ROTTERDAM Questions arise over tax agreement BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Commercial development had appeared to reach a plateau on West Campbell Road when members of the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency started mulling a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for Long Pond Village. Main Florist had closed and the Rotterdam Square mall had a number of vacancies. Empty storefronts were also starting to pop up at Hollywood Plaza, a 35,000-square-foot strip mall developed across from the mall during the late 1990s. At the time, the Long Pond Village plan had undergone a costly environmental review and the developer was expressing concern over whether there would be enough funding in place to break ground. Board members of the Rotterdam IDA favoring a PILOT agreement for the 192-unit development figured they could solve two problems at the same time: They could elevate Campbell Road’s demographic to attract business and they could add the last piece to the financial puzzle needed to finally get the sprawling apartment complex built. “On this project, the location had a lot to do with it,” said Art Brassard, who was chairman of the Rotterdam IDA when the PILOT was negotiated but left his post two months before the agreement was ratified in September 2007. “We were concerned about economic development as a whole in that area.” But as the project nears completion, some are questioning the necessity of the PILOT, which takes full effect in January and will reduce the taxable value of the eight buildings by half during the first year of the decade-long agreement. Critics charge the tax break given to the developer wasn’t rooted in sound fiscal policy and will eventually result in a greater burden on taxpayers due to the increased public services required by the large-scale development. ...........................................>>>>...................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01000&AppName=1
PILOT should never have been offered for development over such an environmentally sensitive area. Trying to encourage development in this area is just plain wrong. This area could have been the soccer and little league fields that we deserately need and still maintained a safe aquifer recharge zone. This is a prime example of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. So much for thinking about smart growth!
PILOTS were designed to offer tax breaks to businesses who will bring with it a return on our investment through jobs. The only jobs that were created, temporarily, were the construction workers who constructed the buildings at Long Pond.
I heard a while back that there was a mold problem in one or possibly all of the buildings. I don't know for sure and don't even know if it is true. It was just mentioned in passing a few months ago.
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 heard a while back that there was a mold problem in one or possibly all of the buildings. I don't know for sure and don't even know if it is true. It was just mentioned in passing a few months ago.
I heard that there was a mold problem at the condominiums that are located near the sewer plant. I don't know the name of that development, but don't believe that it is Long Pond Village.
I heard that there was a mold problem at the condominiums that are located near the sewer plant. I don't know the name of that development, but don't believe that it is Long Pond Village.
I didn't hear about the one by the sewer plant. I thought only the 'smell' would have been the issue there.
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
ROTTERDAM Payment overdue on tax pact Developer of Long Pond Village owes school district over $100K BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Long Pond Village hasn’t paid a cent on a controversial payment-inlieu-of-taxes agreement it reached with the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency in 2007. CW Builders, the owner of record for the sprawling 192-unit development off West Campbell Road, haven’t paid $99,878 to the Schalmont Central School District in accordance with the PILOT agreement. Schalmont Business Administrator Mark Kellett said the development’s debt now stands at $116,723, due to lateness penalties. In addition, the company also hasn’t paid $29,110 in town taxes and $32,696 in county taxes. Both bills are due by the end of the month, according to town and county officials. The outstanding debts prompted the Rotterdam IDA to file notice to the company. If the debt is not cleared by the agency’s meeting in April, its board members could vote to start a 30-day period, after which they could dissolve the PILOT if full payment isn’t received. “They’ve been formally notified, but they’re not in default yet,” said Ray Gillen, the county’s commissioner of economic development and planning. The developer apparently told county officials that they were unhappy with the assessment of the property. Last year, Rotterdam valued the 26-acre property at roughly $8.6 million —the land alone is assessed at $1.2 million. Representatives from CW Builders could not be reached for comment Monday. However, both the town attorney and assessor said they haven’t seen any documentation to suggest the company will grieve its assessment. “Nothing’s been filed,” assessor Craig Surprise said Monday. Long Pond Village’s PILOT was ratified in September 2007 and the agreement took effect in January. Members of the Rotterdam IDA who helped reach the agreement indicated it was a critical component in securing the development. Under the terms of the PILOT, the owners agreed to pay full taxes on its land, but only half on the property’s improvements. The arrangement then increases the taxable amount of the property’s improvements by 5 percent a year over the duration of the 10-year agreement. The PILOT agreement was met with deep skepticism by some county officials, because the development didn’t create any long-term job growth for the area. ............>>>>..............>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00802&AppName=1
“Nothing’s been filed,” assessor Craig Surprise said Monday
I thought that the Dems campaigned on a platform that included (first on the list) firing Surprise. They've been in office for ~3 months and Surprise is still Assessor.
I guess that the adage is true that the way to tell if a politician is lying is to see if his/her lips are moving.
This developer operates in the same manner that BI does. If they don't agree with their assessment, they simply don't pay their taxes. And the he!! of it is, the Town/Metroplex/IDA still grant rezones and PILOTs. Rotterdam, a nice place!
If Long Pond and BI doesn't have to pay taxes then why should the rest of us have to pay, we all pay or nobody pays then maybe the problem will be resolved.
This should have never gone through the IDA to begin with. Doesn't the 'I' stand for INDUSTRIAL?
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 thought that the Dems campaigned on a platform that included (first on the list) firing Surprise. They've been in office for ~3 months and Surprise is still Assessor.
I guess that the adage is true that the way to tell if a politician is lying is to see if his/her lips are moving. Did Fran get his assessment reduced yet?
Keep reminding us FOF.....a Surprise announcement is eminent....after the Raucci verdict is in.... a shocker, a rocker a real dilly will be coming out of the Assessor's Office. Stay tuned boys and girls....its gonna be WILD!
Logged
