The factual record is that Helderberg Meadows was crammed down the throats of the surrounding residents even after hours of comments by these same residents. The land was a swamp, protected wetlands that the Army Corp of Engineers said 30 years ago would never be built on. One local resident who, a hydraulic engineer, stated very clearly that the building of this road/development would cause both the development and neighboring properties to flood, but no one from the town boards cared to listen. Today the properties along the West side of Helderberg Ave closest to the development property do flood and the homes in certain parts of the development continuously have basement water issues, some with sump pumps that run all year long. Not to mention the road that is heaving in places and collapsing in others from the water that flows beneath it.
The town and its boards do what they want and listens to who ever threatens/pays the most so why speak out. Everyone knows this is a builders town, if you can't get it build anywhere else bring the idea to Rotterdam. We are the "Mikey" of the building world.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...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
Rotterdam net-zero complex breaks ground Apartments aim to make more energy than they use Tuesday, October 28, 2014 By Ned Campbell (Contact) Gazette Reporter
Construction has begun on a 156-unit apartment complex in Rotterdam that promises to produce the same or more energy than it uses. ...
You can read the whole article by buying your own paper or paying to read it online.
This project is a great thing for Rotterdam -- not just because it is net-zero in energy use -- but also because it puts lands that were off the tax rolls for several years BACK on the tax rolls.
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
Rotterdam net-zero complex breaks ground Apartments aim to make more energy than they use Tuesday, October 28, 2014 By Ned Campbell (Contact) Gazette Reporter
This project is a great thing for Rotterdam -- not just because it is net-zero in energy use -- but also because it puts lands that were off the tax rolls for several years BACK on the tax rolls.
GREAT
How about more commercial development to bring jobs and income in to the town. Enough of these stick them anywhere multifamily housing projects. The one behind Trustco on Altamont Ave looks absolutely absurd, why do we allow this crap to be put up like this. it makes the area look dreadful.
We need money making businesses, and I don't mean more bank branches, pizza joints, gas stations, or drug stores. Make Rotterdam a place where you can live work and play, but instead most of us just sleep here only to flee each morning and return to after the "5 o'clock whistle".
Every town around us has quality businesses along their main streets. They have also defined their "main" street(s) with proper roadways, recreation areas by building proper parks, and residential zones by controlling development. Rotterdam seems confused about where our main street starts and where the rest begins. Driving into this town you get the sense of the very poor planning.
This town needs to stop building more crap under the Guise of "tax revenue" and come up with a better plan, no more spot zoning, or throwing it up because it is a "formally" empty lot.
Rotterdam net-zero complex breaks ground Apartments aim to make more energy than they use Tuesday, October 28, 2014 By Ned Campbell (Contact) Gazette Reporter
Construction has begun on a 156-unit apartment complex in Rotterdam that promises to produce the same or more energy than it uses. ...
You can read the whole article by buying your own paper or paying to read it online.
This project is a great thing for Rotterdam -- not just because it is net-zero in energy use -- but also because it puts lands that were off the tax rolls for several years BACK on the tax rolls.
And the "net" benefit of a higher tax base is an increase for the Deputy Supervisor, more "lob jobs", police raises, etc. The net for the residents is 0!
And the "net" benefit of a higher tax base is an increase for the Deputy Supervisor, more "lob jobs", police raises, etc. The net for the residents is 0!
You are supposed to believe town government revenue is good for all residents. It's only when you look close and see the pigs dividing the spoils amongst themselves do you realize who the higher tax base benefits - government employees.
How about more commercial development to bring jobs and income in to the town. Enough of these stick them anywhere multifamily housing projects. The one behind Trustco on Altamont Ave looks absolutely absurd, why do we allow this crap to be put up like this. it makes the area look dreadful.
We need money making businesses, and I don't mean more bank branches, pizza joints, gas stations, or drug stores. Make Rotterdam a place where you can live work and play, but instead most of us just sleep here only to flee each morning and return to after the "5 o'clock whistle".
Every town around us has quality businesses along their main streets. They have also defined their "main" street(s) with proper roadways, recreation areas by building proper parks, and residential zones by controlling development. Rotterdam seems confused about where our main street starts and where the rest begins. Driving into this town you get the sense of the very poor planning.
This town needs to stop building more crap under the Guise of "tax revenue" and come up with a better plan, no more spot zoning, or throwing it up because it is a "formally" empty lot.
There is a market for multi-family housing developments.
As far as commercial development, I think we need to revitalize the existing commercial area (including Rotterdam Square Mall and the old Curry Road Plaza) BEFORE we develop additional commercial areas.
The banks and pizza places seem to be doing well. If you have another idea for a business and are willing to invest the time and money to built it and run it, than you are more than welcome to try.
I agree that the parks and recreation system in Rotterdam is -- quite frankly -- pathetic. It has great potential.
As for how Rotterdam got to be where it is now -- over many decades -- part of it has to do with the way that the town developed historically (over 200+ years). There really is no "town center" or rather a series of commercial centers connected by a road system laid out over 150 years ago.
The town - IMHO - really needs to have leaders who will call a series of "town hall style meetings" all around the town -- and get input from the residents on what they would like their neighborhood and their town to look like. Then pulling together this information come up with a comprehensive vision and update the comp plan, the zoning ordinances and the zoning map.
But for now, I do think that projects like the net-zero apartments are a good thing -- a step in the right direction. Hopefully, Burdeck Street may develop some retail that folks can walk or ride bikes to. Hopefully, the same thing will happen on Hamburg Street for that side of town. Five corners and 4 corners, too.
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
... If you have another idea for a business and are willing to invest the time and money to built it and run it, than you are more than welcome to try.
