Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I do know that where I live - we have wanted sewers for over 40 years.  Septic systems are really not
cheaper to maintain .. and if you want to build any kind of business, you really do need a sewer
system.   We would happily pay for a sewer system in our part of Rotterdam.

I agree with you. However, the last time sewers went up for a vote, when time warners was coming in, the residents voted NO! There are many folks in the coldbrook area that have also stated that they would vote NO! And yet they are the first to say Hamburg St. is being neglected.

Quoted from bumblethru

I agree with you. However, the last time sewers went up for a vote, when time warners was coming in, the residents voted NO! There are many folks in the coldbrook area that have also stated that they would vote NO! And yet they are the first to say Hamburg St. is being neglected.

It seems to me the logical thing to do -- just propose a sewer district straight down Hamburg St -
which is mostly businesses.   That way you solve the immediate problem and get businesses back
on the street.  Then - at a later date - if the residential neighborhoods want to hook in -- the
infrastructure is already in place along Hamburg St.

DVOR have you ever seen the real cost to put in sewers in an area. It's expensive to place the pipe, it will cost a few hundred dollars a year for the sewer district but the real killer for the resident is the hookup fee which is quite high. Masullo Estates just voted against putting in a dry line sewer that they could hook into at a later date because of the expense. It cost me $100 every 3 years to get my tank pumped and I put a new septic system in 10 years ago at a cost of $1500 now compare that to the cost of a new sewer district and hookup and a septic system is much cheaper.

Quoted from Shadow

DVOR have you ever seen the real cost to put in sewers in an area. It's expensive to place the pipe, it will cost a few hundred dollars a year for the sewer district but the real killer for the resident is the hookup fee which is quite high. Masullo Estates just voted against putting in a dry line sewer that they could hook into at a later date because of the expense. It cost me $100 every 3 years to get my tank pumped and I put a new septic system in 10 years ago at a cost of $1500 now compare that to the cost of a new sewer district and hookup and a septic system is much cheaper.

I live near Masullo Estates - if we had been allowed to be a part of that sewer vote, we would have
voted yes.   But the Masullo issue is much bigger -- that development was built on a swamp .. should
never have been built there..  in fact, would never have been approved if they had tried to build it
today.  Youcan't pump all that water --from homes with automatic washers and dishwashers and 3 or 4
folks per house taking showers into the ground and NOT expect the water level to rise .. ecspecially if
you are living on a swamp.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I live near Masullo Estates - if we had been allowed to be a part of that sewer vote, we would have
voted yes.   But the Masullo issue is much bigger -- that development was built on a swamp .. should
never have been built there..  in fact, would never have been approved if they had tried to build it
today.  Youcan't pump all that water --from homes with automatic washers and dishwashers and 3 or 4
folks per house taking showers into the ground and NOT expect the water level to rise .. ecspecially if
you are living on a swamp.

A very large part of their water problem which hasn't been addressed is the modification to the drainage basin.  It is true that Masullo is low elevation wise, I believe that streatch of the Thruway is also very low.  The development of the Netherlands, and now Helderberg Meadows has dramatically increased the impervious area leaving the water with no where to go.  This has resulted in a dramatic rise in the water table.  This is a much larger factor than how many live in Masullo, or what kind of water usage they have.  Short sighted planning and engineering which is what our Town is famous for!

Don't forget a couple of newer houses across Guilderland Ave which brought in 5' of fill b4 they were built, to prevent them from having water problems, creating an even higher water table by blocking drainage out of Masullo Estates as well. A total lack of maintenance of the drainage system after the town took over from the developers also contributed to the water problem.

Quoted from Shadow

Sewers on Hamburg St could have been a shovel ready project for some of the money NYS got from the stimulus because without grant money a sewer project is just too expensive for the average home owner.

too freakin' bad the 'leaders' of the past were too cheap and selfcentered to look to the future.....what happened to all the $$ during
GE's hay-day????? right through the town in pockets and trunks of cars. Now look at the crap we have.....those folks are now ready to
bolt.....I say get the hell out quick........the silent majority are no longer part of the gumbas......

