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Hearing slated on seizure of State Street site

    The Schenectady City Council will hold a public hearing tonight on whether to take a businessman’s property by eminent domain so that Bethesda House can move to the site.
    The public hearing will be at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
    The issue began when business owners opposed Bethesda House’s proposal to build a larger structure for its mentally ill and homeless clients downtown.
    Many business owners urged the agency to move elsewhere. City officials persuaded Bethesda House Executive Director Margaret Anderton to move to 834-838 State St., where the city owns three parcels.
    The only trouble is that the fourth parcel needed for the relocation is the 22-year office of Anderson Blacktop. Owner Fred Anderson is willing to sell, but only at double the city’s asking price.
    Negotiations reached an impasse, Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said, so he asked the council to consider seizing the property by eminent domain. A judge would determine the fair market value for the property.
    The city has appraised Anderson’s property at $75,000 and, according to Anderson, offered as much as $125,000. But Anderson wants at least $150,000, citing the fact that he’d have to relocate his business and lose the income from the apartments above his current offi ce.
    Bethesda House would pay for Anderson’s property as well as demolition of three buildings. Then the agency would build a $4 million structure with a drop-in center and housing for the chronically homeless. It has already raised the $4 million needed for that project.

I CANT EVEN BELIEVE THAT THIS CONVERSATION GOT THIS FAR.....I WAS UPSET WITH THE MAROTTA CONVERSATION (JUST ANOTHER SMOKE SCREEN).....

DONT TREAD ON ME.....LET THE BETHESDA HOUSE FORK IT OVER AND LET THOSE THAT 'DONT LIKE SEEING' THE HOMELESS FORK UP THE BUCKS AND GIVE THE WORKING MAN HIS $$ DUE---HELLO, IS THIS RUSSIA???????......

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SCHENECTADY
Officials offer another Bethesda House option
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter

    As a crowd gathered Monday to oppose using eminent domain to make a space on State Street for Bethesda House, city officials announced that they’ve found another, better site for the proposed center for the homeless and mentally ill.
    But the Schenectady City Council went ahead with a public hearing on whether to seize a businessman’s property for the Bethesda House site anyway, leaving residents confused about what the council intended to do.
    “This new proposal is very new to us. We want to hold this hearing in case we have to do eminent domain,” council Chairwoman Margaret King said.
    Some council members said they preferred the new site, 917 State St., which is already owned by the city. It is vacant property so Bethesda House would not have to pay for demolition before building its new center.
    But Councilman Gary McCarthy said 917 State St. might not be a viable option.
    “Bethesda House was shown that site. Originally, Bethesda House was not in favor,” he said, adding that he would personally prefer it over using eminent domain to take 838 State St., the 22-year office of Anderson Blacktop.
    “The 917 site is cheaper and quicker,” he said.
    The council chamber was packed with residents on the eminent domain issue — government’s taking of a property for the public good — and many chose to speak as if the city were not considering 917 State St.
    More than a dozen speakers urged the council not to use eminent domain to take 838 State St. Many also said the city was wrongly forcing Bethesda House to move out of the downtown.
    “You’re closing us away from the community so they won’t see us,” said resident Deborah Rembert. “You need to see Bethesda House. If you see Bethesda House, maybe you’ll start thinking about doing better for the people.”
    Resident Katherine Delain added that Bethesda House should be allowed to build a bigger facility downtown. Its current site is too small for the proposed 16 housing units it wants to provide for the chronically homeless.
    “I think it belongs where it is now. I think you arm-twisted them to force them from their location,” she said.
    She and others also said that, like some downtown businesses, Vale neighborhood residents won’t welcome Bethesda House if it does move to State Street.
    “This is a fragile neighborhood and you’re going to put people there who make it more fragile,” Delain said.
    Resident Mark Townsend said, “We should have had six months to fight this like downtown did …This is part of the national trend to get the undesirables out of downtown. This is a disgrace. You’re trying to dump it on a vulnerable community.”
    He said the center would be detrimental to a proposed express bus line from State Street to Albany and said the center is the wrong way to develop Vale.
    “You say, ‘Oh, this is where the poor are.’ This is a proposal to keep them there, not revitalize the community,” he said.
    He was referring to Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden’s opening presentation on the issue, in which Van Norden said the location would be sensible because Bethesda House offers services for the working poor. Vale and Hamilton Hill have more residents living in poverty than any other neighborhood in the city, according to census data.
    Residents also told the city not to use eminent domain to create a space for Bethesda House.
    “It’s nice to help the poor and the needy, but you’re going about it the wrong way,” said Harry Brand. “You can’t give the man an extra $25,000? It’s a shame.”
    The city’s negotiations with Fred Anderson, who owns 838 State St., appear to hinge on whether Anderson will sell for $125,000 — which he says was the city’s highest offer — or $150,000, which he says is the lowest he will accept. City officials offered to buy his lot so they could combine it with three adjacent parcels owned by the city, creating a space big enough for Bethesda House.
    Van Norden said he looked for alternate sites and found 917 State St. because negotiations with Anderson bogged down.
    Anderson attended Monday’s meeting but did not speak. His daughter, Pamela, told the council that her father isn’t asking for an unreasonable amount of money.
    “He’s one of the few minority businessmen in Schenectady. I am distressed that this seems to be pitting Freddie Anderson against Bethesda House,” she said. “Both are just as valuable to the community. He’s not saying there’s no need for Bethesda House. What we’re asking for is fairness.”
    Bethesda House Executive Director Margaret Anderton declined to speak on whether she supported taking 838 State St. by eminent domain, offering a higher purchase price, or moving to 917 State St.

