I remember going to Elgin Illinois to work on the casino there. It sits on top of the old Elgin watch factory. Their product was watches. A casino s product is fun- at least that is the way they see it. I remember looking at a wall in an area of the casino known as " back of house "- there was the word FUN in 12 ft high letters.
The HR director told me that they had reduced their corporate mission statement to- you guessed it FUN.
So how do you feel about donuts ? I mean they arent exactly good for you-
Was in the TU Sunday. So OTB is opting/looking for approval on a 1000 slot machine VLT parlor in Rennsalaer. They are to be partnered with Rush, you know the ones opening up the one at the old ALCO site in Sch'dy. This could prove interesting. This endeavor will surely draw away some of the partons that once were assumed to come from that area to the Sch'dy site. No need to come here from there. This could result in some decreased revenue and foot traffic for the city. It cannot help the peripheral establishments that might be counting on the added foot traffic that was so touted as a selling point for the Sch'dy site. This surely would result in less $$$ being spent in Sch'dy business' outside of the casino. Less sales tax revenue as well. Those business cannot be pleased with this turn of events. Granted money by the city business will still be made,just less of it. And they need all they can to survive. Since Rush would run both sites they hardly will be the loser here. Do not know if the monies to be remitted to the city is a flat guaranteed amount or based on the "handle" at the casino in Sch'dy. That would be interesting to know. OTB in an agreement with Sch'dy has in place a revenue committment to the city. Believe this is based on the OTB handle or a % of OTB's "net win". But the main concern is how this venture with OTB affects the city. As stated prev. it's the aspect of less people coming to the city (and losing their spending $ to Rennsalaer, and the surrounding areas around that site). Those people were being counted on and touted that they would be coming here,and the city residents were sold on in part, that as a selling point to have Rush locate their casino in Sch'dy. It's surprising that there was not a stipulation in the Sch'dy casino agreement that barred such a close location to Sch'dy and would not be allowed, especially with Rush being the operator of both sites. A conflict? Who knows. But already there is a crack in the dam of promises,the dynamics will have changed for Sch'dy if this site is approved in Renns. What else may be in the pipeline that the public is unaware of?
Site of Schenectady casino contaminated with decades of petroleum, degreasing agents Developer Galesi estimates $10 million cleanup costs for gambling site By Lauren Stanforth Published 8:13 pm, Saturday, April 18, 2015
Artist renderings of a casino resort proposed for the banks of the Mohawk River depict glimmering, glass-enclosed buildings and sprawling green lawns set against imaginary crystal-blue waters that envelop the gambling destination.
But the drawings and most of the other documents presented to the state Gaming Facility Location Board, which recommended the award of a coveted casino license to the site late last year, gave little indication of the pollution lurking in the ground. The 57 acres, with a manufacturing history that dates to the mid-1800s, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar cleanup to remove harmful substances that include arsenic, mercury and petroleum byproducts.
The pollution is so severe that the state has required a deed restriction ensuring that no one uses the property's groundwater, which is polluted with petroleum, chlorinated solvents and other degreasing agents. The state Department of Environmental Conservation also has found there is a potential for vapors from contaminated soil and groundwater to contaminate indoor air quality in any buildings placed on the site, records show. http://www.timesunion.com/tupl.....90.php#photo-7694395
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
Was in the TU Sunday. So OTB is opting/looking for approval on a 1000 slot machine VLT parlor in Rennsalaer. They are to be partnered with Rush, you know the ones opening up the one at the old ALCO site in Sch'dy. This could prove interesting. This endeavor will surely draw away some of the partons that once were assumed to come from that area to the Sch'dy site. No need to come here from there. This could result in some decreased revenue and foot traffic for the city. It cannot help the peripheral establishments that might be counting on the added foot traffic that was so touted as a selling point for the Sch'dy site. This surely would result in less $$$ being spent in Sch'dy business' outside of the casino. Less sales tax revenue as well. Those business cannot be pleased with this turn of events. Granted money by the city business will still be made,just less of it. And they need all they can to survive. Since Rush would run both sites they hardly will be the loser here. Do not know if the monies to be remitted to the city is a flat guaranteed amount or based on the "handle" at the casino in Sch'dy. That would be interesting to know. OTB in an agreement with Sch'dy has in place a revenue committment to the city. Believe this is based on the OTB handle or a % of OTB's "net win". But the main concern is how this venture with OTB affects the city. As stated prev. it's the aspect of less people coming to the city (and losing their spending $ to Rennsalaer, and the surrounding areas around that site). Those people were being counted on and touted that they would be coming here,and the city residents were sold on in part, that as a selling point to have Rush locate their casino in Sch'dy. It's surprising that there was not a stipulation in the Sch'dy casino agreement that barred such a close location to Sch'dy and would not be allowed, especially with Rush being the operator of both sites. A conflict? Who knows. But already there is a crack in the dam of promises,the dynamics will have changed for Sch'dy if this site is approved in Renns. What else may be in the pipeline that the public is unaware of?
