SCHENECTADY Building eyed for YMCA residents BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The men living at the former YMCA on State Street may have a new home — the warehouse-like building next to the new Department of Social Services offi ce. Galesi Group, which owns the building on Broadway, has fi led an application with the city Planning Commission to renovate the derelict structure. But first, the company is expected to hold a public meeting to discuss its plans with residents of the Bellevue neighborhood. Already, some residents are organizing to oppose the move, saying there might be dangerous criminals among the men who would live there. They also say their neighborhood is struggling to absorb the impact of DSS — which brings hundreds of people to the neighborhood, causing some traffic problems, as well as littering and the occasional criminal act. The neighborhood can’t handle more social services, they said. If the project is approved, the men aren’t moving in anytime soon. Grant applications and other paperwork will likely take much of the year, meaning the extensive renovations might not start until next winter. The project was pulled from next week’s Planning Commission agenda to give Galesi more time to hold its meeting and get funding. Funding may be the biggest problem. The building is in poor repair, with many broken windows, and it must be rebuilt to accommodate 165 single-occupancy rooms, as well as the requisite number of bathrooms and other shared spaces. “It’s a lot to redesign the building,” City Planner Christine Primiano said. “They’re applying for funding.” Galesi is applying for a state grant from the Division of Housing and Urban Renewal. Offi cials are optimistic that they’ll get funding, particularly since the men they want to house will soon have nowhere to live. The YMCA closed its lower State Street building last spring and opened a new facility in Center City across from Proctors. But the new YMCA only has exercise machines and other gym amenities. There’s no room for the social services it provided on lower State Street. There are currently 185 men living the bedrooms provided at the old YMCA. At the time, YMCA officials said they could only promise a home for the men until 2013, when the old building may be sold. But they said they were actively looking for another location in Schenectady. Galesi’s building isn’t perfect. The zoning code will allow only 165 rooms there, down from 185 at the old YMCA. It’s also far from some other social services, although DSS is next door and CDTA runs regular buses to the site. ..........................>>>>........................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00703&AppName=1
Finding it hard to believe that the Downtown Renaissance includes moving the homeless out of the YMCA and into THE NEIGHBORHOODS like Bellevue. Again, does Schenectady even have a clue? Totally ignoring the safety of the neighborhoods, allowing drugs and slumlords to prosper and now moving all the YMCA residents out of Downtown?
The Schenectady taxpayers are being taken advantage of over and over again. Instead of moving BUSINESSES to the neighborhoods, Metroplex moves the homeless and DSS. Seems like the Plex and the City are discriminating. Funny, the City can't seem to enact laws to move sex offenders away from the schools, but they find a way to move the homeless away from Proctors.
They should move it to 2571 Albany Street. It would be an improvement on what is already there.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
The implosion of Bellevue continues. I wonder if the Bellevue Neighborhood Association is going to support this like they did for the Taj Mahal DSS?
This is an industrial building the former Schenectady International. Another former job site permanently taken off the City tax rolls. No biggie-The oppressed City residents can pick up their taxes too. Like the other 159 City nonprofits including Union College and Proctor's.
I'm sure that the fairly new businesses on broadway hill will appreciate the extra 'foot traffic'!
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
The plan hasn't been approved. Maybe they will move the facility to DeCamp Street.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
When the Gazette finally gets a hold of information, it's already a done deal. It doesn't matter what Bellevue residents want. Stratton doesn't live there. Gillen doesn't live there and Morris doesn't either. This is one step closer to the Rotterdam borders...be careful what you wish for
When the Gazette finally gets a hold of information, it's already a done deal. It doesn't matter what Bellevue residents want. Stratton doesn't live there. Gillen doesn't live there and Morris doesn't either. This is one step closer to the Rotterdam borders...be careful what you wish for
Gee, too bad that rotterdam already approved the old draper school for the veterans. It would have been perfect for the 'Y' residents. Galesi could have bought the building, refurbished it and leased it out to the 'Y'. They could have set up a bus route there for them also. Perfect location.....Cumby's, a pizza place, bar and Laundromat all within a 2-3 block area. Not to mention the altamont ave. business section and the new recovery grill.
I think this would have been a much more humane area for these 'Y' residents.
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
They should move it to 2571 Albany Street. It would be an improvement on what is already there.
At least they'll eat the best Chocolate in the area if they do.
Tho, it'd be a shame to close down a tax paying, multi-person employer and retrofit it for a tax free organization. We know YOU approve of these moves - as do Stratton, Gillen, Savage, et al., but the TAXPAYERS don't.
It is odd that someone would be so fixated by a business and know the street number off the top of head enough to make insulting and deroguetory comment about it! I am sure the owner would love to sell Ron the property for assesses value and move it to a place where the political leadership wouldn't run it down and might see it as an asset, having been in business for 80 years employing several county residents. Maybe Ron is stalking someone! Weirdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
When the Gazette finally gets a hold of information, it's already a done deal. It doesn't matter what Bellevue residents want. Stratton doesn't live there. Gillen doesn't live there and Morris doesn't either. This is one step closer to the Rotterdam borders...be careful what you wish for
Gee- The Gazette has printed lots of articles about proposed projects that have never been carried out.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Logged
The implosion of Bellevue continues. I wonder if the Bellevue Neighborhood Association is going to support this like they did for the Taj Mahal DSS? 
