SCHENECTADY More parking, more visitors Data reveal lots, garage getting increased use BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
More people are visiting and working downtown, according to parking data compiled by the Metroplex Development Authority. “As the revitalization of downtown continues, we are seeing an across-the-board increase in use of our parking lots and garage,” said Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen. In 2007, the seven downtown parking lots and the Broadway Parking Garage had 129,000 vehicle visits versus 92,000 in 2006 — a 40 percent increase in daytime visitor use, Gillen said. Metroplex also sold 1,471 monthly parking permits for people working downtown, up from 1,300 in 2006 and up substantially from 350 in 2004. “That is a significant number,” Gillen said. “It is empirical evidence that more people are coming downtown, more people are using the lots during the day and more people are coming and staying longer.” Gillen said the parking data show visitors to downtown are staying longer than two hours, the time allotted for free parking during the day at the surface lots. The data for 2007 show an 84 percent increase from 2006: 27,000 visitors versus 14,892. Visitors to Proctors or Bowtie Movieland park free anytime in the Broadway Parking Garage. Metroplex plans to maintain the two hours of free parking in its lots indefinitely, Gillen said. Metroplex does not track evening visits as parking is free after 5 p.m.; two lots directly behind Proctors require monthly permits, Gillen said. Metroplex purchased seven off-street parking lots from the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. in 2004 for $1 million, spread over 20 years. It also took over operation of the Broadway Parking Garage, assuming more than $4.7 million in debt the city acquired in building the five-story structure. There are 2,066 parking spaces in the entire Metroplex system, he said. Since then, Metroplex spent more than $1 million to reconstruct, landscape and restripe most of the surface lots, Gillen said. It also upgraded the parking garage, installing new lighting and security cameras as part of a network of wireless cameras being installed downtown, he said. Metroplex added an eighth surface lot this year behind the Center City complex to accommodate additional visitors and employees coming to downtown. But it may lose one lot, called Broadway South, to the Schenectady Museum at some future date. The museum wants the parking lot to build a new science facility measuring up to 125,000 square feet. The site is near Interstate 890 and is close to downtown attractions. The museum is still raising money for the project and is not ready to exercise the purchase option on the lot, museum officials said. Gillen did not have figures available for how much revenue Metroplex has received from parking lot operations in 2007, but he said it has not quite reached the break-even point. “We are trying to increase revenues, but it is not really about money. It is about coming downtown and using the lots,” he said. “We have good parking assets downtown. You have to have good parking to have a successful downtown.” He said the sale of parking permits and the increased daytime usage at the lots spell an increase in revenue, but Metroplex has also invested substantially in the lots and is still dealing with the parking garage’s debt. He cited the recent $30,000 lease with Siemens PTI for 75 spaces in the parking garage as a method to generate revenue. Siemens announced this week it will consolidate several offices into two floors of the Galesiowned building at Broadway and State Street which contains Movieland.
Gillen did not have figures available for how much revenue Metroplex has received from parking lot operations in 2007, but he said it has not quite reached the break-even point. “We are trying to increase revenues, but it is not really about money. It is about coming downtown and using the lots,” he said. “We have good parking assets downtown. You have to have good parking to have a successful downtown.”
Mr. Gillen states that he doesn't have revenue figures available but that they have not reached the break-even point? How would he know this if figures aren't available?
He goes on to say that it's "not about the money". Isn't the "investment" of public revenues by the Metroplex supposed to yield a return to the taxpaying residents of Schenectady County?
It is thinking like Mr. Gillen's that is bankrupting Schenectady County. If it's "not about the money", promoting businesses and creating jobs that will increase the county tax bases and provide employment opportunities, what are the objectives of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority?
If it's "not about the money", promoting businesses and creating jobs that will increase the county tax bases and provide employment opportunities, what are the objectives of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority?
Something that started out as probably a good idea in theory (the metroplex) after 10 years, has become nothing more than a money pit. It has, to their credit, supplied patronage favors, no or low interest loans and tax breaks to friends, political buddies and family.
It would be interesting, to say the least, what political party affiiated businesss were given favor to these loans and how many and for what reason others were turned down. It would be interesting to see why the owner of the Big House is allowed to continue to delay it's opening. And how Villa Italia was allowed to 'relocate' to an Empire Zoned area and receive all of the tax breaks.
As far as the parking areas, Gillen is just pi**ing in the wind on that one. The people of this county are being taxed out of this area with no light at the end of the tunnel. They are yet waiting, after 10 years, to seen a return on their investment of this great metroplex. And all metroplex has to show for our investment is bars, a movie theater and newly surfaced parking areas. Just a nicer looking 2 block area for the bums, drug dealers and now attempted rapists to hang out. Now THEY should be thanking the metroplex!
It doesn't take a rocket scientist here folks!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Quoted from bumblethru: ... It would be interesting to see why the owner of the Big House is allowed to continue to delay it's opening.
