There are notice requirements for this type of planning change. This was an illegal meeting with insufficient public notice. Gloria must file a Article 78 to get the decision set aside. Replicas like the firehouse don't cut it.

Just based on what I have read in the newspaper and in a conversation with someone who knows a bit about the happenings downtown,  I would say that it is completely unnecessary to tear down 440 State Street.  It actually is one of the more interesting facades left downtown.  

There appears to be a problem between the new owner(s) of 440 State and the owner(s) of the Hampton Inn.  In trying to work out arrangements to access the building during construction.  Since they can't get in through the side, they claim they have to take down all of the building including the front.   Unfortunately, I can not buy that as a legitimate excuse to tear down this structure.

There are a number of other vacant lots and less attractive/significant vacant buildings not only downtown but in any of the commercial zones in the city's neighborhoods ---- pick one of those and locate there.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Just based on what I have read in the newspaper and in a conversation with someone who knows a bit about the happenings downtown,  I would say that it is completely unnecessary to tear down 440 State Street.  It actually is one of the more interesting facades left downtown.  

There appears to be a problem between the new owner(s) of 440 State and the owner(s) of the Hampton Inn.  In trying to work out arrangements to access the building during construction.  Since they can't get in through the side, they claim they have to take down all of the building including the front.   Unfortunately, I can not buy that as a legitimate excuse to tear down this structure.

There are a number of other vacant lots and less attractive/significant vacant buildings not only downtown but in any of the commercial zones in the city's neighborhoods ---- pick one of those and locate there.

Did someone hijack your user ID and password?.....for once something of substance and common sense.  

Quoted from TakingItBack

Did someone hijack your user ID and password?.....for once something of substance and common sense.  

I always post items of substance and common sense --- you just don't always agree with my positions.

Cost is a factor as well. 85K for a  new facade, 400k to preserve according to the plans, if I read that correctly. And was the public hearing published in the Gazetto? I heard about the meeting thru the grapevine and then posted it here because it seemed like short notice. I got an e-mail about the meeting just about 24 hours before it was scheduled.

This should have been researched BEFORE he purchased the building. Wonder if he even considered it at all, very poor planning on the
new owners part.  How could he have NOT foreseen this? Let him develop another building or use the empty Robinson's lot to build new. He would get some parking there as well, no?

Cost is a factor as well. 85K for a  new facade, 400k to preserve according to the plans, if I read that correctly. And was the public hearing published in the Gazetto? I heard about the meeting thru the grapevine and then posted it here because it seemed like short notice. I got an e-mail about the meeting just about 24 hours before it was scheduled.

This should have been researched BEFORE he purchased the building. Wonder if he even considered it at all, very poor planning on the
new owners part.  How could he have NOT foreseen this? Let him develop another building or use the empty Robinson's lot to build new. He would get some parking there as well, no?

With Olender's going out and Robinson's "bigger footprint" there is no need to bulldoze 440 State. The facade grant from Metrograft was a joke and of course is no longer needed. What is Proctor's interest? Someone ask Leesa P. She will tell you about the unicorns and double rainbows she "created".

From the TU Places and Spaces Blog:

Transfinder, a Schenectady company, had planned to incorporate the historic facade at 440 State St. into the design of its new headquarters, as seen in the rendering above.

But as reported by the Daily Gazette, Transfinder head Tony Civitella has since determined that the terra-cotta facade can’t be saved. Last night, the city granted a demolition permit for the building, formerly the International Order of Odd Fellows Hall.

Transfinder is proceeding with a new design, according to the Gazette, that is a three-story building with large windows on each floor, with balconies and space for a third-floor garden. (The Gazette story is here; subscription required.)

Working together works! To destroy history while making sure favored nonprofits {not Union College} get taken care of. Taxpayers get to the back of the cue.

get a life. loser

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I always post items of substance and common sense --- you just don't always agree with my positions.

TOTAL BS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!     You NEVER provide one teeny weeny shred of proof of what you say.  You NEVER provide links to OFFICIAL sources to support the junk you say.   Your TOTAL LACK of any documentation eliminates ANY credibility.      You ARE   DV FOL    Full of LIES LIES LIES

You STILL have NOT provided one teeny weeny shred of proof that the COUNTY PORTION of the typical property tax BILLs for homeowners is lower than it was in the 1950's, despite that YOU CLAIM it is.   So, where is your proof of that??????    Huh???????    

Show us how all the taxpayer handouts to downtown has helped the people in the city.   Tell us DV. tell us what has happened to home values in the city since since all the tax money has been spent on millionaires downtown.   Well???????    Tell us----are homeowners seeing an increase in their home values??????    Huh DV?????   Huh?????

tell us DV, in YOUR OPINION, is it a good thing that homeowners should lose money on their homes while at the same time they have to pay substantiallly more in taxes?    T
ell us DV, tell us how downtown has helped alleviate the tax burden on the financially struggling homeowners.   Come on DV, tell us.

Tell us how all the tax money thrown at downtown is helping home sales in the city.   Is it a good thing that people put their homes up for sale (for whatever reason) and they ask for a price less than the city's alleged assessment, and then then the asking price has to continuously get reduced in order it to sell?    

Tell us DV, tell us how stealing from the homeowners to spend the money on downtown has helped the neighborhoods where people live.   Tell us how your precious Mont Pleasant neighborhood is doing.   Is MP thriving??????    Huh?     Hell DV, you know damn well that downtown is NOT helping the neighborhoods and THAT is why YOU have given up helping that neighborhood.   You don't participate in any neighborhood coalition of anything there anymore.  

Dave Demento knows as much about planning as math or economics. If this is so popular why didn't DEMS Death Ray and Goofy do it before the election? Typical DEM moron move. Wait until after the election and when anyone calls City Hall complaining about this-hang up on them. So what if it's the press? No one will complain too much. They are used to being s*** on.  

I really have to believe that most folks could care less whether they knock the beast down or rehab it. Including myself. This is called 'private property rights'.

And since this 'is' a private business and a private business transaction...............there should be no taxpayer funded money being thrown at it....nor tax exemptions. Not to mention that this is just a relocation. Not a new business start up.

Quoted from bumblethru

I really have to believe that most folks could care less whether they knock the beast down or rehab it. Including myself. This is called 'private property rights'.

And since this 'is' a private business and a private business transaction...............there should be no taxpayer funded money being thrown at it....nor tax exemptions. Not to mention that this is just a relocation. Not a new business start up.

For once, I happen to think you are correct -- most people will not care about 440 State Street since it was not a building that most people used and to which a lot of memories are attached.

However, I still believe that it is completely unnecessary to tear the building down AND I do agree that public funds should NOT be used to tear it down.

For me...history is being destroyed.....there was nothing like the OLD SCHENECTADY..

There goes the neighborhood..

Soo  sad......