This plan received no surport in the State Leg. so has been eliminated.
Is that the story in it's entirety? It's one of those premium subscribers only stories.
Is this now something new to the whole issue? Or just mentioning that was known years ago. It sounds like it's new and doesn't say whether Galesi was going to be looking for the taxpayers to clean up yet another of his properties.
Didn't that Environmental Conservation already approve the whole project.
How widespread is this information. I hope the big sign the city said OK to also has someting underneath it saying "warning, this area is contaminated."
Will the casino have a warning sign on the doors referencing poor air quality?
Would you live their and allow your children to play on the ground?
Will we see Erin Brockovich in Schenectady some day?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Why Gov. Cuomo vetoed temporary extension of brownfield tax credits Dec 30, 2014, 11:49am EST
David Robinson Reporter- Albany Business Review Email | Twitter Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a temporary extension of a tax break program that aids in the cleanup of brownfield sites despite business interests saying he is threatening millions of dollars worth of development. Cuomo's veto letter says he didn't approve the legislation because it was not included in the 2014-15 budget. He plans to pursue an alternative brownfield extension proposal in his 2015-16 executive budget, which is expected late next month. The legislation vetoed Monday by Cuomo included a $100 million appropriation for continued cleanup of hazardous waste sites, known as brownfields. There are plenty of examples of the importance of brownfield projects to upstate New York communities, where developers use the program to transform long-vacant industrial sites into a range of different projects, such as a plan to demolish five buildings on Broadway in downtown Albany. As for Cuomo's brownfield program proposal moving forward, his veto letters says the plan will be consistent with his initial proposal that included a 10-year extension, along with other factors. Here is an Albany Business Review story about why business groups urged Cuomo to sign the bill he vetoed Monday. That includes concerns about a veto creating uncertainty for many developers currently pursuing hundreds of millions of dollars of brownfield money, which is typically approved following a review process that spans several years.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Schenectady County has received a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for $350,000 to identify, assess and evaluate Brownfields in Schenectady County. Brownfields are sites where real or suspected environmental contamination prevents full economic use of the site. Because the contamination may only be suspected, investigation alone may free sites up for development or for recreational uses. Otherwise the investigation is the first step toward receiving state and/or federal money to cleanup the site. Visit the site below for further information about the proposed project. Information on the project will be added to this website as it is available.