No one is sure about what to do about "those people".......

http://www.timesunion.com

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Bethesda House cool to city land
Schenectady has offered plot to nonprofit, but organization pursuing other site for $4M facility

By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer .
First published: Thursday, January 31, 2008

SCHENECTADY -- Bethesda House hasn't yet decided whether to build a $4 million facility for the chronically homeless on city-owned land at 917 State St.
The city has offered the parcel to Bethesda for its proposed 16-unit site because of problems negotiating a sale price between Bethesda and the owner of the property at 838 State St. that the nonprofit organization wants.
     
Bethesda House Executive Director Margaret Anderton would not comment on how her organization feels about 917 State St. But she referred to published comments from City Council member Gary McCarthy, who said that Bethesda was offered that site originally and wasn't interested.
Time is running out for Bethesda as millions of dollars in state and federal funding are tied to getting a shovel in the ground for the project this spring.
After residents around State Street expressed concern at a public hearing Monday about the facility's impact on their neighborhood, Anderton said the 917 State St. site could be developed into green space.
"We want to follow up on (the 83 State Street site," Anderton said. "We have plans to meet with some of the neighborhood folks to show them architectural plans in the next couple of weeks."
But negotiations are currently halted for 838 State St. Landowner Freddie Anderson wants $150,000, but the city says Anderson's blacktopping office and the land aren't worth that much. The City Council held a public hearing on taking the property by eminent domain, and some residents who support Anderson protested.
The city is trying to help Bethesda House find a location after Schenectady's Zoning Board rejected Bethesda's initial proposal to build the housing across the street from its current location downtown at 418 Liberty St.
"We're willing to negotiate and be reasonable, not give away the store," said Mayor Brian U. Stratton. "This project is very important to us. We continue to reach out to attorneys for Mr. Anderson."
Various city officials have said they want to avoid trying to take the 838 State St. property by eminent domain. McCarthy said he's not sure he would support such an action.
"This was represented to us as a deal where everyone was on the same page," McCarthy said. "Now there's clearly a major point of contention. I'm not sure how I would vote."
City Council will discuss the matter again at its committee meeting Monday night. Lauren Stanforth can be reached at 454-5697 or by e-mail at lstanforth@timesunion.com.

The city council has thrown millions of dollars at their pet projects and yet they won't come up with an additional #25,000 to buy a property that they want for Bethesda House. The extra money will just help cover the aggravation of moving his business and lose of revenue from the rent from the apartments and that has to be worth something.

Anderson has been in business for years and years. And very reputable. I know several people that have used them repeatedly through out the years. Good work!!!
And what amazes me is that even though the Bethesda House does good things for the homeless, it is not 'economic growth'. It is a non-profit organization sadly needed in Schenectady. But why would 'the bunch' throw out a viable, stable, money  making business? If I were Anderson and got the money I wanted, I'd be outta Schenectady in a heart beat and set up business elsewhere. They have a great reputation so it really doesn't matter too much on where they go.

A non-profit over economic stability....it yet still baffles me!!!

