Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Los Nayboobs son muy loco y celoso.  Ellos están llenos de mierda.

Wow, you know how to use a computer translator


We are NOT jealous.   And we are NOT full of sh*t.  


ANY person who states that taxes--in the city or county of Schenectady--are lower now than they were 10 years ago is FULL OF SH*T and wgen that person is a catholic that person must to go to Confession and state "bless me Father for I have sinned.  I have lied X number of times, hold on, let me check the Rotterdam discussion board to see how many times I lied ...  Oh Father, I just keep lying, why do I do this? ..."

So it's Saturday, are you gone to Confession today?

Quoted from Hawthorn

So, Mexican Radio received $200,000 from Metroplex just to open their doors.

Then they are TAX EXEMPT through the PILOT agreement and will NOT have to pay taxes for three years.

Upon the fourth year in business, Mexican Radio will only pay 50% of the tax bill.

Savings....over $300,000 to the restaurant per year.

Cost to the taxpayers..... another million dollar gaping hole in the taxbase for years to come.

Maybe 50 part time jobs for millions gone.

Apparently, Gillen was drinking a few margaritas when putting this deal together.

Let me just make this crystal clear.... because Mexican Radio is tax-exempt and does not have to pay even a PILOT....

For 2014, 2015 and 2016..... the City will lose over $900,000 in taxes...plus the $200,000 Metroplex 'loaned them".

Quoted from Hawthorn

Let me just make this crystal clear.... because Mexican Radio is tax-exempt and does not have to pay even a PILOT....

For 2014, 2015 and 2016..... the City will lose over $900,000 in taxes...plus the $200,000 Metroplex 'loaned them".

The "city" won't lose it ... the city / county assessment hasn't changed, that money will be made up by Bill & Mary Taxpayer.

Just for clarification, Mohawk Mall (Niskayuna) was purchased (I believe) in 2000, and several tenants remained in their location.
New owners began demolition of other areas/new construction (Mohawk Commons) which I believe was completed FEB 2002 (i.e. technically 12+ yrs ago)

Understandably and obviously a few posters in this thread don't know what's going on with this project thus, I'd like to offer a few points of correction here, the facade that is referenced in the first post was intentionally removed for newer facade as the area in question was not structurally sound enough to hold the signs (signs are heavy, wall was built in the 1860's) which will be put up in the next two weeks. Obviously the graffiti is really graffiti. Second the restaurant is looking to hire around 80 people both full and part time, not 50. Third this property hasn't been on the tax payroll in years and now will be in 3 years. Fourth this historic building would have been demolished if not this project, now much of the history has been saved including the 100 plus year old signs facing the railroad, plus the interior intentionally blended in the historical aspects of the building with the modern renovation. 5th, the exterior paint job will be completed soon, mother nature needs to cooperate (much colder and wetter winter than expected). Sixth the owners have literally spent almost 4 million of their own money on this renovation, using mostly Schenectady county based businesses, and used a builder that wasn't Galesi  .

Lauren Stanforth, TU 11/20/13

"When the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority announced a year ago the details of Mexican Radio's move to downtown Schenectady, it highlighted some financial aspects of the restaurant's project — such as its $3 million price tag and the $200,000 Metroplex would provide for building renovations.

A Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement between Metroplex and Mexican Radio calls for the restaurant to pay no taxes for three years. In the fourth year, the restaurant will pay 50 percent of its property tax bill, with the amount increasing in 5 percent increments until the bill reaches 100 percent in 2026, said Ray Gillen, Metroplex chairman.

The collection of three buildings, a portion of which dates to the 1840s, is under renovation with an opening date for the two-level restaurant slated for early 2014. Bread and Roses LLC, the company name for Mexican Radio, paid roughly $475,000 to Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting for the property, which is currently assessed at $1.4 million, records show.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mexican Radio will save hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payments. If city, county and school taxes remain the same for the next 13 years, and the building's assessment never changed, at a minimum the restaurant would save $337,631 in taxes, according to a Times Union analysis."

And per the Albany Business Review 8/16/13

"The venue will have three bars and employ 50 when it is fully staffed. Over time, the back portion of the restaurant, near Broadway, will open with large screen TVs and an area for private parties, much like the design of the Hudson Mexican Radio, Selden says."


So let me get this straight Rotterdam.... per the OWNER Lori Selden, there will be 50 employees when fully staffed.

Also, the reason there were no taxes collected on this location was because METROPLEX OWNED IT!! There was a tailor who was to move in there in 2007..why didn't the Plex sell it to him and collect taxes for 5 + years instead of leaving it off the market??

The Metroplex lost out on taxes since 2007...and now for another 3 years and will only collect half until 2026.

PS... why the hell does downtown need another Mexican place when Bombers is only feet away??? Perfect. Two taxpayer-funded Mexican restaurants competing for who gets the bigger tax breaks.

Check your facts Rotterdam, even the owner has different figures.

they have a $12 dollar express lunch at the hudson location as per thier website...wonder how much it will cost here? {seriously i would like to know}

The owners of Mexican Restaurant are willing to make the huge financial investment to improve the building and open a restaurant.  They wouldn't be doing that - if they didn't believe that Schenectady is a great place to do business.  
Viva el Ciudad-Condado de Schenectady!  Viva el Renacimiento!

Quoted from Libertarian4life

Waiting for the light at Broadway and State allows drivers an excellent view of the crumbling newly renovated exterior of Mexican Radio.

Oh please do take a photo and post it here

Quoted from Hawthorn

Lauren Stanforth, TU 11/20/13

"When the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority announced a year ago the details of Mexican Radio's move to downtown Schenectady, it highlighted some financial aspects of the restaurant's project — such as its $3 million price tag and the $200,000 Metroplex would provide for building renovations.

A Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement between Metroplex and Mexican Radio calls for the restaurant to pay no taxes for three years. In the fourth year, the restaurant will pay 50 percent of its property tax bill, with the amount increasing in 5 percent increments until the bill reaches 100 percent in 2026, said Ray Gillen, Metroplex chairman.

The collection of three buildings, a portion of which dates to the 1840s, is under renovation with an opening date for the two-level restaurant slated for early 2014. Bread and Roses LLC, the company name for Mexican Radio, paid roughly $475,000 to Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting for the property, which is currently assessed at $1.4 million, records show.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mexican Radio will save hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payments. If city, county and school taxes remain the same for the next 13 years, and the building's assessment never changed, at a minimum the restaurant would save $337,631 in taxes, according to a Times Union analysis."

And per the Albany Business Review 8/16/13

"The venue will have three bars and employ 50 when it is fully staffed. Over time, the back portion of the restaurant, near Broadway, will open with large screen TVs and an area for private parties, much like the design of the Hudson Mexican Radio, Selden says."


So let me get this straight Rotterdam.... per the OWNER Lori Selden, there will be 50 employees when fully staffed.

Also, the reason there were no taxes collected on this location was because METROPLEX OWNED IT!! There was a tailor who was to move in there in 2007..why didn't the Plex sell it to him and collect taxes for 5 + years instead of leaving it off the market??

The Metroplex lost out on taxes since 2007...and now for another 3 years and will only collect half until 2026.

PS... why the hell does downtown need another Mexican place when Bombers is only feet away??? Perfect. Two taxpayer-funded Mexican restaurants competing for who gets the bigger tax breaks.

Check your facts Rotterdam, even the owner has different figures.

As far as employee numbers are concerned come opening night and count   Things change in time, same with the overall investment. As far as Bomber's is concerned, if you've ever eaten at Bombers and Mex Rad, you will note they aren't very similar, one caters to the college-party crowd the other to foodies, vegetarian's and those looking for a scratch kitchen. No dis to Bomber's as I do enjoy their establishment as well and they are great at what they do, but their is plenty of room for two vastly different Mexican restaurants, just look at the number of pizza, Asian or Italian places that are supported in the same community. I know I'm never going to convince a bunch of Neo Cons that hate everything Metroplex, due to political reasons, but all projects should get viewed on their own merits, and this one does more good than harm imho.

Whether its 50 jobs or 80 jobs -- that is still 50 or 80 more jobs than any of the nayboob "armchair critics" have ever created.

I don't hate Metroplex due to political reason....far from it!

I hate Metroplex because they are a fiscally incompetent and have created an economic disaster. Failures like the Parker Inn, Cardio Mag, Van Dyke (1 & 2), Cornells, the old DSS building (which is supposed to be 'luxury" apartments has morphed into a bunch of low-income housing). Metroplex mission statement reads:

We are guided by the three criteria:
1.to expand the county's property tax base;
2.to expand the sales tax base; and
3.to create and retain jobs.

The City taxbase has gone to pot. Since metroplex began its Downtown push, I as a taxpayer have been paying triple what I should. My $240K building pays the same taxes as Bomber's. That's incredibly mismanaged! Blame the school's all you want, because they too feel the burden of a bunch of no-taxpaying-downtown businesses paying little to nothing.

Metroplex has FAILED!!! The City taxbase is decimated because the middle class homeowners are forced to carry the burden of a bunch of downtown bars..who pays the upkeep in Downtown? Who's plows, garbage men and City crews go towards the downtown well-being?? How much more metroplex and DSIC funds are spent for beautification?? More than $300,000 yearly.

The sales tax base went down 4%. Metroplex fail!

For every job created (which are just a bunch of below-minimum-wage, part-time, no benefit jobs)...hundreds of full time GE jobs leave.

It's time to face the truth, get out your calculator and realize to never judge a book by its cover.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Whether its 50 jobs or 80 jobs -- that is still 50 or 80 more jobs than any of the nayboob "armchair critics" have ever created.

And how many jobs have been LOST because of metroplex???????    FAR MORE than created!!!!!!!


Yes, DV, answer this, as Hawthorne posted the PURPOSE OF METROPLX

Quoted Text

We are guided by the three criteria:
1.to expand the county's property tax base;
2.to expand the sales tax base; and
3.to create and retain jobs

.



Please DV, tell us what Metrpoplex has done to the tax base????   Do you have the GUTS to answer that one TRUTHFULLY?????????

Please DV, tell us what Metrpoplex has done to the sales tax????   Do you have the GUTS to answer that one TRUTHFULLY?????????

Please DV, tell us what Metrpoplex has done to the NET jobs????   Do you have the GUTS to answer that one TRUTHFULLY?????????



We LL know that DV will ABSOLLUTELY NOT provide answers to those questions because his answers would be proof of FAILURE of Metroplex!

Quoted Text

Waiting for the light at Broadway and State allows drivers an excellent view of the crumbling newly renovated exterior of Mexican Radio.

So you've seen it too, glad I'm not the only one to notice it    Someone at the last council meeting also brought up the paint job, think it was Tony B,
said it's an eyesore.

The exterior of Mexican Radio is NOT crumbling.  It is is the visual effect of the way it was painted -- remiscent of older, brightly-painted buildings in Mexico.  Frankly, I think it gives a refreshing Latin/Mediterranean look.  It is absolutely appropriate for what the building will be used for --- a MEXICAN restaurant.  It may not sit well with those with myopic, sterile, wonder bread gringo tastes --- but it sure does brighten up Downtown.