Quoted from Shadow

That's the same BS that Metroplex has been spouting for the last 10 years and the taxes go higher, fees get larger, crime goes up, people abandon houses, and businesses open then close when the free money stops. Some RENAISSANCE that is.

A renaissance where they close churches? It's the same lies over and over. A deli renaissance- lol. The last decent deli Downtown was Hy Soffer's on Jay St that closed over 20 years ago. What happened to the other condo project in Little Italy? The building has been boarded up for months. Neither will be built. Saratoga is building huge condo projects Downtown because they actually have retail and they don't have pit bulls/pit bull owners running wild. They can't put upscale housing in Downtown Schenectady. No retail, no neighborhood school, not even a 7-11. It took years to even rent the apartments over Aperitivo.

Aren't Girvin and Ferlazzo pals of Vandenburgh's @ 1300am??? Are they running this deli or just representing this Deliteful Creations?

The are partners in the station. The apartment "complex" is 8 high rent units in the over $1,600 range. From the same guy whose hotel went belly up. No one at that income will rent Downtown with the current crime and school issues. Yes, you need better housing-once the situation has stabilized. It is still in free fall with property prices crashing. Only a fool would buy a condo Downtown. A lot of nothing like the AAA deal.

No one is going to buy condos on Barrett Street. Jay is infested with Level 2 & 3 sex offenders, one block up is the Ellis Mental Health facility, looking at Summit Towers isn't exactly eye candy and no retail is a HUGE pitfall.

The City and Metroplex seem to ignore that it's in the neighborhoods and it is the homeowners who are supplying all the money for the taxbase. They seem to have missed the day in Economics 101 where a City needs a stable taxbase of BOTH homeowners AND for-profit business contributing.

No one is going to move to Schenectady if the homes are over-assessed, over-taxed ($40 per each $1,000 assessed is far from the $15 per each $1,000 assessed in Saratoga County) and where there is a dangerous, failing school district.

You have to clean up the crap before anyone will come here...build all you want....it's all a waste for ignoring the real issues.  

They keep trying to build on mud. Who is going to rent this? Union Professors would rather rent a house which there are shortage of. 8 UNITS? Until taxes, crime, pit bulls and school issues are addressed it's all nonsense. Any renter would have to send their kid to private school and hope you like driving miles to the nearest grocery store. No retail will come in-another bodega if they are lucky. Metrograft has crapped out and this is another example of it.  

.and the RENAISSANCE goes on ....    and the RENAISSANCE goes on..... la da da dee ....  (to the tune of "and the beat goes on")

Quoted from benny salami

They keep trying to build on mud. Who is going to rent this? Union Professors would rather rent a house which there are shortage of. 8 UNITS? Until taxes, crime, pit bulls and school issues are addressed it's all nonsense. Any renter would have to send their kid to private school and hope you like driving miles to the nearest grocery store. No retail will come in-another bodega if they are lucky. Metrograft has crapped out and this is another example of it.  

Having the failed Parker Inn owner build these condos? Giving money to a proven failed businessman? Yep, that sounds about right for the Metroplex.

How much does Gillen get paid?

According to the published plan there will be a void behind the apartment bldg. for one year while funding is being raised for the retail location there..  If the economy situation is still stagnated or gets worse, the hand will be out for more Plex $$$$ to finish the project.   One reason will be is the Plex will agree it cannot have that void there.   Key here is get the ground broken and project stated.   Worry about cost/completion later saying too late to scrap project.   Much like the Alco RPI nuclear device bldg. there.   There is an issue of almost $500,000.00 there to have the facility relocated.   RPI says they do not have the funds.   So who do you think will get stuck with this bill when as a result of it being there, will result in slow condo sales.   Not to mention STS Steel in their backyard as well.   So with these 2 potential eyesores impeding sales of the units why oh why would the Plex go full steam ahead into the project.   It's not that they did not know they were there.   We and our friends would not even consider a unit there with these 2 eyesores.   Not to mention the flood zone aspect.    

Quoted Text

‘Upscale’ living coming to downtown

By John Purcell As of Thursday, December 15, 2011

#Schenectady — Upscale apartment units will soon transform a blighted site in downtown Schenectady.

#Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority announced on Tuesday, Dec. 13, construction work is starting this month on a new $3.1 million residential development in downtown Schenectady. The project is being developed at the corner of Union and Barrett Streets, which will replace a vacant, boarded-up building and vacant lot with eight new townhome apartments. Each unit is planned to have approximately 1,350 square feet of space and its own garage.

#Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair and Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning for Schenectady County said, “As downtown develops, we are seeing more interest in renovating and building upscale residential units," said Ray Gillen, chair of Metroplex, in a prepared statement.

#Metroplex is providing a $150,000 grant toward the cost of site preparation and also providing a $200,000 loan toward construction costs at 5 percent interest.

#Chris Maddalone and his partner, Charles Rosenstein, are developing the site. The first phase of development is over $1.5 million, with Kinderhook Bank providing financing. Also, J. Luk Construction Company of Rotterdam was hired to build the new complex.........................>>>>..............................>>>>............................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/2011/dec/15/upscale-living-coming-downtown/

Please let us all know when all the upscale units are rented.

Quoted from rachel72

Having the failed Parker Inn owner build these condos? Giving money to a proven failed businessman? Yep, that sounds about right for the Metroplex.How much does Gillen get paid?

Too much. Only Schenectady County selects a non planner County planner. This is an outrage and taxpayer ripoff.  Started with condos {like ALCO another total flop} but no one will pay these insane DEM clown taxes. Now high price apartments {$1,600-1,800 a month!} but not for Union Students who's parents are the only ones that could afford it. This is not the Upper East Side. No parking, no businesses, no neighborhood schools. They will build it-no one will rent-and Death Ray will have another disgrace to lie about. Another Section 8 site for more moron voters. Possible new voting site eh Quail? Keep the implosion going!

Quoted from rachel72

Having the failed Parker Inn owner build these condos? Giving money to a proven failed businessman? Yep, that sounds about right for the Metroplex.

How much does Gillen get paid?

That is because 'there is no one else' interested in doing 'anything' in schenectady!!! We read about the same people, developers over and over and over again! There is 'no one' that comes to schenectady 'on purpose' to buy, build or develop 'anything!!!

And just for yuks....the folks should check out the bid process. Wonder how many low bidding businesses didn't win the bid???? Which ones were union and which ones were not?? Which ones are in bed with the developers? Wonder how many of them actually  live in the city...or even the county?

It's a government ponzi scheme racket'!

Quoted from bumblethru

And just for yuks....the folks should check out the bid process. Wonder how many low bidding businesses didn't win the bid???? Which ones were union and which ones were not?? Which ones are in bed with the developers? Wonder how many of them actually  live in the city...or even the county?

It's a government ponzi scheme racket'!

You know, this is SO true - it's exactly like the VanDyke II with MacDonald. Metroplex gave MacDonald a loan of $175K and low and behold....MacDonald won the auction because the Plex was out the money from the LAST owner.

So Plex used their own money to bail themselves out. That was double taxpayer money used for the same business....

and the RENAISSANCE GOES ON ... and the RENAISSANCE goes on ...

Quoted from rachel72

You know, this is SO true - it's exactly like the VanDyke II with MacDonald. Metroplex gave MacDonald a loan of $175K and low and behold....MacDonald won the auction because the Plex was out the money from the LAST owner. So Plex used their own money to bail themselves out. That was double taxpayer money used for the same business....

How many times can you use renaissance in a post? This is another Gillen fiasco. The same crap over and over. No one will rent these overpriced apartments like no one will stay in his over priced boutique hotel.