Get on board and get active. If the following questions are answered YES, then you need to Save the Armory because the possibilities there are endless.
1. Do you want a Community Center in New Rochelle to cater to children, teens, seniors, educators and Veterans?
2. Do you want a Performing Arts Center in New Rochelle where you could enjoy concerts and a vast variety of entertainment?
3. Do you want a Sport Arena in New Rochelle that could accomodate sports like Basketball, indoor Soccer, Boxing, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Flag Football or more?
4.Do you want to visit a Norman Rockwell Museum, a New Rochelle Historical Museum, a New Rochelle Military Historical Museum focused on Veterans and war heroes from New Rochelle? (Many have been awarded Congressional Medals of Honor for your information)
5. Do you want to see a Science and Technology Center where kids can be proactive and hands on learning things from Hydroponics, Recycling, Solor Energy, Biology, Space Exploration, Astrology or Marine life?
6. Do you want a retail facilities in New Rochelle like a state of the art Evening Dinner Theater, a Cafe, Coffe & Dessert shop, Restaurant? (How about an ARMORY STEAKHOUSE)
7. Do you know a senior citizen who would appreciate a new vibrant place to go in New Rochelle to enjoy Senior activities like Bingo, socializing, day trips, having classic movie nights, card games or more?
8. Do you see that all of these ideas are absolutely possible utilizing our very own Armory?
9. How much would you pay to have something like this in our city?
10. Would you be happy to know saving the Armory would cost you nothing, all you need to want is to save history?
If you answered YES to any if not ALL of these questions, you will see that the revenue that these businesses will bring to the Armory site will become a self sustaining entity that will require no taxpayer subsidies.
It is encouraged you voice your ideas, support and opinions here. What would you want to see the Armory bring to New Rochelle?
Photo credit Jen Parente
Don’t Make This a Win-Lose Game
I can understand the frustration on the part of the SOA but don’t even think of making this a win-lose game. YOu will lose period and you will have cost the community something of potential value.
I was concerned over the hostility of many of the people who spoke up March 13. Bad strategy and tactics to say the least and boasting about a single MOU, “one year to change the Armory” etc is not helpful, probably not even possible.
Only Ron Tocci presented himself with dignity and that must or should be your leader. Maybe the veterans post Viet Nam have a different sense of outcome or entitlement. My generation thought about things as God, Country, Family and Community. You might be surprised to learn that there are many veterans in the community who never joined the Legion or participate as a single-issue candidate or citizen. These are those that must be committed to restoring the Armory and the need is to convince them as well as the Council who should be, and I think are, establishing the Strong Council we need to get ahead.
Tocci is the man as I see it and I really don’t care about his relation with Noam. He is a grown man and knows how to prioritize and I think, AS I DO, that we need the Armory and the SOA has come up with many positive potential outcomes that it could accomplish and will if worked correctly.
SOA cannot and will not get carte blanche. This is City property, neglected or otherwise, and bluster will not change that fact. I honestly think that the City Council would see the wisdom in working with two or so members of SOA under the direct sponsorship of the City to come up with the restoration and renewal we need. It doesn’t need to happen in a year’s time, but it does need to happen.
First things first.
1. Understand how things really work and what the NYS law will mandate. Ron Tocci does.
2. Work to ensure the defeat of Forest City/Ratner and do this the right way through your council members. The proposal is less and less relevant and we can RFP it in the future AFTER the design development and restoration of the Armory.
3. Stop with the chest beating. NINFO for one, not exactly a City Administration supporter, wants evidence of who will step up and produce revenue for the City. If you work with the City, that will not be necessary at this moment.
4. Perhaps some work should already be underway to get the historical and heritage folks to protect this site. That should not be an overwhelming obstacle.
5. The fact is that there is a positive potential outcome for all of us… a place for seniors, youth, memorial for veterans, boutique shops, a possible lead in on the basis of a redrafted RFP for shoreside boutiques, etc. Don’t employ bad tactics and put this thing at risk.
Again, I think Ron Tocci will bury any animosity, be task oriented, use his broad range of NYS contacts, etc… (now is the time for Oppenheimer for example).
No time for hoo rah. Try God, Country, Family and Community. This is not a war, this is the need to build a different New Rochelle.
Let SOA into the Armory
Warren- I read your comments four times and cannot believe your understanding of this issue. The SOA committee should be thanked many times over for their commitment . What you saw on March 13 was an organized group would are trying to get the mayor to listen perhaps even to offer an olive branch. What you did not see was the body language of our mayor. It was embarrassing and so very unprofessional for a person who would like to have a political career. There are many people who get under his skin and at times you can see the veins in his neck.
