California developer to profit off HSBC deal

[realist13413]

I think the issue is that the money is already there - I don't think this would have been an ideal project if this is how it was initially envisioned. That being said, I have certainly heard of developers paying a heck of a lot more for some piece of crap than it was worth because they needed it.

Again, this only presented itself because it looked like the building was in trouble (and it is.) If the owner wants to set it right and develop it, I think Randy would be fine with that.

[firstamendment]

Haste makes waste. They are making a hasty decision based on the possibility of losing these funds. Making a snap decision is not the wisest and I'd hope someone would realize it sooner rather than later.

[Ralph]

Bad use of funds for this......but then, they should have been used for what they were asked for long ago or returned for someone else to use.

The building?? If it has had water leaking into it and mold growing in the walls it should go. It is of age to contain lead and asbestos, way too costly to remediate, and for what? It will go the way of all the other structures; from tenant to tenant that balks at the heating/cooling costs and finally runs out screaming.

We have enough buildings like that now, what is the sudden concern with this one....besides obtaining it for parking to be used by ghost shoppers.

Let the City either wait until it can be condemned or becomes abandoned.

The money? Return it to the State so that someone that actually needs a parking facility NOW can use it. It's TAXPAYER money....if the taxpayers of Utica can't use it then some other taxpayers might as well.

Let the politicians find another ping pong ball to toss around for election hype.

[strikeslip]

The ready availability of federal/state funds is a common denominator to the housing proposal next to the arterial (which made no sense when it was proposed) and the knocking down of a landmark building for parking (which also makes no sense).

A common denominator between these two matters and the recent conversion of a PUBLIC parking lot into a PRIVATE lot (across from the train station) is a LACK OF PLANNING.

We paid $325,000+ for a Master Plan (our money, again, via grants) which should have planned where to put new housing and public parking, but did not. Instead it became a plan to put cliques in charge to make more plans to justify applying for more grants.

Being without a plan forces the city to react blindly to situations when they arise - - - like HSBC. Decisions are made based on what appears most expedient at the moment.

Perhaps I was a bit too hard on Mr. Soggs in my post. . . but I have seen no movement from his Department on getting that Master Plan fixed so that it can actually guide decision making on where new housing projects and parking should be located. That would be making public policy . . . and the job is not getting done.

[clarencebunsen]

Strikeslip,

At this point is the Master Plan even worth fixing? Perhaps it should be filed under Failed Draft. At some future time it could be mined for any salvagable nuggets.

[Clipper]

Just an observation, but the only "master plan" points we ever hear about are the stadiums, hotels, parks, and "pretty stuff" to draw tourists. Very little directly contributing to job growth, or to the living conditions in the neighborhoods. I get sick of the political fluff, and visions of "Disney World on the Barge Canal" I see no reason to rush to spend money at Harbor Point when there are so many other things needing attention. The brownfield cleanup will not be wasted if it sets dormant for a couple of years until the economy turns a little bit.

[strikeslip]

Perhaps it is not worth fixing--but it definitely should not be passed because it would institute a new gov't layer.

Take a look behind all the bad go 't decisions and you will likely see grants.

[Clipper]

Having left there in 2002, and having only returned to visit, my memory of the Main St area is not that vivid. Looking at another disputable decision made by the city is the selling of public parking lot across from Union Station.

Does this loss of public parking put a cramp on Lupino's Trackside Restaurant, or was there other adequate parking available for their customers on a busy night?

Is there not another restaurant in Union Station, or is that gone now? I would think that it would possibly have a marginal effect on the parking for that place also, as well as those using the transportation facilities. Does that mean that if you greet someone that is arriving on a bus, you now have to tote their luggage half way to N Utica to the parking areas along the tracks behind the Children's Museum?

Always wheeling and dealing. Funny how it goes. Short sighted politicians resolve one issue, such as finding and occupant for the Doyle Hdwe building, and create another issue by selling the most convenient of parking areas for Union Station. Parking in that lot probably would not have created a problem. The damn rail station is NOT that busy during the prime hours for the restaurant's operation. There are restaurants other places in the city that thrive quite well without off street parking at all.

[Deleted]

That building should be torn down along with a couple on Bleecker St who have roofs caving in. Parking is needed downtown and the land where that decaying bank building is sitting could be used to reinvent some clever parking design.

[Clipper]

What sort of clever parking design would they possible reinvent Alan? They have said that the surface lot is the alternative to the expense of a garage. A simple blacktop lot will suffice to satisfy the parking needs. It's sad that they will most likely simply knock it down with a track mounted excavator, and not try to save any of the beautiful marble facade to be recycled somehow.

[firstamendment]

I got a feeling someone will make off with that marble. We'll hear about it decades later layering someone's house or office somewhere.

[Clipper]

I wonder how thick it is. I wonder if it's full thickness building stone, or just marble veneer facade. Sure would make a hell of a floor, or patio for someone's home. I wonder whose house will be graced with it, lol.

[Deleted]

Some of the marble on the planters that are full of weeds are missing. The parking lot is full of hole's. On one side if you attempted to park a car there you would not have a bottom left on the car. I have never seen any cars in there anyway. Building starting to get tagged. I thought the marble could somehow be recycled into a raised type of parking. I thought that CENTRO was supposed to build it's new garage along with parking and store front structure's in the upper Bleecker St area but I heard someone say that now it not going to happen. It would have been a good way to redo that area. It is so filthy around that area and does not do justice to the Business College and APAC in that area. The building that is falling apart was slapped with some wood covering and it sure does look messy who ever nailed it in place. The only building that has any merit is the O2 Club which is near St John's Historic Church. Downtown is depressing. All it is is one big area to transfer to another Bus. Was down there this afternoon and someone should really stop men from urinating in the old entrance of the Boston Store and Bank. Some people have no shame.

Luppino Trackside Tavern is closed. The front of Union Station is very filthy and I hope is not used as a means of introducing Utica to visitor's.

[firstamendment]

There were plans for a traffic hub, parking garage that included Centro but they dropped those plans a year or two ago. The location changed a couple times, one was the former Hotel Utica garage. The last location before they scrapped the idea was on Charlotte St I believe.

The idea of this Master Plan is foolish with the ideas it has. First off, it has no actually planning document, merely ideas. It does not contain timetables, benchmarks, sources of revenues to actually build anything proposed, which, in my rational thinking, are what a plan needs. In all honesty, its a Master Idea with no real plans at all. Then there is still a major issue to overcome. Getting jobs here. If they build what is outlined, how does Utica sustain it? Look at the median income in Utica, its around $25K a year.

[Deleted]

I did not know the Charlotte St plan was scrapped, so sad. I never believed the Master Plan was any think more than something to do to pass the time in City Hall. Something to justify all their jobs. Nothing will ever become of this area except for a place for refugie's to come that is cheap to live without a care in the world. The rents in this area are expensive. Talking to the Utican's downtown who use public transportation I am amazed at how many work at Walmart and fast food place's who really want to make ends meet but are stuck with no way out. They have children and I wonder how they will ever take care of them. I see their little one's and their appearence tells storie's.

All of the young members of our family who have graduated from College and moved from this area always laugh at the median income of 25K. Big reason why so many houses are in decay. I look at the roofs in many area's of this city and so many need to be replaced. I wonder how some people live in them. Ha Ha they live in them because of the median income.