Metroplex to historic building's owners: Sell it or we'll take it Thursday, June 11, 2009 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Schenectady County’s most power economic development agency has delivered an ultimatum to the owners of the deteriorating Foster Building on State Street: Sell the historic building for a reasonable price or face eminent domain. The Metroplex Development Authority’s board took action at its meeting Wednesday night to begin the legal process to seize the building at 508 State St. from owners Craig G. Alsdorf and Dennis Todd. Alsdorf and Todd were not available for comment. Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said Metroplex has negotiated for years with the owners to purchase the building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places. “This is a historic building that must be preserved. It is in the community’s best interest to preserve it,” he said. Metroplex has authority to conduct eminent domain proceedings under the state legislation that created it. Metroplex is funded by county sales tax receipts. Citing its failing condition, Gillen said the building requires immediate action to protect it from further damage from the elements.............>>>>..............>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jun/11/0611_fosterbuilding/
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June 11, 2009, 6:51am
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Eminent Domain ... E.D. .. Don't they make medication for that? Perhaps B Gage could offer them some "starter" pills.
its time they start yaking the buildings that the rich are sitting on to keep the econmy down in the pits while people go hungry. The little guy gets schaffed while the rich take advantage
The little guy pays more in regressive Schenectady County sales taxes. So Death Ray can give it to his fat cat connected developers? The Big Hose will open when the first tenant signs a lease for "Clinton's Square" aka {Clinton's Ditch}. Meet your new boss-same as the old boss.
Another great article by Lamendola. Don'tcha just love the spin in the begining lines........
Quoted Text
Schenectady County’s most power economic development agency has delivered an ultimatum to the owners of the deteriorating Foster Building on State Street: Sell the historic building for a reasonable price or face eminent domain.
Listen....perhaps this building is deteriorating, but since when does ANY authority have the right to threaten a private property owner? Mohonasen wants to take land for a bus garage and Gillen want the Foster building for his cronies! This is all BS.
And as far as the present owners being behind on their taxes, PoPloi*io's name is in the paper for delinquent taxes all the time! Does the plex have authority over the city? The city of Schenectady has a code violation for just about anything. Why don't they just keep hitting these owners with violations until they do something with it? But to threaten private citizens with eminent domain is over the top! IMHO
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
Although the U.S. Supreme Court in 2004 greatly expanded government’s ability to take people’s property through the process of eminent domain, we still think that power should be used very sparingly. But it would be entirely appropriate in the case of the Foster Hotel in downtown Schenectady, a beautiful, historic landmark that is jeopardized by neglect. Without action by Metroplex, whose board voted Wednesday to start the process of eminent domain if it can’t agree on a sale price with the owners, the building might soon be beyond saving. The Foster’s highly decorated terra cotta facade is the fanciest in the city, and one of the most distinguished in the entire region. But its inside is something else — vacant, rundown and deteriorating, with broken windows and a leaking roof. Two summers ago the building was cited by the city for several code violations and declared a “nuisance” building, paving the way for legal action, including eminent domain, if the owners won’t fix or sell it. They have done neither, unwilling to pay the cost of repair or to set a realistic price. Metroplex’s vote is a welcome sign that it doesn’t want to see another significant building lost to neglect, as Robinson’s Furniture building and the 1800s-era firehouse next to Clinton’s Ditch were. .............>>>>...........>>>>..........................>>>>............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01101
BS. There was a proposal to bar Metroplex from using eminent domain a few years ago that was totally shot down by the county legislature. Of course no public support from the so called "conservative" citizens of Schenectady County for such good ideas when the rubber hit the road. Gee, you wonder why a guy gets disgusted? Reap what you sow, I guess. You let them build a party like that and you have the Supreme Soviet on your hands. Most "conservatives" want to make sure they get the last town in the county under their grip too!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
BS. There was a proposal to bar Metroplex from using eminent domain a few years ago that was totally shot down by the county legislature. Of course no public support from the so called "conservative" citizens of Schenectady County for such good ideas when the rubber hit the road. Gee, you wonder why a guy gets disgusted? Reap what you sow, I guess. You let them build a party like that and you have the Supreme Soviet on your hands. Most "conservatives" want to make sure they get the last town in the county under their grip too!
It depends on if you are talking about the 'cons' or the 'real cons'. There appears to be 2 sets of cons goin' on here! And one can be a blank and still have a conservative ideology!
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
"Metroplex has every business stepping in to save a building like this"? Huh?
Translation into English-"Metrograft has been steeping in it and dragging every other business in the County down with them".
This whole story is BS and cover for a land grab by too big government. Metrograft has been a total flop a complete failure and since it has been created thousands of jobs have left this County.
It depends on if you are talking about the 'cons' or the 'real cons'. There appears to be 2 sets of cons goin' on here! And one can be a blank and still have a conservative ideology!
No I mean people like you who don't support a true conservative because he only tows your line 98%, so you would rather back a guy like Bogod or other statists who never agree with you. I am talking about you, Bumble. You and the other so-called, self-proclaimed conservatives who don't support through. letters, words and deeds a true conservative leader or leaders who on 99% of issues comes down doing the right thing. Then, you all get this little bandwagon going that the last few republicans who aren't as conservative as you like MUST be driven directly out of office to be replaced by statists so they can effect total control over the town, state, county and federal levels. And THEN YOU WONDER WHY we are on the road to extreme socialism within MONTHS? You people can't wait to rid yourself of the less ideologically pure republicans AS SOON AS POSSIBLE because of a personality dispute, or someone reassessed your property, or you don't like one thing about them, etc.
I personally have my disagreements and a different way of seeing things with Tommasone, et al on many occasions. I would simply vote differently on SOME ISSUES and try also to persuade them to be more conservative in general as well on many things down the road should I ever consider being an elected official. They are in a much better position to be positively influenced to be conservative than a liberal statist democrat who believes he has to follow the party line on everything.
The starting point is much, much better thus the end result is usually much much better. Simple pragmatism is often ignored and the ranting discourse that "Tommasone is a liberal" is becoming shrill, whether it is from you or from Mike O'Conner. Wake up before it is too late.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
its time they start yaking the buildings that the rich are sitting on to keep the econmy down in the pits while people go hungry. The little guy gets schaffed while the rich take advantage
Sal must be feeling small again......
...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 Gazetto really needs a new fact checker. The "historic" firehouse was not lost to "neglect". It was knocked down by the owner of Clinton's Ditch {which is for sale} to make way for parking. Nobody but BA-BA Blanchard said nuthin. And nobody cares what she says.
Robinson's was a great store back in the day. It was left to rot by Death Ray Gillen, who proposed a "retail mecca", that was another of his many flops. No retailer is interested in lower State Street. The site is currently Gillen's Gulch a huge hole in the "renaissance" streetscape.
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Maybe Gillen can make another Gillen's gulch like at Robinson's?