March 13 was a terrible time for our mayor, many people showed up and spoke about the armory and many other issues that have not been solved. I though it was a good evening, people were involved and it was democracy at its best. What did our mayor do? He decided to pick questions from the white cards and the order people would speak. He has also decided that if a person has spoken the month before they will be the last to speak the next month. I hope this is addressed by the council at their next meeting and they put a stop to this madness. If he cannot control the situation, he acts in a very immature manner.
As far as Forest City is concerned, they will have their way and we the taxpayers will have to pay for many years. I for one am sick and tired of walking between developers with a pail and shovel and cleaning up their mess.
Join Here and Win
“Yes” across the board. This venture is something that if left in the right hands, will beautify the waterfront, provide ample space for venues including concerts and a place to host a variety events. The revenue that would flow into this city by utilizing the Armory would bring into New Rochelle exactly what we need.
Does anyone realize (just an example) that The Westchester Dinner Theater brings in millions of dollars annually and they employ droves of people who need work? There is always a steady stream of customers from all over Westchester and NY that flock to enjoy that experience. This is what New Rochelle needs. We need the same attraction. I would hope to see retailers hustle and bustle in my city. I believe the idea of Museums and a Center for the Arts to enjoy exibits and music would bring enormous joy to people from all over Westchester regularly and give us a new place to take our kids to broaden their horizons. New Rochelle’s Armory should host farmers markets, appeal to corporate event rentals, have space for trade shows and just be a beautiful place to visit and appreciate.
The Armory belongs to the people of this city, we’re rich in history, now we need to capitalize on it.
Be careful of state law
As we saw here earlier in the week, the city and Forest City can’t knock down armory without passing a state law changing deed between city and state.
A couple of years ago, Latimer tried to sneak in a law in final days to knock down armory, but this blog caught him and there was a public outcry that killed law.
However, be careful of Latimer. There are websites out there claiming he wants to run for State Senate this year. I hear the guy has a lot of baggage and he may try to push this law again to help his friends at city hall, so they help his election.
After Latimer lifted New Rochelle’s tax cap like 5 years ago, he doesn’t get my vote.
There Are Many Unanswered Questions
You have outline many fine ideas and they are 400% better than your first effort. I have written on the blog and to Jim Killoran and others on the worth of these ideas.
But, you have to be much more informative along the lines Ninfo mentions. You are part of a very skeptical community and you are writing to a large segment of skeptics as well. Your presentations were excellent on the whole this Tuesday led by the formidable Ron Tocci and the outstanding citizen John D. (is it D’Alois?)
I am a veteran and came to supporting the Armory later than most as I was not convinced you were going much beyond an addition to the legion, dining space, etc. But you filled a great void, developed a plan to equate services that exist in other parts of the City (boys and girls club, hugh doyle, others and met my principal concern that you really concentrate on what a veteran in better times and I think sadly, generations thought he was shipping out for. That was God, family and community. You breeched that gap brilliantly and I hope a memorial chapel is included in the plans.
But you got to release that bravado by some, for example, one MOU only, done in a year, etc. is a little hard to come by. Then, Jim Maisano came into the picture and gave some excellent status information on the Armory. What I heard was that the Armory could not be destroyed without the consent of the State given the conditions of the $1.00 sale.
So, I think the first thing you have to clear up is have Jim or another attorney stipulate that the Armory can be either ceded to the Committee by the City under the same stipulations. If not, then it falls upon you to do the proper deal with the Administration. There is no better head of the effort than Ron Tocci. I admire his professional demeanor and it seems that with John D and others, you have the makings of a sub-contracting team that could work for a $1.00 a year for the City and be empowered to pull this off. You could also use this as a model for proper greening or sustainability efforts, roofing, energy and efficiency etc. This would or should appeal to the City and there are people currently on the fence that would step up to the plate. My wife works for a large non-profit agency in New York City that currently has a large VA grant for underserved veterans on employment as well as a technology for certain greening applications. Jim Killoran has excellent contacts in the field as well. I would volunteer my services and have a lot of experience in development and there is no welcome mat for me at City Hall.
But all this said, you have to show the people more of your cards in terms of who is interested in coming in to assist. You probably cannot and I think you should not attempt anything interpreted as city hostile. Tocci intimated as much in his presentation.
Then there is Forest City. Maisano is a smart guy and if he is right on the conditions with the State, they cannot force or coerce the City to harm any part of the Armory with NYS consent. With the defense presenting their side in the Annabi case in Yonkers, Aronwald (attorney) will likely bring Foreset City/Ratner to the attention of the public. However that proceeds, the message should be clear; we don’t want these people; either from a business standpoint or by means of a moral imperative. They are bad news and we have enough of that.
