Apparently it is appropriate to use a developer to help create and pay for needed parking in downtown New Rochelle, but it is not proper for another developer to help finance moving the City Yard to Beechwood Avenue. The New Rochelle City Council on February 14, 2012 discussed financial criteria of two development proposals that they will have to vote on at their next meeting.
The proposal by Forest City Residential was recently given an 60 day extension of their MOU (memorandum of understanding) to produce a plan for the waterfront at the present City Yard site. Discussion ensued on the necessity to move the City Yard to Beechwood Avenue and the City’s need to bond $600,000 to prepare a design for a new City Yard at the Beechwood site which the City had purchased several years ago.
The two Republican Councilmen, Al Tarantino and Lou Trangucci, had serious objections to funding the design phase of the project at this time. Councilman Tarantino had concerns about the future costs to the City of bonding for a new City Yard because of the present financial difficulties of the City and the economy. He felt excessive debt could hamper the City and cause layoffs of fire and police officers. Councilman Trangucci agreed with this analysis and did not want to vote on the bonding until he knew what Forest City Residential was proposing for the present City Yard property. In the past Trangucci emphasized, it was assumed that City Yard move would be predicated on the developer’s plans for Echo Bay and the monetary contribution that this developer would give to offset the development. He wanted appraisals of the current Beechwood site and the present City Yard site to determine their value and whether they are clean. Mayor Noam Bramson and City Manager Chuck Strome insisted that they could not determine the value of the present City Yard unless they knew what the usage is. Strome said the soil remediation necessary would be the responsibility of the developer, but the costs of moving the City Yard are the City’s responsibility. Bramson agreed, and stated that a waterfront developer could not “carry the costs of a City Yard move unless we are willing to accept a very high density” in their development.
A different approach was evident when the Albanese MOU proposal was discussed. In four phases, this project would contain 550 residential units 13,000 square feet of retail space and 1100 parking spaces including provisions to replace the Church-Division garage. While Bramson recounted the past proposals for the area, Commissioner of Development, Michael Friemuth, cautioned that this project would be completed in four phases with no guarantees that all four phases will transpire. Councilman Jared Rice questioned the breakdown of rental units at 80/20 (80% market rate, 20% affordable), However, it was suggested the mixture could be 60/40 for the first phase. There was a general feeling that residents want to shop on Main Street and the 60/40 mix was “not ideal.” Strome during the discussion strongly recommended going forward with the development because otherwise the City will have to invest several million dollars to rebuild or upgrade the Church-Division garage and this MOU will allow the City “to work with the developer.”
Bramson will RamRod his agenda through!
Isn’t it queer that every project that was left festering for 20 years is now fast-tracked? These include, the city yard, the Church-Division parking facility, Echo Bay etc. All would include MAJOR TAX ABATEMENTS and or MAJOR BONDING. The bottom line…. Bramson got a 5-2 super-majority that is bullet proof to ramrod his agenda through. Hang on New Rochelle for the next 4 years will be a precarious ride with nail biting twists & turns. But at the end of the tunnel New Rochelle will leave a path of terminated first responders (police, fire & sanitation), depleted services, an unending list of new fees and years of double digit property tax increases.
A prime reason we need Bob Cohen in the NYS Senate!
We can only hope that Bob Cohen, gets elected to the 37th Senate District & at least end the threat of higher sales taxes, a property transfer tax, income tax and/or a utility tax on New Rochelle residents ………all of which need state approval 1st.
We can’t count of the likes of Amy Paulin, George Latimer & Andrea Stewart-Cousin to do anything to reduce or minimize the local tax burden. In fact if asked they’d probably support and allow New Rochelle to increase or create new & higher taxes on just about anything.
The Sky Is Falling!
The sky is falling! Tell everyone we are having fire sales. Everything must go now before it is too late.
We continue to look to give prime property to developers for sweet deals in exchange for help to clean up the problems this city management created by lack of proper up keep and maintenance. If we can’t afford to fix the problems correctly at this time than put a stop to all projects but those that are critical to the running of the city and the safety of the citizens. If you can’t afford to pay your first, second, possibly third or fourth mortgage and pay your other expenses, then you stop all unnecessary spending and reevaluate your situation. You don’t go out looking for more loans and think about putting on an addition to your home and buying a new car. You don’t start giving away all of your valuable assets for nothing. You must stop and asses the true value of those assets and your true need. Then take some time and get some financial planning help from unbiased professionals and determine what is best for you and your family. Don’t seek the advice of the rich bankers and land barons who are looking to take what they can from you for nothing. They know your past track record and see you are an easy mark.
No more wheeling and dealing in back rooms with the same developers that have had extension after extension given them. Especially one who has a questionable past for such back room deals. This is not the frontier where the government needs to give land away to encourage growth. No more giving away churches for a dollar, moving city yards or using parking garages for deals. There are creative ways to deal with these problems. Find someone with imagination and foresight to help us to fix the problems that works to our benefit and not their own or the campaign funds of officials. Don’t be misled because thing look tough right now. The quick fix is not always the right fix. Especially when you have people around you say these are not the right decisions for this time. Take a breath. These things didn’t happen overnight. They won’t be fixed overnight either. Have a plan, we have no plan. Take advantage of the wealth of experience this community has and is offering to get this city back on track.
“Use Common Sense for the Common Good.”