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veryprotourism
March 20th, 2006, 08:15 AM
my sentiments exactly!

i was laughing at both of you.

keep up the good work you two :cheers: . it makes me smile.

Susie
March 20th, 2006, 03:52 PM
i was laughing at both of you.

keep up the good work you two :cheers: . it makes me smile.

Glad to provide you with a smile. If you will notice when i don't post all you get on this site are links to cheap restaurants from the RochesterAddict. Someones gotta keeep this thread alive. Lord knows there is no development to post.

RochesterAddict
March 21st, 2006, 12:24 AM
Here is a nice article about an urban trail they plan on developing on former CSX rail road tracks throughout the city.

http://www.rochester-citynews.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A4249

A good story to back up that every Northern state is seeing their costs rising and their population leaving:

http://plainvanillashell.com/article.asp?ID=5918

Here is another article on population decline, It has a nice contrasting section by the feelings of local realtors.

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/NEWS01/603170406

Here is a follow up on Woodcliff Office Park:

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/BUSINESS/603170389/1001
http://www.woodclifflodge.com/images/home2.jpg
http://www.widewaters.com/office.html
http://www.woodclifflodge.com/

No one has mentioned the ferry really too much on here. Its sale could be very near according to this article. I miss the ferry.

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/NEWS01/603180309

blangjr21
March 21st, 2006, 05:52 AM
If any of you haven't already, be sure to check out the mayors 100 day plans located at the cities website... www.ci.rochester.ny.us or www.cityofrochester.gov they are interesting and thought provoking all at the same time.

Interesting side note, there is heavy mention of the possibility of a casino in Charlotte, as part of the riverfront/waterfront redevelopment. Would be interesting I guess. I really don't like any idea of casino's in our community, but if it adds to the tax base, tax role etc. and will contribute to some kind of revitalization I guess i'd be willing to give it a try. It comes at a steep social and business price I'm sure...

Be sure to check it out though, a very good read.

ROCguy
March 21st, 2006, 06:25 AM
I think they had something that should have been a casino at Charlotte.. THE FERRY. That was an opportunity missed, but hopefully they might get a smaller more manageable ferry some day, and make it much more profitable by having a casion on board. I totally agree that a casino on land is a bad idea, ESPECIALY dowtown. I mean, look at the prime examples of both; St. Louis has floating casions on the Mississippi river that are extremely profitable and the city is going through a renessiance..... Detroit built a casino downtown and well.... lets not go there.

sargeantcm
March 21st, 2006, 06:48 AM
If you guys want a casino, you can have ours?!?!

Not sure I'd want to sic that on you though. Is it an Indian casino?

If it is, think of it this way, in strictly monetary terms:

Cost = tax value of land into perpetuity
Gain = profit-sharing agreement, of which the city will see virtually nothing (15 yrs in either Buffalo's or NF's, can't remember)

After the 15 years is up, it can be renegotiated; but doesn't have to. Therefore it would come at a price. I wonder what funding of ours NYS will mortgage to the Senecas to keep up their revenue stream?

If the Erie Canal was "Clinton's Ditch", this scourge of casinos, another everlasting landmark, can be dubbed "Pataki's Legacy/Gift". Thanks alot. Perhaps the only '08 Prez Candidate who would make me vote Hillary.

Just wait until video slots come around. They're coming, mark my words.

ROCguy
March 21st, 2006, 06:50 AM
I back you up 100%, the people of Buffalo with your same concerns should make themselves heard. I'm glad Rochester's casino proposal got shot down. People only see the money it would bring in the short term, but don't look at the long term effects on the community overall.

sargeantcm
March 21st, 2006, 07:01 AM
What I would love to happen, is the thing goes forward, and community outrage turns out to be so much greater than anticipated. Nobody comes in from outside the metro (but who really expected anyone to?), and it forces the Senecas to eat the friggin' thing. Screws NYS out of their revenue as well, but they'd just get it some other way. In a perfect world...

Of course I'm sure Buffalo has more than it's fair share of Joe Sixpacks who think it'll be just the greatest thing in the world. But I still don't know who they're expecting to stay in that hotel. If Nick Szixpackski from Cheektowaga wants to pay to stay a night in the Seneca hotel, let 'em screw himself over. Then we'll get to hear him complain how NYS took all his money when he moves to Albuquerque next year... In the end, Albuquerque gets the short end. These Sunbelt cities ought to screen the Buffalonians moving in, for their own good. They're probably better off forgoing the population gain and just say...oh...build their own casino. Geesh.

I'll be the first to say the Indian people in this country were and continue to be royally f'cked, but at the same time I'm getting sick of them running around like little spoiled piss pots. I don't think we unleashed casinos and tax free cigarettes and crappy low-grade tax free gasoline on them... I hope they riot on the Thruway again.

RochesterAddict
March 21st, 2006, 05:31 PM
HAHA...Seargantcm....Nick Szixpackski...You gave me a good laugh.