The goal of citizen participation during this project is to foster communication and trust between the public, Schenectady County, applicable regulatory agencies, and the County’s consultant, Clough Harbour & Associates LLP (CH), during the course of the EPA funded Schenectady County Brownfield Assessment Program in order to restore and maintain the environmental integrity of the County and foster economic growth. Citizen participation provides an opportunity to compile the public’s knowledge regarding the history of a given property, property grouping, or corridor so that informed decisions may be made regarding the investigation and ultimate development of a site or area within the County. This Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) details the approach that Schenectady County will utilize to inform County residents and to fully involve the County’s communities in the implementation of the Brownfields Program. The Schenectady County Brownfield Assessment Program will not only rely on the expertise of CHA, but will substantially rely on local stakeholders from within the County. This will include municipal planners and engineers, lenders, developers, government officials, and community members. The EPA funded Brownfield Program has been designed to seek input from various stakeholders and will include the formation of a Brownfields Task Force, public meetings at key project milestones, and the use of document repositories. The details of these project components are discussed further in the remaining sections of this CPP. The limits of the study area are presented in Figure 1. Said limits correspond with the boundaries of the Schenectady/Great Flats aquifer within the villages, towns and cities of Schenectady, Scotia, Glenville, Rotterdam, and Niskayuna. Effective public input will enable Schenectady County and the regulatory agencies involved with the project to develop and implement an effective site evaluation and selection program, conduct Phase I and II environmental assessments, and finally institute remediation and development planning initiatives that are environmentally sound, enjoy wide public acceptance, and have a high degree of success. This plan is comprised of five numbered sections with this introduction being the first. Section 2.0 provides background information relative to the Brownfield Assessment Pilot Program. Section 3.0 provides a summary of the work activities that will be completed as part of the program and presents a schedule for the activities to be completed during this project. Section 4.0 provides a summary of citizen participation activities to be completed under this plan, and finally, Section 5.0 presents a preliminary project schedule.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Brownfields 2004 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Schenectady County, NY
Printable PDF (1-2pp, 25k) EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances $150,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Schenectady County for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to refine and prioritize an inventory of brownfields sites that is currently being assembled, and perform ten Phase I site assessments and approximately six Phase II site assessments for sites in the 92-square-mile area that corresponds to the boundaries of the Great Flats Aquifer. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform at least ten Phase I site assessments and five Phase II site assessments at sites with potential petroleum contamination. Funds will also be used to form a brownfields task force, and encourage community participation.
Community Description
Schenectady County was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Schenectady County (population 146,555) is located approximately ten miles northwest of Albany. With the completion of the Erie Canal in 1823, the county, centrally positioned along a major transportation corridor, attracted significant industrial development. From the 1960s on, with the closure and downsizing of the region's industrial base, the retail and transportation industries declined in the county, as did its population. From 1982 to 2000, employment in the manufacturing industries in the county decreased by approximately 50 percent. The decline in the economy has produced a poverty rate of almost 11 percent. The City of Schenectady is a federally designated Renewal Community and part of a Capital Region Enterprise Community. The numerous abandoned and underutilized parcels associated with the region's industrial heritage not only impose economic hardship on the county, but also contribute to crime and a decrease in the quality of life. Assessment and redevelopment of the region's brownfields sites are expected to facilitate economic recovery, improve the quality of life through recreational reuse of some of the sites, and protect the area's sole source aquifer.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Brownfields 1999 Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet Schenectady, NY
Printable PDF (1-2pp, 25k) EPA Brownfields Initiative
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
Pilot Snapshot
Date of Announcement: Jun 1999 Amount: $200,000 Profile: The Pilot targets up to three brownfields in Schenectady, a city in upstate New York whose major manufacturing industries have closed or downsized.
Background
EPA has selected the City of Schenectady for a Brownfields Pilot. Schenectady (population 65,566) is located on the Mohawk River northwest of Albany. The city's importance in the transportation and manufacturing industries began with the opening of the Erie Canal in 1823. In 1886, Thomas Edison established Edison Machine Works, which later became General Electric. From the turn of the century to the early 1960s, General Electric, along with the American Locomotive Company, played a major role in Schenectady's economy and fostered a period of steady growth. Subsequent failure or downsizing of these companies' operations in the city stopped the boom and ushered in an economic decline.
Today, Schenectady's population is down 30 percent from its peak, and the number of residents employed in manufacturing, once nearly 50 percent of the workforce, is now only 5 percent. The loss of the city's employment and tax base has had effects elsewhere. More than 50 percent of the residents are classified as low- to moderate-income, and almost 15 percent live below the poverty level. The city is a federally designated Enterprise Community and a state-designated Enterprise Zone.
Schenectady has acquired more than 250 potentially contaminated properties through tax foreclosures, and is interested in redeveloping those located in commercial or industrial areas. However, the environmental uncertainty surrounding the sites has thus far discouraged these efforts.
Objectives
The Pilot's objective is to identify, target, and assess brownfields sites whose cleanup and redevelopment would contribute to the city's economic growth and improve its environmental and public health. The Pilot will seek to further the city's goals of public involvement in environmental decision-making, a clean and healthy environment, and economic revitalization. Further, the city will work with EPA Region 2 to integrate its new rapid site assessment program with the Pilot.