Line up your sights, lock, load and be prepared to convince the electorate by being as open and realistic as possible. The excellent Ivar Hydin is open providing there is some revenue.
Don’t beat the horse to death on expenses. You will be fine on labor, maybe less so on other operating expenses. You may need more time. Not a huge issue if the people see you as credible. We need a positive achievement and you have put something positive in place.
That’s it. Beat down Forest City, let Echo Bay rest for a while, get your legal facts in order, cut a collaborative relationship with the City administration, win over the electorate with solid information and less bravado, and count on new volunteers such as myself. I am ready and others will be as well including NYS Nyserda for example, who are waiting for projects like this and I have the name of the man who handles multi dwellings like Cooperatives and can easily direct you to the Commercial guys.
Once all of the above is done, we can help Noam and the excellent Michael Freimuth (I know the business so I know his quality) to cobble together a new RFP to bring the right people and right innovation to Echo Bay once I think which should be a series of boutique small businesses similar to what you would find in small coast line shops in Connecticut or Maine, with the Armory as the lead-in anchor. Be fitting to pull out that wonderful old anchor and use it as the entrance art work.
Good luck and great work
warren gross
SOA Community Center Public Presentation
I would love all of the above. NR has public access studio and channel. I suggest the SOA Committee tape their presentation and air it so all of NR can view and decide for themself if we want to pay higher taxes so a developer can profit or if a financially neutral community center is possible. I’m sure Bob Cox will publicize the presentation airing dates & times on TOTS.
It’s time to prove the administration wromg!!!!
You’re absolutely right ! Call them Now
You can find out more at http://www.newrochellearmory.com and if you agree with any of the above contact your mayor and or councilperson and tell them this is what you (the taxpaying resident) wants. For a contact list (email and phone) of elected officials, including local, and state representatives click HERE
You’ll be glad you did.
Armory
Nice ideas…if not me..who is going to pay for this?
No Funds needed from the taxpayers
Renovating the building will be handled through investors, developers and contractors who have already come forth on their own to be part of this exciting project. Revenue will be created via stakeholders, private investors and fund raising. Simply put, once businesses occupy the Armory, those profits will in turn sustain the property at no cost to the tax payers.
To be blunt, prove them wrong
To be blunt, the administration is claiming the SOA Committee does NOT have the backing/financial guarantees required in place. You need to make your presentation to the public with all documents and backing; letters of intent, financial backing, contractors commitment, Habitat etc. It’s high time both sides put up or shut up. I believe this can be done as outlined but the only way to convince the general public is to show them undeniable proof. Any developer would be required to produce financials so too should the SOA Committee.
PLEASE put your cards on the table so the public can openly support you and the administration has no excuse to deny you. Then we can move forward regardless of what happens with the city yard and remaining water front properties.
How Would They Know?
We’ve presented an outline before in good faith to ultimately ask for the protection of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU). The same protection given to anyone else doing this type of business with the city. This protects the investment process by assuring we don’t expend resources only to have someone come in under the radar and wrench it out of our hands leaving us with hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in the project (architectural, financing, etc). No developer dumps resources ($$$) into a project without the understanding that they will be protected. During our last request, we were told the city cannot, by law, enter into discussions with us because of the MOU between Forest City and the City. We ask only the same consideration given to everyone else. At the end of the MOU term, the city can, wholeheartedly support the project, ask for more info, ask for changes, all of the above, or decide to not move forward. This is where YOU, the resident, the owner of the Armory, can make this happen. Call the Mayor, call your councilperson and tell them you insist the SOA be given a chance to put the “cards on the table”. Afford the SOA the protection given any developer. Give the opportunity to showcase a project that has no downside and can only go up from here.
Here’s the 11th question. With nothing happening at Echo Bay for the next year, and with Forest City not wanting to utilize the Armory, WHAT DOES THE CITY LOSE IN EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES? The answer is nothing. That’s it. Everything to gain and nothing to lose. it makes you wonder what the issue is. Could it be political? At the end of the day, the SOA will have developed something all of New Rochelle can be proud of. If you had to invent a down side, it would be that we would be right where we are now anyway.
Your comments are greatly appreciated. We encourage the discussion to be able to state the truth and to dispel the misinformation. Even if this is the only involvement you have, we thank you. But personally, I believe you will continue to bring value to the table. For that, I thank you.
Stay involved, stay informed and remember
It’s YOUR Armory – Use It !