Bumble,
Might the information provided at the link below have relevance to why the Big House developer/owner Mr. Stephen Waite received nearly $1.5M of county tax revenues (in grants and loans from the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority) or why the loan repayment has not begun, as of the January 2008 annual report by Mr. Gillen to the Schenectady County Legislature, despite unconfirmed reports that Mr. Waite's business operation is occupying the upper level of the building?
"Mr. Waite’s career began with the Albany firm, Cooper, Erving & Savage, where he practiced for five years before leaving to start his own firm in 1982."
Is there any relation between the partner at the above law firm and Schenectady County Legislature Chair Susan Savage?
If the report that the building is partially occupied, doesn't that require that a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the City of Schenectady? If so, does that imply that the project is complete and, thus, that repayment should begin?
- Business & Commercial Transactions - Litigations
Stephen J. Waite is the principal and President of Waite & Associates, P.C. He has lived and practiced in the Capital Region of New York State for 25 years. Mr. Waite is also licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Siena College in 1975 and his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School of Union University in 1978. Mr. Waite’s career began with the Albany firm, Cooper, Erving & Savage, where he practiced for five years before leaving to start his own firm in 1982. Throughout his career, Mr. Waite has focused his practice in the areas of business, corporate, finance, contract, bankruptcy, and employment law. Mr. Waite is primarily responsible for handling civil litigation, as well as creating business structures on behalf of the firm’s clients. He has served as an adjunct faculty member for the College of Saint Rose teaching courses in Business Law, and is a member of the Albany County, and New York State Bar Associations. [Back]
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
While your at it could you check on the relationship, special favors, etc on the building that Parisi & Saccoicio own up the street from Villa Italia. Does that have a PILOT through Metroplex? Also while your at with your legal research, please check for me (and the great residents of Schenectady County) the relationship of Tom Buchanan's law firm, I belive it is Hacker and Murphy with regard to GE, SI Group, Golub and any other of the big commercial's that have metroplex or empire zone benny's. Or the Parisi & Saccocio law firm, while your at it.
I am sure you can spend your free time snooping in on these dealings. Of course, while your at it!
And let me state again that I am not in favor of the taxpayers money going to subsidize any private businesses including the housing loan bailouts that are being doled out by the present reps in power at the federal level. It just happens to be the dems are in control at the county and are in charge of doling out our money. The reps are doing it at the Federal level and the dems are doling it out at our state and local level.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Waite’s career began with the Albany firm, Cooper, Erving & Savage, where he practiced for five years before leaving to start his own firm in 1982.
relation?
Quoted Text
“We are trying to increase revenues, but it is not really about money. It is about coming downtown and using the lots,” he said. “We have good parking assets downtown. You have to have good parking to have a successful downtown.”
Then why have the metroplex??? they are a manager and a manager of what?? duh, money......
...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
The Democratic majority on the Schenectady County Legislature has done a tremendous job revitalizing our economy and reinvigorating our towns and city. Contrary to the inaccurate assertions in John Privitera’s March 19 letter, working together does work! The entire Democratic team has a remarkable record. First, Susan Savage recruited Ray Gillen to become the first commissioner of economic development and planning, and chairman of Metroplex. The rest is history. This new team has created over 3,000 new jobs and brought in over $300 million in new investment. Downtown has been reborn, our industrial parks in Rotterdam, Glenville and Niskayuna are booming. General Electric is adding over 600 new jobs, and Proctors is the top entertainment venue in the region. Intergovernmental cooperation agreements have saved taxpayers over $5 million, coordination of affirmative action has improved service and saved money, and the camera project is making our county safer. This resurgence did not happen by accident. A new Democratic majority on the Legislature is making government work, as is Mayor Brian Stratton and the city council at the city level. Communication will not always be perfect. However [if you ask] if Schenectady County is better off today than it was four years ago, the answer is clear. Yes, we are, thanks to the dedication and hard work of the new majority that has proven government can work together. THOMAS BELLICK Schenectady The writer is president of the Union-Nott Democratic Committee.
What else could you say Tom, you're the ones responsible for the state we're in right now and it's not good so don't try to convince me that everything is wonderful. We're the 8th highest taxed county in the nation so what's good about that?
I drove down State Street recently to check up on all the changes going on in the Proctors Block. What a transformation. Our Metroplex money does wonders. All the detailing of paint jobs, facade renovations, sidewalks; it was beautiful even though no one was moving on the street. It’s amazing what a gazillion dollars buys. But while I was surveying the restoration of “downtown,” I was amazed that you can buy a sub for $5. Here in the middle of our historic-looking downtown is a Subway shop, built out of what looks like dark cherry facade, and hanging above it is a banner tied on with ropes, advertising a sub sale. Let’s just throw away restoration ideas and act like we’re in a cheap strip mall. JIM HALE Scotia
you have got to be freakin' kidding me.....this must be a tongue in cheek poke at the corporate world doing what it is going to do anyway.....you can drive down Altamont Ave in Rotterdam and get THE SAME DAMN SUB FOR $5.....no metroplex needed.......ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.........
...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
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