Activities
Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:
Identifying potential brownfields; Performing assessments at up to three sites, whose selection will be based on environmental conditions, redevelopment potential, and community concerns; Developing site-specific cleanup plans that account for each site's potential reuse; and Performing community involvement and outreach activities to inform residents about the project and solicit their input. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
The Galesi Group tackles another brownfield redevelopment project in downtown Schenectady clock March 3, 2011 15:01 by author Brooke Spraragen
We are excited to announce that we are making progress at the redevelopment project at the former American Locomotive Co. (ALCO) site.
In mid-November, the Galesi Group commenced demolition of the deteriorating industrial buildings and warehouses and have since removed two additional buildings from the site. We anticipate that the demolition will be compete by mid Spring, however this is just our first hurdle in this complex project. Our next step is Phase II, which will require an extensive environmental clean up and removal of contaminated soil and groundwater.
Fortunately the Galesi Group has had years of experience in redeveloping brownfield sites.
Since 1985, the Galesi Group has been actively developing brownfield projects including former military facilities as well as inner city sites. Most recently, we were acknowledged for the environmental clean up of nine acres of land at the former Big N site. Over 10,000 tons of dirt and more than 400,000 gallons of contaminated water were processed in order to begin redeveloping at this brownfield site. The once contaminated manufacturing site resulted in the construction of the $30 million Golub Headquarters and the largest private-sector structure in the Capital Region to receive gold verification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.
Similar to the polluted industrial site at the former Big N, the ALCO site was an abandoned industrial property with environmental contamination that has remained onsite since World War II, when thousands of steam and diesel locomotives were being manufactured.
The overall goal of the ALCO redevelopment project is to turn the site’s contaminated land into a regional economic development project that will complement the City of Schenectady recent developments.
During this initial development design, we are reaching out to the area business leaders to seek their input on the types of amenities will help attract and retain their business and their employees in the City of Schenectady. This information will be vital in determining the direction of this project along the one-mile stretch of riverfront.
What would be a good use for the riverfront property in downtown Schenectady? Restaurants Offices Condos or Townhouses Retail Stores Technology/Lab Space Apartments Other:
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Tags: former alco, brownfield site, downtown schenectady, galesi group Categories: A Galesi Group Development | Available Properties | Galesi Group News | Green Initiatives | Sustainable Building Actions: E-mail | Kick it! | Permalink | commentComments (3) | RSS comment feedComment RSS
Comments
6/25/2011 8:23:03 AM # I think this is a great project and am excited to see the positve changes in downtown schenectady. I love the idea of a multi-use area. Offices, living space,a park, marina, shops, and restaurants. I think it would be great to preserve and or re-create some of the historic aspects of the site and of schenectady in general. Preserve some or part of the brick structures and merge the old with the new. Perhaps incorporate the locomotive/railroad theme into the atmosphere somehow. (Have a coffee shop in a train-car for example. Have a steam engine at the entrance or coming out the side of a building.) It is the unique and different things that are done that will lend a unique vibe to the site that will be a draw for locals as well as tourists. Perhaps have information signs scattered about telling of the history of the site. A small museum on site might be a draw as well. And make sure there is plenty of free and convenient parking. Oh, and a pavilion and possibly clean and maintained restrooms at the park/marina. It would be great for people to be able to reserve a pavilion/area for gatherings and such - for a reasonable fee. Have a kayak/canoe rental place at the marina too! (The ideas just keep coming.)
Comment looks like the mind of a cheerleader who does't pay taxes and just figures those who do pay taxes can just keep paying until they lose their homes.
With dangerous air and all the warnings, I wonder if there will be even one person who will rent one of those taxpayer funded apartments there.
I'll bet that any leases tenants sign to rent there, will be written in such technical legal gobbledygook that they will never under be able to sue Galesi when they get cancer. Oh, but even plain languge, a billionaire can pay off any attorney and goverment puppet to disallow any lawsuits, obviously that's why Galesi is giving out the kickbacks now.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
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