The City of Troy, New York, "Where Henry Hudson Turned Around."

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WHAT IF THEY HELD A MEETING...

...AND NO ONE SHOWED UP?

From: Carmella Mantello <cmantell@nycap.rr.com>
Sent: Jan 18, 2016 3:06 PM
To: Mark Mcgrath <mmcgrath0123@yahoo.com>, lkopka@earthlink.net, pmobrien123@gmail.com, Kim <reesee261@hotmail.com>, John Donohue <jdono48503@aol.com>, Jim Gulli <jgulli13@yahoo.com>, erinsullivanteta@gmail.com, Dean <bodnard@hotmail.com>, doherty4troy@gmail.com
Cc: Jason Schofield <jason.schofield@troyny.gov>
Subject: Workshop
Please be advised pursuant to Section 2-17 of the Troy City Code, there will be a Workshop of the City Council on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to receive an update on the status of the One Monument Square project. Both the developer, Kirchhoff Properties, and We Care About the Square (WCATS) have been invited to make separate presentations regarding the project.  
I encourage all council members to attend to receive this important update.

Why pursuant to Section 2-17? Section 2-17 states the following:

 All standing committees of the City Council shall meet at least once every two months (except for special meetings). Public notice of regular meetings shall be posted at City Hall and made known to appropriate local news media, for announcement at least one week prior to each meeting. Meetings of standing committees shall be open to public attendance. Participation, however, shall be restricted to committee members, except that citizen participation may be allowed by invitation of committee chairpersons.

Is this a meeting of a standing committee? Is this a 'workshop'? If a meeting of a standing committee, just say so. Don't cloak a publicity stunt by invoking a Charter provision.

Anyway, the people we need to hear from, Kirchoff Properties, will not be attending.

According to the Albany Business Review:

"Permit me to suggest that it would be irrational, if not foolhardy, to discuss, or be criticized for presenting a project [to the City Council] that may be altered or modified by required further actions by, and, in turn, further submissions to the Planning Commission," Saland told Mantello.

This response gave our City Council President a tummy ache:

"I think it's a mistake to not provide an update on the status," said Mantello, who took office Jan. 1 along with four other new members of the City Council. "I can tell you it doesn't sit well in my stomach. I truly believe this project is critical to the future of not just our downtown, but the city as a whole."

Saland, a former Republican Senator who cast the decisive vote on the Marriage Equality Act, misses the point, or perhaps not. The point is not informational. The point is publicity. To create the appearance of action.

The fact is, the current developer has until May 2016 to close this deal. If they do, then the property is theirs and they can start development. Until then, the Council and Mayor are powerless to do much without risking a lawsuit. All that will occur if Kirchoff shows up to discuss the project is create fodder for critics like We Care About the Square, a group Mantello is courting.

Kirchoff knows that We Care About the Square will never be appeased. They seem to desire a particular developer or a project that is untenable. The square footage of potential residential and commercial space dictates a project that will roughly cost $25,000,000. Too much more than that and there's just not enough space to make a project viable. We appreciate their love of Troy and do not doubt the sincerity of most of the group, but certain things are not going to happen.

Sam Judge had the best proposal but the estimated cost was $50,000,000. Judge was asked to provide assurances that he could get that kind of dough and failed to do so. That's because no one will invest in a $50,000,000 project in that space. Love of your city can cause people to have blind spots.

We'd like an update as well but understand Kirchoff's declination of the invite. The Kirchoff project looks fine to us and we hope they get this thing moving soon. If not, there's another $600,000 accounted for in the budget that does not exist.





50 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know you're true democrats but how can you possibly back this project? I'm a dem too but come on. This was a classic bait and switch and reeks of improprieties.

Anonymous said...

What improprieties? Initial plans change all the time. It's part of the biz. There are probably some added concerns when building on fill. What do you want to see there? That's feasible.

Larry Johnson said...

HUH !~~!

Anonymous said...