Quoted from AVON

A very large part of their water problem which hasn't been addressed is the modification to the drainage basin.  It is true that Masullo is low elevation wise, I believe that streatch of the Thruway is also very low.  The development of the Netherlands, and now Helderberg Meadows has dramatically increased the impervious area leaving the water with no where to go.  This has resulted in a dramatic rise in the water table.  This is a much larger factor than how many live in Masullo, or what kind of water usage they have.  Short sighted planning and engineering which is what our Town is famous for!

maybe the new Edgewood will be called The Meadows Senior Center????

Quoted Text

Draper School could become vet home
John Purcell 06/22/11

After a charter school set its sights on the former Draper School, but backed out, veterans might be moving in.

Tom Reiter, Junior Vice Commander of the New York State Disabled American Veterans, said on Tuesday, June 21, that First Niagara Bank, the property owner, had contacted him on Monday, June 20, for another walkthrough of the building.

“We never gave up on Rotterdam,” said Reiter. “We always had the support of the town and county legislators”

The DAV had announced plans to secure the building, but to the surprise of town officials Eximius Education Foundation claimed to have signed a contract with First Niagara in March. By the middle of May though Eximius had pulled their application to use the property. Now it appears plans for the DAV are back on the table.

Reiter said he not only wants to renovate Draper for the DAV, but for the sake of the community too.

“I know residents have been up in arms over the condition of the property,” said Reiter, noting the building’s failing roof and unkempt grounds.

He said he’s not too concerned with the condition of the inside. He was last in Draper a year ago, he said, and doesn’t think the interior could have degraded much since.

“We have to do substantial renovation to the inside anyway,” he said, “So I’m certainly not going to nitpick.”

The DAV’s for the 94,000-square-foot building is to transform it into apartments for disabled veterans over the age of 55. Town officials previously seemed supportive of this plan. Supervisor Frank Del Gallo previously estimated the renovations at $24 million...........................>>>>................>>>>........................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1308776787

yeah it has degraded much from water running all winter
but its fixed now

I wonder if the deal will ever complete. Seems hopes are raised and then something happens to squash the deal on this property....real shame.  I hope DAV gets this done. Good use of the building

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Time critical to save Draper
DAV seeks building before winter
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    First Niagara Bank has released its lien against the former Draper School, meaning county offi cials could soon foreclose on the building for back taxes and then transfer it to the Disabled Veterans of America.
    Metroplex Development Authority chairman Ray Gillen said the building owner — the International Charter School of Schenectady — never did the paperwork to make the property tax-exempt. Without this status, the property has accrued $163,226 in back taxes over a three-year period, meaning Schenectady County has the authority to foreclose on it.
    “It’s still at a very preliminary stage,” he said Tuesday. “It’s not an easy deal, but we’re moving forward.”
    Once the foreclosure process is started, county legislators would then need to agree to assign the property to the DAV in either December or January in exchange for a portion of the taxes due. The DAV could then begin work on securing the building for the winter to prevent it from deteriorating any further.
    The organization has pitched a plan to renovate the 94,000-squarefoot building into 120 apartments for disabled combat veterans over the age of 55. Town offi cials lauded the plan as one that would invest more than $24 million into the old school building and bring it new vitality.
    But uncertainty over the own- ership of the property halted any progress and the building has since decayed signifi cantly, said Tom Reiter, the DAV’s state representative and the junior vice commander of the organization in New York.
    “We don’t want anything more to happen to the building until it changes hands,” he said.
    Vandals have repeatedly broken into the structure and damaged it. Window on the second floor of the building were left open throughout the summer and parts of the roof have developed leaks.
    Even worse, burst pipes left several feet of water in the basement of the old school for months. Reiter said town officials were able to fi - nally shut off water to the school after August and the basement eventually drained.
    “It was going for almost a year,” he said of the water. “[Neither the school or the bank] wanted to take responsibility for it.” ...............................>>>>......................>>>>..............................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01103&AppName=1

It might be better to just knock it down and build something new that would be on the tax rolls.

figures you would say that..


The VETS need their own homes that they can afford.....how many are   out in the street.    TOO MANY

So if you are the RED BLOODED AMERICAN AND PATRIOT TO YOUR COUNTRY.....you would be thinking with

respect......Tell me   what war did you fight in????     want to hear that response DUDE

I don't think the existing building is worth saving --- it has been empty for years -- had water damage -- probably has mold from the water damage ----  that is why I think it is better to tear it down and build something new.

If they want to build apartments for the Veterans -- build it in a NEW building -- and not the old building which is probably an unhealthy building -- as well as being a decrepit eyesore.