplex seems to make decisions and move very quickly when it comes to the city, but as for us in the surrounding towns, it seems like a very slow drip.
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
Posted on: 10/10/07 Written by: Jessica Harding, Schenectady County Reporter email: hardingj@spotlightnews.com
After the city of Schenectady, Rotterdam has benefited the most from the work of the Metroplex Development Authority and, according to chairman Ray Gillen, more projects are still to come.
Through Metroplex’s efforts, Rotterdam has seen $119 million in new investment from projects like Railex, Fedex and Price Chopper’s new freezer warehouse.
Gillen presented the state of economic development in each of Schenectady County’s five towns at the county Legislature’s committee meeting Monday, Oct. 1.
Each month, Gillen presents an update to the Legislature about the state of economic development efforts in the area. After residents spoke about their displeasure with Metroplex at the last county Legislature meeting, Gillen decided to dispel the myth that it only works in the city and presented the projects that Metroplex is working on and has completed in the towns.
A small portion of county taxes, one half of one percent, goes to the Metroplex Development Authority each year. In turn Metroplex uses those revenues to generate commercial growth in order to expand the county’s property tax base, sales tax revenues and create jobs.
Rotterdam Supervisor Steven Tommasone said he is committed to using a portion of the $1 million the town received this year from Metroplex for economic development, including building infrastructure.
“Our administration, in my view, has been the first to carry through on utilizing those funds for planning and economic development,” he said. Gillen said some town residents don’t notice Metroplex’s presence because its work isn’t as obvious as the city’s revitalization efforts.
“People think we aren’t working in the towns because we are focused on smart growth,” Gillen said. “We work in commercial areas and try not to affect the residential areas.”
In addition to generating local growth and expanding the local tax base, Metroplex gives a portion of its revenues directly to the towns each year. Metroplex gives 30 percent of the money it collects from sales taxes directly to the towns. Since its inception Metroplex has given 24.17 million to the towns. This year alone it gave a record $3 million.
Metroplex is currently working on a variety of projects that will expand the tax base in Schenectady County’s towns.
Gillen said most of Rotterdam’s growth is happening in the Rotterdam Commerce Park, formerly the Industrial Park. Metroplex is working to renovate some of the old warehouses, fill them with tenants and put state-owned buildings back on the tax rolls.
Gillen said his team is also actively looking to fill the space left when VStream left the Opus Technology Park.
“In my opinion this is the nicest manufacturing space in the entire Capital Region,” he said.
Gillen said Metroplex is hoping to get a developer interested in the former farm at the intersection of Interstates 88 and 90. He said a truck stop would not be the ideal development for that area and is instead hoping for a mixed-use development.
Metroplex is also planning on sharing costs with the town to upgrade the sewer treatment facility to allow for a private developer to build a sewer line down Route 7 and is helping the Hamburg Street Merchants Association.
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