Lotsa luck. If you don't have political connections and you are not a millionaire, forget it. The leaders only want to tax homeowners more and hand out tax exemptions in order to help their political cronies.
Have you noticed that most of the TAXPAYING businesses downtown have closed down because they had to pay for the buildings/businesses of the super wealthy political cronies.
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.
There is a market for multi-family housing developments.
As far as commercial development, I think we need to revitalize the existing commercial area (including Rotterdam Square Mall and the old Curry Road Plaza) BEFORE we develop additional commercial areas.
The banks and pizza places seem to be doing well. If you have another idea for a business and are willing to invest the time and money to built it and run it, than you are more than welcome to try.
I agree that the parks and recreation system in Rotterdam is -- quite frankly -- pathetic. It has great potential.
As for how Rotterdam got to be where it is now -- over many decades -- part of it has to do with the way that the town developed historically (over 200+ years). There really is no "town center" or rather a series of commercial centers connected by a road system laid out over 150 years ago.
The town - IMHO - really needs to have leaders who will call a series of "town hall style meetings" all around the town -- and get input from the residents on what they would like their neighborhood and their town to look like. Then pulling together this information come up with a comprehensive vision and update the comp plan, the zoning ordinances and the zoning map.
But for now, I do think that projects like the net-zero apartments are a good thing -- a step in the right direction. Hopefully, Burdeck Street may develop some retail that folks can walk or ride bikes to. Hopefully, the same thing will happen on Hamburg Street for that side of town. Five corners and 4 corners, too.
just because there is a market doesn't make for good future planning.......it's about get rich and leave.....
...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
I notice that certain people keep changing the topic and throwing out the same old red herrings. They are chronic whiners and complainers who have never actually done ANYTHING to produce positive change. They don't like the people who hold government offices yet sit on their asses and not only refuse to run for office themselves -- some of them advocate not voting at all as a solution. The nayboobs don't like the businesses that OTHER PEOPLE invest their own time, energy and money into building but the nayboobs themselves sit on their asses and don't bother to invest their own time, energy and money into creating a business. The nayboobs claim to be for the constitution and liberty but the nayboobs are against allowing other property owners from excercisng their rights as property owners -- to build projects that meet the local zoning ordinances and all other pertinent state and federal regulations. It is time to ignore the chronic whining and complaining nayboobs because they really have no desire or intention to actual contribute anything constructive or intelligent to the discussion or the process.
The FACT is that the Net Zero apartments is an investment (of millions of dollars) by a private developer to create energy efficient housing AND will put a property BACK on the tax rolls. The project is a good thing -- a big win for ALL of the residents of the town -- and a step in the right direction for the town.
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
I notice that certain people keep changing the topic and throwing out the same old red herrings. They are chronic whiners and complainers who have never actually done ANYTHING to produce positive change. They don't like the people who hold government offices yet sit on their asses and not only refuse to run for office themselves -- some of them advocate not voting at all as a solution. The nayboobs don't like the businesses that OTHER PEOPLE invest their own time, energy and money into building but the nayboobs themselves sit on their asses and don't bother to invest their own time, energy and money into creating a business. The nayboobs claim to be for the constitution and liberty but the nayboobs are against allowing other property owners from excercisng their rights as property owners -- to build projects that meet the local zoning ordinances and all other pertinent state and federal regulations. It is time to ignore the chronic whining and complaining nayboobs because they really have no desire or intention to actual contribute anything constructive or intelligent to the discussion or the process.
The FACT is that the Net Zero apartments is an investment (of millions of dollars) by a private developer to create energy efficient housing AND will put a property BACK on the tax rolls. The project is a good thing -- a big win for ALL of the residents of the town -- and a step in the right direction for the town.
...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
just because there is a market doesn't make for good future planning.......it's about get rich and leave.....
Yeah, it is good planning. Good planning is building what the market demands. Poor planning is doing nothing (which most of you advocate) or building something that will remain vacant.
BTW -- I disagree with the contention of one of the posters that Helderberg Meadows was opposed by all the residents near it. We supported it. We are happy to have the new neighbors and look forward to the project being completely built 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
Yeah, it is good planning. Good planning is building what the market demands. Poor planning is doing nothing (which most of you advocate) or building something that will remain vacant.
BTW -- I disagree with the contention of one of the posters that Helderberg Meadows was opposed by all the residents near it. We supported it. We are happy to have the new neighbors and look forward to the project being completely built out.
like I said, if you're not vested it looks good to you.....
MFRH requires more government services and strains on the systems already in place....
school fire police sewer streets sidewalks etc etc etc.....
MFRH = row housing
...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
like I said, if you're not vested it looks good to you.....
MFRH requires more government services and strains on the systems already in place....
school fire police sewer streets sidewalks etc etc etc.....
MFRH = row housing
Like I said, the home that my family owns and that I help pay the taxes on is next door will be surrounded by Helderberg Meadows. We are most definitely VESTED in the community. We think it is a great project. We supported the project for almost 35 years --way back when it was called Guildercrest. We love the new neighbors. Look forward to more neighbors. Can't wait until the whole project is built out. And there still some beautiful land for sale on which to build some multifamily housing nearby --- that would be a great addition to the neighborhood. You see not everyone is afraid of progress and development - just the nayboobs.
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
Like I said, the home that my family owns and that I help pay the taxes on .
CLEARLY you do NOT "help pay the taxes." Barbie is paid about $60,000 in a LAVISH taxpayers paid pension. Figure two social security pensions, the two mommies have such a HIGH INCOME that they don't even qualify for the STAR exemption for seniors because they are no where near low income.
CLEARLY they do NOT need any assistance, not even one penny, to "help" pay the taxes. Just Barbie alone can more than afford to pay the just under $6,000 total tax bill.
Are they building their new house yet?
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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