Project looks fine to us. Yes us. From the desk of Bill Dunne. 37 days left at that desk.

Anonymous said...

Dems and Repubs agree, the MSQ project needs to go back to the drawing board. But once again, Carmella looks ridiculous. This is going to be a fun two years, brother.

Anonymous said...

Carmella. Tango Down. Kirchhoff behind 911 tape. Are you paying attention!

Phana24JG said...

Why does Kirchoff need a pricey mouthpiece like Judas Saland? I thought Wally Altes was on board to grease the skids? What's the harm in sending Altes to the meeting and tossing out some general BS? If someone asks a question Kirchoff does not want answered before they present to the Planning Commission, Altes can just say he'll get back to them.

There are some very legitimate questions about the changes in the project, and while I concur that Carmella's motivations are probably as political as they are curiousity, so what? Maybe if the previous administration had been somewhat more proactive publicly, they would have been a lot more successful.

Anonymous said...

What's wrong with the project. It's not perfect but it looks good. Projects change. An RFP is never set in stone because once you're on site you discover issues that force changes. It's not a conspiracy. If you wait for what the We Care crowd wants you'll wait forever.

Anonymous said...

The project sucks for many reasons. It is Troy's best river location and these jerks want to put up a wooden framed structure?!! I' rather look at Harry's Hole than another Disney version of Troy. City station is bad enough. We don't need another shopping mall idea of Victorian. Send Kirchoff packing.

Tango Down said...

Charge a $5 cover for a chance to braid McGrath's back hair and boom! Meeting full.

Anonymous said...

Awesome

Anonymous said...

Does it feel like cashmere or is it corse like pubic hair?

Anonymous said...

EmbroidMe closes. Boom. Tango down! At you paying taxes! Joe hasn't texted in a while?

Anonymous said...

Don't forget, that Harry's hole would have had a beautiful building on there, if the project wasn't stopped by clem, conroy, dunne, zawlewski etc remember the protests out in front of 1 Monument Square saying that the riverfront property was too valuable to let this project go ahead?Facts fellas.

Anonymous said...

Where is Bill Dunne going? Does anyone know what his new job is? Someone told me he was going into the real estate business with Jim Conroy. Is that true?

Anonymous said...

5:51...The beautiful project that you talk about? Was that the one with close to 50% or so subsidized housing for low and middle income folks? Are you serious? Troy is up to our our privates now with subsidized housing. He wanted to put more public assistance people right smack dab in the middle of the "renaissance" he kept touting. What an A-HOLE plan. That man is out for the all mighty dollar along with most of the other developers swarming around downtown.

Anonymous said...

Where is Jim Gordon going?

Anonymous said...

That wouldn't surprise me, Dunne and Conroy cut from the same cloth. one of the greatest lines ever produced out of Troy politics was uttered by the garbageman himself. Look it up under Mirch-Conroy -prostitutes.

Anonymous said...

Yes they will start a new real estate group. HUD & Humps

EmbroidMe LLC said...

It's Tango Down Thursday. Major arrests today all over the city. Boom!

Why didn't Madden fix water main two years ago? Boom. Can't fix it from RCJ.

Are you paying attention? Carm and Mark helped avert huge snowstorm!

Congrats Mayor Gordon. Boom.

Off to pay tax warrants. Warrant down. Boom. Billie, why'd you move so far away?

Anonymous said...

6:22 or should I say Bill? Your funny. When you get twisted it's great. 36 days unless you snap and we are all leaning towards snap.

Anonymous said...

You give the We Care About... crowd too much credit. Some are really just pissed their friend didn't get the contract. Others are deluded into thinking troy is so awesome that something huge and wonderful that perfectly matches the surrounding architecture is possible. Then there are the snobs. Sad to see Carm pandering to them. If they don't get exactly what they want they'll stab her in the back and move on.

Anonymous said...