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Best location for Bethesda House is old Craig Street school

    For many months, there has been a very public debate about where to relocate Bethesda House. As with other not-for-profits that provide services to our community, the priority must be to create an environment so they can perform their service efficiently and effectively. The decision should be absent of politics and personal interest, and for the mission of the organization.
    As a downtown businessman who is a volunteer for several not-for-profit organizations, I am frequently engaged in conversations regarding projects such as Bethesda House. It’s my understanding that many sites have been proposed for their new home, but have been dismissed. One that comes to mind is the former Schenectady Family Health Services building on Craig Street (originally a school).
    I believe this location should be pursued for the following reasons. It’s an opportunity to rehab an existing building that is conducive to resident quarters; and it has offices and plenty of space to meet the needs of Bethesda House. The location is within walking distance to the people who need the services of Bethesda House and public transportation.
    The building is owned by Hometown Health Services, which provides a tremendous service to Schenectady; the purchase could help them financially as well. As a board member of Hometown Health, I can appreciate the dual benefit for both organizations.
    City officials should be making every effort to restore life into these old schools so they are not met with the same fate as the old Brandywine School.
    This option could be a success on many levels, especially for the folks who need Bethesda House, and also for the neighborhood and Hometown Health.
    As someone who works in development every day, I sincerely believe that redeveloping existing sites can be the best development in the long term.
PETER J. GUIDARELLI
Schenectady

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The building is owned by Hometown Health Services, which provides a tremendous service to Schenectady; the purchase could help them financially as well. As a board member of Hometown Health, I can appreciate the dual benefit for both organizations.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul????

I just couldn't help myself....

I do have a serious thought about the asbestose clean up---I'm sure there is some there with lead paint and all......Grant monies??

Too bad they're not selling it for the going price for most properties in Schenectady...$1.

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Schenectady makes deal to buy property for Bethesda House
Friday, February 8, 2008
By Kathleen Moore (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY — The city won’t need eminent domain after all to seize land for a new home for the impoverished, homeless and mentally ill. Instead, the city has agreed to pay nearly the owner’s price.
The city agreed to pay Fred Anderson $147,500 for the Anderson Blacktop property at 838 State St., which would be merged with three other parcels to create a space big enough for Bethesda House to build a housing and drop-in center for the indigent.
City officials had begun eminent domain proceedings to take Anderson’s property for a court-approved price, but backed off after residents vehemently protested the move. Officials agreed instead to a price that is just $2,500 less than Anderson wanted, but $32,500 higher than the price officials say he accepted before learning the city was the buyer.
The deal, which will be voted on Monday by the City Council, clears the way for the Bethesda House project. The center would move from its downtown facility to 834-838 State St., where there is space for a larger building with 16 apartments for the chronically homeless. The hope is to house every long-term homeless person in the city.
Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said the project was so important that he agreed to raise the city’s price. But he said the deal left a bad taste in his mouth.
“It worked out all right in the end ... but I don’t like people who accept one price and then raise it. I have a very bright-line division of right and wrong,” he said. “But we didn’t want to run the risk of not having Bethesda House build that integrated facility. It is an important project for the community. The benefits of the program far outweigh my personal feelings about his price.”
Anderson said he wasn’t happy either. After running his blacktopping business at the State Street site for 22 years, he’s leaving the city for good.
“I don’t want any property in the city. I don’t want to pay taxes in the city. I’ll lease an office somewhere else,” he said.
Even though he got “very close” to his price, he said he wasn’t satisfied.
“What I wanted was $150,000 net,” he said. “But I just said the heck with it. I don’t want to fight with the city all the time. Go ahead and get it over with.”

Citizens Fighting Eminent Domain Abuse

http://www.castlecoalition.org/

Interesting web site containing an abundance of information regarding cases where government is abusing eminent domain / condemnation proceedings to acquire private properties for purposes of
private use (e.g, economic development).

Cases of abuse can be reported at this site.  Interesting that there is one case cited in Albany:

Albany  
Albany officials want to raze the nine-block Park South neighborhood of approximately 1,900 residents for a mix of office and retail space, apartments, homes, and student housing.  

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SCHENECTADY
Bethesda House finally has OK
Planning Commission gives nod to building plan
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.