I agree RocGuy I was VERY happy to see the casino get shot down in center city, and I do not want a casino in Charlotte, I would much rather see condominiums. But the idea of a casino on a boat I think would be perfect, or I would even support a casino in the High Falls district. I would support apartments and retail even more though for High Falls, I dont know why developers havent jumped on that yet? They are rehabbing the nearby Artcraft building and building apartments in Corn Hill amile down State St, yet they leave High Falls to rot?

http://cordish.com/images/developments/riverside_g01.jpg

This is what I would rather see happen to the former BeeBee station in High Falls.
http://www.cordish.com/redir.asp?loc=http://cordish.com/developments/Default.asp

veryprotourism
March 21st, 2006, 06:16 PM
im in agreement that a casino may not be in either city's best interest. i do however think that developing tourism as an integral part of the regions economy is more plausable for buffalo than it is for rochester. my uneducated guess is that a casino in buffalo would serve more non-residents than a casino in rochester.
both cities have niche markets for visitor. both have exceptional theatres, museums, etc. both have deep civil rights history, deep industrial history, deep erie canal history, plenty of golf courses, and so on. all of these things hold more merit in the buffalo area for one reason, niagara falls. thats not to say people won't visit rochester for any number of reasons. its just to say that buffalo sits just a few minutes from one of the worlds most visited natural attractions, which from my perspective makes their lesser attractions more viable.
now, back to the casino. any casino built in new york, whether in buffalo or rochester or whateverville, will be an indian casino. it will not be on the tax roll, and much of the money the state makes from slots will bypass city and county and go directly to the state. this is my problem with the casinos. well they may act to draw visitors into the area, they pay nothing back for the profits they will see, and their lack of regulations and lower operating costs make it hard for other businesses(hotels, restaurants) to compete with them. the proposed smoking waiver for bars in niagara falls is a start, but until the casino pays taxes(which is never) or tax breaks are given to businesses that operate in the vicinity of the casinos this problem will not go away.

blangjr21
March 21st, 2006, 06:57 PM
I wasn't suggesting that a casino be built in Rochester, I don't think it's a good idea at all, I was just stating that in the report there was plenty of talk about construction of one in the Charlotte area.

Video slots were tossed around before as well to be part of the fast ferry terminal, I don't know the square footage of the terminal or anything like that but I can imagine that there is quite enough to hold the amount of people to play video slot terminals.

ROCguy
March 22nd, 2006, 06:00 AM
I have been trying to find this article I remembered reading a while ago. It talks about when Pataki announced a $130 million project for Rochester. A photonics center. He said it would create 5000 jobs over the next 10 years (he made the announcement in 2002). To be fair, there is a blooming infotonics center in Henrietta that stemmed from this project and is in fact growing. The cluster, wich includes several dozen photonics companies, is home to about 500 jobs that have been created since then. My question is... what the hell happened to the rest? It's already been almost 4 years and they are only 1/10th of the way there. I posted an article on the small cluster that was in the D&C about a month ago or so. I will try to go back and find it. But anyways, here is the full story from 2002......


NY Governor Pataki: Greater Rochester Receives Center of Excellence

July 10, 2002 — New $130 Million Center in Photonics Will Create 5,000 New Jobs, Establish the Rochester Region as an International Leader in High-Tech Economic Development

Governor George E. Pataki today announced more than $130 million in total support to establish a Center of Excellence in Photonics for the greater Rochester region. The new Center of Excellence, a major component of the Governor's $1 billion hi-tech/biotechnology initiative enacted in this year's State Budget, will initially produce 120 new jobs and will lead to the creation of approximately 5,000 new jobs over the next ten years.

"This state-of-the-art Center of Excellence will produce tremendous benefits for the Rochester region, creating thousands of new high-paying jobs, attracting major high-tech companies to the area, and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment," said Governor Pataki.

"This initiative is going to have a major impact on Rochester's regional economy for years to come, and I applaud Kodak, Corning and Xerox, our State and Federal delegations, and the fine academic institutions in the region for working together to make this important project a reality."

The Center of Excellence is a partnership between the State, the private sector, the federal government and 20 academic institutions. The State will provide $43 million for the project. Kodak, Corning and Xerox have pledged $45 million toward the effort and will raise another $30 million through the life of the project from other interested companies, for a total of $75 million in private sector investment. Federal representatives have provided $13 million thus far toward the project, with more than 40 percent of federal support being targeted toward academic research in Monroe County, primarily at RIT and the University of Rochester.

Of the $43 million in State support, $21.5 million will be used for equipment and tool purchases and "clean room" lab space, and $6.5 million will be used for facility purchase and site development purposes. In addition, $15 million will be provided over the next five years for product prototyping and commercialization efforts in Monroe County.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, "With Gen*NY*sis and Centers of Excellence we are going to make New York State a leader in economic growth in the areas of biotechnology and high technology. By partnering with Governor Pataki, we enacted a new budget that includes an historic capital investment in new high tech and biotech facilities that will lead to groundbreaking research and new businesses and jobs in the Rochester area and throughout the State."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "This Center of Excellence is strategically positioned to capitalize on and complement the Rochester area's highly skilled work force, prestigious academic institutions and its icons of the American high-technology industry: Kodak, Corning and Xerox. This state, private industry and academic partnership aims to create and attract high technology jobs and offer economic opportunities to the Rochester community."