Have to attack Dunne. Boom! No new material. Tango Down at PD. Where'd Joe go? Why won't he text me. Boom. Need something original. Must pay $30k in tax liens. Tax liens down. Boom. Getting under your skin. Must attack Dunne. Must attack Madden. Must attack Polloi. Boom.

Hypocrite on Gordon, Crist, Franco.Nose up Teddy's ass. Question authority but not Teddy, not Carm, not Tut, not McGrath. Boom. Be on Franco, Special Olympics of Political commentary.

Anonymous said...

Here's another fact fella, Tut lied about The inclusion of the number of low income apartments being built in the plan. Or do you conveniently'll leave that out like Carmzilla does. If Tut had his way, it would have been Taylor apartments light! Ok fella, give us all the facts, not half the facts, fella!

Anonymous said...

Conroy spun a tangled web about Mirch closing a house of prostitution but failing to follow the proper procedure or protocol.

Which led to what may end up being the quote of the year from the Mirchman.

"Big Jimbo told you that?" Mirch asks. "He's making that story up. That's totally insane. The only prostitute in Troy at the time was Jim Conroy."

Anonymous said...

7:45 - Billy's a little twisted this morning.

Anonymous said...

Corse? No Kim. It's silky and fine threw and threw.

Anonymous said...

Mirch called someone else a prostitute?

Anonymous said...

Must be a matter of spotting your own kind. Three Job was the whoriest of the whores and probably proud of it.

Anonymous said...

Ur vary funny.

Anonymous said...

Thus is the end of day. Boom. 35 days left. Boom. Or melt down. Boom. What ever comes first. Boom.

Frank LaPosta said...

I recently read a comment about me on this blog regarding my past term on the council.I would suggest that if you have an opinion about me at least have the courage to include your name. I may have offended some during my four terms but I stand by what I have said. Signed Frank La Posta

Anonymous said...

Harry's plan was Taylor Apartments light

Anonymous said...

Bill Dunne to be announced new school superintendent of Albany

Anonymous said...

Thanks Frank. Are you a Dem or an Republican this week?

Anonymous said...

Not the only thing rupturing in Lansingburgh lately.

Anonymous said...

Why happen tonight to "big bad Kim" she huffed and puffed her Marlboro 100's and rolled over like a lap dog and voted to approve the deputy mayor and Corp council. All talk tough guy.

Anonymous said...

He deserves it. He works hard and got caught up in something not his fault. A lot has gotten done under dunnes tenure people don't realize

Anonymous said...

Dick broom

Anonymous said...

Leader is Eric Clapton

Anonymous said...

Democrat or republican, Frank has never been indicted, convicted or even accused of anything less than scrimping on the meat he puts on his sandwiches.

Anonymous said...

The collar up, no socks look is indictable.

Anonymous said...

Is it Tango Down Friday, or has Joe stopped texting?

Anonymous said...

Not to mention Harry LIED to the public about the low income set-asides. Or perhaps he just didn't read the proposal. It had a lot of big words.

Anonymous said...

Kim did the right thing. She looked at the person not the politics. Something we need to do in Troy. Everything does not to be politics. When the problem came up in the Burgh she was there working along side Madden and the Dems. That is what elected Officials should do.

Anonymous said...

Hud, Harry, Conroy and humps

Anonymous said...

Did you offer the same "put your name on it; advice to your republican friends? Not ONE of them.has the balls to post their names to their posts.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps not. But the flip flopper got trounced the last time he ran

Anonymous said...

They are not the one's that are upset with Kim. You are. You seem to not like anything about her which is sad. If you look at yourself you may find things you don't like about yourself. That makes you a very little person. I will pray for you.

Anonymous said...

It looks terrible and it bears no resemblance to the initial proposal, which is what the award was based on in the first place. Between this and the new litter corridor created by CDTA's mega bus stop on 4th St, Troy is taking two giant steps backward to the Pattison years when Troy looked like an open sewer. But then again Pattison is Madden's close advisor, so draw your own conclusions.