With each swing of the excavator’s boom, another section of Capitol Plaza crumbled to the ground. By noon on Wednesday, demolition crews had reduced a modern addition to the defunct shopping center — about a quarter of the 29,000-square-foot building — to a pile of broken cinder blocks and twisted steel girders. Spectators periodically pulled up to the demolition site to watch the halfcentury-old structure crumble. But instead of remorse, most onlookers expressed relief to see the badly dilapidated building torn down. For nearly two years, the dormant plaza has loomed over the bustling intersection of Curry Road and Altamont Avenue. “It’s about time they got rid of that eyesore,” said Tony DiLallo, a Rotterdam resident who drove by the plaza so his two young sons, Nicholas and Sammy, could watch the excavators at work. Pat Cerone, a Rotterdam resident of more than 33 years, was also content to watch the building toppled. She felt no nostalgia for Capitol Plaza and hasn’t come across any fellow residents that do. “No one I’ve talked to is unhappy about it coming down,” she said. Cerone was hoping the demolition project might touch off others around the town, such as the rotted-out Curry Road Shopping Center a few miles away or a vacant commercial building on Guilderland Avenue, just a few blocks away from Town Hall. She considered leveling Capitol Plaza a good start for the town, but sees other vacant commercial buildings that need to go. “One eyesore down and a few more to go,” she said. “They can work their way up Curry Road and take them down as they go.” Town and county officials placed the demolition on a fast track so that developers from BBL Construction Services can begin constructing a Recovery Sports Grill and a bank on the site. The new restaurant will occupy 7,300 square feet on the 1.23 acre lot, with the adjacent bank taking up 2,500 square feet. The project relies on a $65,000 grant from the county’s Metroplex Development Authority and a $60,000 grant from the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency to make the site shovel-ready. The developer also stressed the need to move quickly on the project and anticipates completing the restaurant by January. “We’ve done a few of these now,” said Brent Kosoc, BBL’s project executive. “We can almost do them in our sleep.” ............................>>>>........................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01303&AppName=1
I just love the parking lots that Metroplex has built for us, the millions of dollars pumped into the two blocks of State Street, the businesses that they gave taxpayer money to that are now bankrupt, and we love how all our tax bills have dropped from all the new businesses that they created. Somebody should go to jail for wasting that much of the taxpayers money with so little to show for it.
Like I said....it's extortion plain and simple. Shady dealings have become government strategy! But not ONCE have I heard ANYONE call for the disbanning of the plex....not once! Why? Because the dems and their cronies are getting rich and garnering campaign contributions and the reps are biting at the bit to control it themselves.
The dems asked for an extension for the bonding amount and the reps ok'd it! Go figure! And in the meantime, the taxpayers get screwed!
As for Capitol Plaza - chalk one up for the "new Rotterdam IDA-Metroplex marriage" - more great things are coming to Rotterdam
Chalk one up for County Democrat-IDA-Metroplex-BBL-Galesi marriage. And for the Town residents - again the brides maid NEVER a bride.
Tell me again how grateful I should be for allowing unelected public officials give $125K in tax dollars to a multi million dollar commercial developer.
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is apt to spread discontent among those who are. ~ H.L. Mencken
Chalk one up for County Democrat-IDA-Metroplex-BBL-Galesi marriage. And for the Town residents - again the brides maid NEVER a bride.
Tell me again how grateful I should be for allowing unelected public officials give $125K in tax dollars to a multi million dollar commercial developer.
at the risk of small, long time Rotterdam owned businesses, folding because they can't compete with yet another chain.
Absolutely incredible that we're even having this discussion
Vivat Jesus Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree In Him, all things are possible
As for Capitol Plaza - chalk one up for the "new Rotterdam IDA-Metroplex marriage" - more great things are coming to Rotterdam
Well this is clearly NOT the con/rep side of you. Redistribution of wealth TO the wealthy!!! Taxpayer's money used to seal a PRIVATE transaction!!!
If this was such a prime location, private businesses would have been bitting at the bit to secure it....BUT THEY DIDN'T!!! And IF this was such a great location, I would be hard pressed to believe that a multi-million dollar company like BBL would turn it down for $125K!!!
You DON'T use taxpayer's money to seal a private property transaction!!! YOU JUST DON'T!! Let capitalism and free enterprise work!!!
I guess the metroplex is just as guilty and has just as much egg on their face for allowing the R'I'DA (Industrial) to give money to a gin mill. Last I knew a gin mill wasn't classified as 'industrial'. And wasn't it the same metroplex/Gillen who slapped the RIDA's hands for supporting Long Pond.......also not industrial????
Perhaps the people of rotterdam can get together and file an article 78 against the metroplex/RIDA, and the town of rotterdam for misappropriation of taxpayer's money, huh? hmmmmmm...............
I guess it's all in who ya know and who's hand gets greased, huh? Hey and does Gillen get a county paid car to drive around in all day/night at the taxpayer's expense???? I heard 'yes'!!!
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