Statue for Oneida Square

[dgriffin]

Here's the perfect item for Utica's re-do of Oneida Square into a roundabout. The square has so many points from intersecting streets that in addition to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument now there , the statue below could certainly be added somewhere.

Towering 300 feet (Isn't that the length of a football field? And the length of The Love Boat? Or the typical distance you must remain behind your girlfriend when she gets a restraining order against you?) this statue of Peter the Great has never been welcome in Moscow, so the Russians want to sell it and get rid of it.

I'll bet when the shouting is over, Moscow will give it way. St. Petersburg has already said the don't want the thing. And if they don't want a statue of their own patron, who would?

It's said the sculptor finished it as a tribute to Columbus, but had no takers. So he changed the head to Peter the Great and sold it to the now discredited mayor of Moscow a few years ago. A quick job with a welding torch could again honor anyone you want. A bolt-on head might even be changed in the future.

[WestmoGuy]

How about the Mayor holding a giant donut instead?

[dgriffin]

Like this?

[Clipper]

Are ya sure that isn't Ralph before he dyed his hair dark and grew a pony tail? You know how partial he is to donuts. Hey, come to think of it, I would much rather see a statue to someone deserving, than to Roefaro, LOL. ;D

[Ralph]

If I EVER wind up that wide at the hips I hope someone does a drive by when I am crawling out of the van after work!

[corner]

they should just put up the old kewpees doll

[Deleted]

The first photo looks a little Polish. But I like the idea of a round-a-bout in that area. Sounds more upscale.

[bobbbiez]

Oct 19, 2010 7:13:46 GMT -5 corner said:

they should just put up the old kewpees doll

How "great minds think alike."

Yep, first thing that came to my mind. After all, Kewpees left a much longing impression that Roefaro can only dream about. ;D

[WestmoGuy]

Is the traffic that bad there really? In another few years when the population goes down to 40,000 they can probably take all the lights down there anyway.

Wouldnt you think the city could find better ways to spend money on infrastructure?

• How many wooden water mains are under Genesee Street downtown.
  
• Barnes Ave Bridge? WOW, built in 1935 and a poor rating, and will fall one of these days.
  
• The leaky sewers and great paving thats on the city streets.
  

Me and the wife were passing through on the way back from one of my kids gigs Sunday. I said to her:

"It's pretty sad. You didnt grow up here like me and all I ever tell you as we're driving is I remember what used to be here"

END RANT-

LOL

[Clipper]

I am with Westmoguy. What the hell do they need a roundabout or traffic circle at Oneida Square for? There are many other things that could be done with the money that it would cost, and the statue needs to be left alone and left where it is. Oneida Square is surrounded by old buildings and old store fronts. It would be like putting lipstick on a pig. Fix the rest of the infrastructure and bring some interested businesses that will fix up their store fronts and bring people to the area. In all of my travels, and all of the roundabouts and circles I have seen, I have never seen a traffic circle with a chinese take out joint, a pizza parlor and a burger king. Most are landscaped and scenic. Accessing those places would be suicidal if they put a circle there.

[WestmoGuy]

I think Burger King is gone too, isnt it? That's where they build a Dunkin from what I remember

[Clipper]

I haven't been up past Oneida Square the last couple of times we came to NY. The last time we stayed in our fifth wheel at West Canada Creek Campground and only came to the city a couple of times. Probably did tear down the BK and put a DD there.

[Ralph]

They re-did the old Burger King into a DD, and our district office.

Every time I go through Griff when I cut through Rome I go through the damn round about there and just can't picture one on Genesee Street during what little rush hour there is.

Too many idiots.

Besides the one in the Mayors office. ;D

[clarencebunsen]

It sounds like a wonderful design to me: a roundabout fed by a traffic light on Park, another on Oneida, one immediately to the north on Genesee and another immediately to the south. What happens if the traffic at the trying to exit the roundabout is backed up by the cars stopped at one or more traffic lights? Do you think DD & the pizza place will get their own roundabout entrances/exits?

[clarencebunsen]

Here is a shot of the most intense traffic circle I ever experienced. I was so glad someone else was driving.