    At long last, the stars seem to have aligned for Bethesda House.
    After a year of complaints, rejections, appeals and negotiations, homeless center officials finally offered a building plan that won immediate approval from the Schenectady Planning Commission.
    And unlike the contentious meetings of the past, when the agency wanted to build downtown, only one person spoke against the new proposal.
    Bethesda House will build a 15,000-square-foot structure at 834-838 State St. with a drop-in center for the indigent and 16 apartments for the chronically homeless. The agency will relocate its entire operation from downtown to the State Street spot, removing the drop-in center that some business owners believe draws the mentally ill and homeless to the heart of the business and arts area.
    The new location was proposed after a group of owners, led by restaurateur Jack McDonald, successfully appealed a previous planning commission approval in an effort to stop the agency from building downtown.
    They said they were afraid residential services would draw the indigent downtown even late at night, possibly discouraging customers from walking through the area. Months of negotiation followed between the city and Bethesda House, leading to a compromise on the upper State Street location.
    But one business owner next to the new site said he should have been part of those negotiations.
    Auto mechanic Rinaldo DiLegge, who runs a business and leases space for a car dealership next door, told the planning commission that Bethesda House’s clientele would have the same effect on him that it has had on downtown stores.
    He asked for a stockade fence to block all sight of the indigent from his property, “so people won’t see them,” he told the commission.
    His wife Phyllis added, “Everyone knows there’s been problems, and they wanted Bethesda House out of downtown because of the clientele. We want a fence to protect our business. We feel they would impede on our business.”
    Bethesda House representatives agreed to the fence, which the commission also approved.
    Commission members also asked for a prettier facade facing State Street, noting that the plan now shows a blank brick wall with three windows at the far end. They were assured that more windows will be added.
    Bethesda House supporters waited on tenterhooks while the commission looked at the plans, worrying that yet another hurdle would appear.
    One supporter even lambasted the commission before its vote, telling members that they had discriminated against the poor and disabled with their detailed reviews of the project.
    “We hope no other applicant has to go through what Bethesda House has had to go through. If it was a high-end condo project, I think the foundation would already be poured,” said Kevin O’Connor, a trustee for the First Unitarian Church, which has helped the agency raise money for the project.
    “I think Bethesda House was treated differently,” he went on. “We want it to be an exciting time for all Schenectady. We don’t want the poor to be gentrified or treated differently.”
    Bethesda House interfaith chaplain Robert White offered a more conciliatory speech.
    “We hope this will be the culmination of a long process to try to find out what is right for our mission and the downtown,” White said. He spoke for Executive Director Margaret Anderton, who is in Mexico building schools this week.
LONG TIME COMING
    Commission members have seen the building plans many times before and didn’t even debate the issue before voting unanimously to give their approval.
    “Bethesda House, congratulations,” said commission Chairwoman Sharran Coppola. “It’s certainly been one of the more lengthy projects, but we admire your stick-toit-iveness.”
    Afterward, Bethesda House board member and downtown business owner Kathy Fitzmaurice breathed a sigh of relief.
    “The end is in sight,” she said.
    The project first bogged down because it would have involved demolishing a century-old building. Then the agency bought a new parcel across the street from its current site on Liberty Street, but the property wasn’t big enough for the required parking spaces. The plan was reorganized slightly to avoid the problem, but that, too, was eventually rejected when business owners appealed the decision.
    Then city officials convinced Anderton to move out of downtown, but the city only owned three of the four parcels needed to make enough space for the building. City officials convened a tense eminent domain hearing on whether to seize the fourth property, but most of the speakers and even one council member opposed the idea. At the 11th hour, the city raised its asking price and the owner agreed to sell, making way for Wednesday’s planning commission meeting.
    The project will cost roughly $4 million, all of which has been raised. The agency will also reimburse the city for the $147,500 property sale price and will pay for demolition of the three buildings on the lots.
    Meanwhile, the Metroplex Development Authority will buy back the Liberty Street site that Bethesda House bought before realizing that the property was too small for the project. The authority will pay the agency $400,000 for the lot — which is exactly what Anderton spent on it — and expects to be able to sell that lot to a developer for at least the same amount of money.

