A guy writes that 7 years ago his son went to see if Metroplex could help him to open a small business downtown.   Some young, but local person.

Metroplex asked what kind of business and apparently a restaurant.  Metroplex said no because there are too many restaurants already so they are not funding any more.

That was 7 years ago.

Funny, but in recent years it's quite obvious that Metroplex decided to dole money out for new restaurants - but of course those were owned by obvious political cronies with probably money to donate to political campaigns.

Interesting how local long time taxpaying businesses downtown were snubbed by Metroplex, how local average people with no political connections are snubbed.   But the politically connected get lavished with the money from financially struggling homeowners.   And politically connected cronies and tax deadbeats get all kinds of money and no punishments for failing to abide by legal contracts.

You can't make this stuff up!

SCHENECTADY
City backs land bank’s plan
Redevelopment push to focus on Eastern Ave.
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
   The City Council unanimously endorsed a plan Monday to focus on the Eastern Avenue neighborhood for revitalization.

   The local land bank is applying for a $3 million state grant to demolish 31 properties, all owned by the city, and offer small facade grants to homeowners.

   But the grant application required the support of the council, and council members gave it without hesitation Monday.

   It does mean that the city has chosen one neighborhood over the others for its first big redevelopment push, but Councilman Ed Kosiur said council members were satisfied with the land bank members’ rationale.

   Eastern Avenue was chosen because of its proximity to downtown and Union College, he said.

   “This is another gateway,” he added. “This is the first true example of Metroplex going into our neighborhoods, by partnering on this grant with the land bank.”

   He was delighted that any neighborhood had been chosen.

   “To finally get into our neighborhoods, ... it’s all great stuff. We’ve been talking about this since 2004. It’s taken a long time.”

   County Legislator and land bank member Robert Hoffman said focusing $3 million on one neighborhood would make a real impact.

   “We want to do as thorough a job in that neighborhood as we can,” he said.

   In addition to the removal of blighted, boarded-up and abandoned buildings, homeowners will be able to apply for facade grants of up to $5,000 for exterior work.

   The land bank and Metroplex will also work on marketing the vacant lots after demolishing them. Some might be sold for very little to neighbors who want to build a driveway or add a side yard. Others may be considered for community gardens, and many could become new commercial developments, Metroplex Development Chairman Ray Gillen said at a recent council committee meeting.

   “As more gets done on Eastern, more developers and investors will be interested,” he said.

   He added that Metroplex and the land bank are already working on plans for Elmer Elementary School, which is slated to be closed in September 2016.

   Kosiur wants the building turned into housing for veterans or seniors. The older part of the building must be torn down, he said, because of roof and foundation problems, but the newer portion could be reused.

   “We don’t need another empty building,” he said.

   Gillen said Metroplex is in “preliminary discussions” with the school district about the building.

   And while he declined to describe the options he was considering, he said reuse is a “great idea” for the school.

   If the land bank’s application is funded, it will come from money turned over to the state through foreclosure settlements. The state Attorney General’s Office just announced another settlement with banks for their role in the housing crisis, and some of that money will be made available to land banks for revitalization.

Quoted Text

In addition to the removal of blighted, boarded-up and abandoned buildings, homeowners will be able to apply for facade grants of up to $5,000 for exterior work.

If the city dems and their cheerleader (who calls himself a conservative - HA HA) wouldn't have make the families making $40,000 a year paying for all of downtown and then pay for the property and school taxes of the millionaires and billionaires downtown, then homeowners would have had their own money to maintain their homes.

What is "façade" work anyway?   Painting a house?  Replacing wood with maintenance free siding?    What is it?   I'll bet it will be another dem scheme to force homeowners to use contractors and designers of the city/co/plex inner circle.  They will tell homeowners what can be done and will provide a list to them of their political cronies and say to homeowners, "if you want this grant money, you MUST choose from a contractor, designer, etc on this list."  So that will then be taxpayers handouts going to the favored political few.

Quoted Text

Others may be considered for community gardens

Socialism at it's best

Quoted Text

   Gillen said Metroplex is in “preliminary discussions” with the school district about the building.

two tax supported entities making a deal.....with TAXPAYER'S money!!!
Ya just can't make this stuff up!!!

Always thought Plex was relegated to business related ventures.   How did this foray into residental neighborhoods come about?   Must read their By-laws.

It's to justify the loans(unallocated spending) to demolish the vacant properties.

Quoted from firefox

The $5,000 grant is a matching grant. Property owners has to shell out $5,000 out of their pocket before they can get $5,000 from Plex. Then when the work is done to the property your taxes will double up! Not worth it folks! Keep the $hit hole the way it is don't make no improvements because they will tax the hell out of you if you do so!

agree! It's not worth it.

Quoted from firefox

The $5,000 grant is a matching grant. Property owners has to shell out $5,000 out of their pocket before they can get $5,000 from Plex. Then when the work is done to the property your taxes will double up! Not worth it folks! Keep the $hit hole the way it is don't make no improvements because they will tax the hell out of you if you do so!

So they will likely raise the assessed value immediately following the work being completed.

That will raise the taxes a couple hundred dollars a year.

Quoted from Libertarian4life

So they will likely raise the assessed value immediately following the work being completed.

That will raise the taxes a couple hundred dollars a year.

But think of this.  You are assessed now at $100,000.  But your market value is only $75,000.   You do the $5,000 in work, or $10,000 if it's a mandate ,atching, so they would perhaps raise the assessment value to say $106,000.   But wait wait, you only did work that raised your market value from $75,000 to maybe $80,000.

And the mayor and unqualified assessor will say "tough sh*t"  

Then you ask about the Proctors employee who got all that money, no requirement to repay in 30 years, hasn't pay taxes in 3 years, violating the conditions of the interest-free mortgage and why isn't his house assessed more?   And the mayor and unqualified assessor will say "tough sh*t"




Owning a residential house in Schenectady.