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Bethesda House still quite a few dollars short

    In response to Kathleen Moore’s Feb. 21 article, “Bethesda House finally has OK”: The new project will include 16 permanent, supportive apartments for adults with a history of chronic homelessness and a disabling condition. This project will be a major first step in accomplishing the goals of the county’s 10-year plan to end homelessness in our community.
    There is one point in the article that I need to clarify. Ms. Moore states that the $4 million project is fully funded. This is not quite accurate. While Bethesda House has applied for, and received several large government grants, and while many individuals, congregations, businesses and foundations have contributed to date, Bethesda House has had quite a few expenses related to the lengthy process of securing a site. The various delays prevented Bethesda House from applying for some additional funding. Bethesda House does have all the funds needed to build and operate the 16-rental apartments.
    However, in order to complete the portion of the building dedicated to Bethesda House day programs — such as the hospitality center, free medical and dental clinic, clothing room and dining center — Bethesda House will need to raise an additional $1 million. Until the funds are in place to complete the entire building project, Bethesda House will have to operate the apartments at State Street and continue to operate its day programs at 418 Liberty St.
    Bethesda House is a very special ministry providing a family for many of our neighbors. We are grateful to this community for supporting us in so many ways — contributions, food drives, clothing drives, volunteering and prayers. We will be asking all of you to support us in a significant financial way as we try to raise the remaining funds necessary to build our new home.
    I would also like to thank Mayor Stratton and his staff, Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen, the Metroplex Board and the city council for their partnership in this project, and the Bethesda House board and staff for keeping the faith!
    MARGARET M. ANDERTON
    Schenectady
The writer is Bethesda House’s executive director.

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SCHENECTADY
Bethesda House move panned
Neighbors, officials discuss projected relocation
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com

    Residents of Vale and Hamilton Hill complain that their distressed neighborhoods have become dumping grounds for the city’s problems, the latest being the relocation of Bethesda House to State Street.
    About 12 people from the two neighborhoods shared their concerns Thursday night with Schenectady Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden and Bethesda House’s chaplain, Rev. Robert A. White, and case manager Daniel Payne during a Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association meeting at Petta’s Restaurant.
    “Enough is enough is enough. They keep dumping on us,” said Bill Marincic of Vale. “How is the relocation of Bethesda House an advantage to Vale? If it is not an advantage, it is a disadvantage.”
    He and others said they are concerned that the people who will use Bethesda House’s services use drugs or are alcoholics and are a danger to the community.
    Sue Marincic said she worries about them harassing people, bumming money and not leaving people alone.
    Payne said Bethesda House does not allow drugs or alcohol, that it maintains 24-hour supervision and that it does not hesitate to contact police for people who do not obey the rules.
    Bethesda House provides housing and services to chronically homeless and disadvantaged people in the community. It will build a 15,000-square-foot structure at 834-838 State St for a drop-in center for the indigent and 16 apartments for the chronically homeless.
    The agency will relocate its entire operation from downtown to the State Street spot, removing the drop-in center that some business owners believe draws the mentally ill and homeless to the heart of the business and arts area. Officials plan to break ground this spring and complete construction in a year.
    Van Norden told the residents the city was not dumping its problems on Vale or Hamilton Hill. “No neighborhoods receive more attention from the city than Vale, Hamilton Hill and Mont Pleasant,” he said. “There are a whole host of problems affecting those neighborhoods that have nothing to do with Bethesda house.”
PEOPLE IN NEED
    Van Norden said the people who use Bethesda House for meals, shelter, classes, clothing and medical treatment are typically at or below the poverty level, the working poor and often single women with two or more children.
    “You can’t sit in judgment on who is going to Bethesda House. Bethesda House was getting a bad rap,” he said.
    Indeed, said Rev. White, the people who use Bethesda House said they themselves are afraid of having to go to State Street for services, citing the area’s high crime rate. “Bethesda House people are victims of crime, not perpetrators. We are dealing with fear on all sides,” he said.
    White said 85 percent of the people using Bethesda House have lived in the county for years and that half are mentally ill and some are unable to function in society.
    Fred Lee, president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association, remained unconvinced about the city’s motives for selecting the State Street site. “There is an underlying sense in the neighborhood that we can’t get what we want, and get only what the city wants to give us,” he said.
    As examples, he cited the rejection of residents’ wishes to have a market in their neighborhood or of even their request to have a water fountain in a park fixed. “When there is a crisis or nonprofit in trouble, millions are poured into downtown,” Lee said.
    Van Norden said establishing a market is beyond the city’s control, but added he would try and get the faucet fi xed.
    Van Norden said Bethesda House and the city worked together to find a new site after Bethesda House’s initial choice, the Sons of Italy headquarters across from its Liberty Street site, was rejected after downtown business owners lodged a complaint. City officials then convinced Bethesda House to choose State Street, a location Van Norden said made perfect sense. “It’s closer to the people who need Bethesda House’s services.”