Eastman Kodak Company Chairman and CEO Dan Carp said, "The Infotonics Center of Excellence is a creative partnership between business, academia and government. It will create a shared platform for our companies and universities to invent the breakthrough technologies that will keep us ahead of our competitors, while supporting economic development for our region. This is yet another example of the leadership Governor Pataki demonstrates in leveraging the tremendous strengths of our state."

Corning Incorporated Chairman and CEO James R. Houghton said, "Corning Incorporated is pleased to be a partner in the new Infotonics Center of Excellence. We view this center as New York State's opportunity to play a leading role in the research and development of photonics and micro-systems. If American industry is to compete effectively on a global basis we must continually improve the speed to market of micro-systems based products. And increasing the speed of commercialization will require a state-of-the-art micro-systems research and development facility, like the one we are announcing today."

Xerox Vice President Steve Bolte said, "Xerox recognized the rich future opportunities in MicroSystems research and the power of collaboration through a partnership of private industry, academic research and government. Xerox endorses the goals of the Infotonics Center of Excellence and is honored to be a proactive founding member."

Senator James S. Alesi said, "The Centers for Excellence are the keystone of the Governor's vision for high quality jobs and economic development, especially upstate. As Chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, I have experienced time and again the energetic devotion that Governor Pataki has given to the business and working families. With the Center for Excellence in the Greater Rochester Area already on the launching pad, Governor Pataki's vision will quickly deliver tangible and valuable results, reinforcing New York State's dramatic leadership in the quest for technology transfer and the resulting jobs and economic expansion."

Senator Michael F. Nozzolio said, "These types of high-tech investments represent the future of the Rochester economy. Utilizing our educational assets like the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology are just what we need to create new, quality jobs for the 21st century. With these investments, Governor Pataki is positioning Rochester to become a national leader in high-tech research and development."

Senator John R. Kuhl said, "This Center of Excellence will begin to secure New York State's position as a worldwide leader in a challenging, exciting and enormously promising future. I commend Governor Pataki, Senator Bruno and my legislative colleagues, Corning Incorporated and the remainder of this unique partnership for guiding our state and our region toward a future of valuable and exciting economic opportunities for our citizens."

Senator George D. Maziarz said, "The partnership announced today is exciting news for the Monroe County area and all of New York State. I applaud Governor Pataki for his initiative in advancing a project of this magnitude which will put the Rochester Region on the map as a center of high-tech development and create a steady stream of new jobs over the next decade."

Assemblyman David Gantt said, "I look forward to realizing the benefits of this Center of Excellence. It offers a tremendous opportunity to our area's ability to bring in high paying jobs. Rochester has been home to many ground-breaking industries and this project will hopefully continue our place as a forerunner of innovation and enterprise."

Assemblyman Joseph E. Robach said, "I am delighted the Rochester Regional Center of Excellence in Photonics has come to fruition! It is truly an ideal collaboration between industry, government and our local universities. The Center of Excellence in Photonics is a creative initiative which hopefully will result in what Rochester needs and deserves -- jobs, jobs, jobs!"

Assemblywoman Susan John said, "I am very excited for what the Infotonics Center of Excellence will do for the Rochester area. Combining the skills of our colleges and businesses will help develop a more highly trained workforce. I believe that the Center will have a tremendous long-term economic impact on our community, as it will help Rochester attract, recruit and retain high-tech workers. The Center is good news for high-technology and great news for this region."

Assemblyman Charles H. Nesbitt said, "The creation of this Center for Excellence in the Greater Rochester area puts our region at the cutting edge of exciting new technology, promising to make us an international leader. It is just the latest evidence of Governor Pataki's and our commitment to improving the Upstate economy and bringing good jobs to New Yorkers."

Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle said, "The Center for Excellence in Photonics will spur economic investment and increase job growth in the Rochester community. This important facility will help the Rochester region compete in the new global economy."

Assemblyman Brian Kolb said, "I applaud Governor Pataki's initiative and leadership in terms of promoting new technology and economic growth in New York State. This will be a great boost to the Finger Lakes regional economy."

Assemblyman Robert Oaks said, "The formal announcement of state funding for our region's Center of Excellence is critical to the economic future of the greater Rochester area. Under the leadership of Governor Pataki, New York State is now a full partner in this cooperative research and development venture that includes our area's corporate giants such as Xerox, Corning Incorporated, and Eastman Kodak Company and research institutions including the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. The Center will build on the historical strength of our region as a world leader in optics and allow us to expand into new hi-tech manufacturing."

Assemblyman David Koon said, "We are fortunate to have some of the nation's finest in both high-tech research and business joining together in this Center of Excellence. This innovative collaboration will surely spur real economic growth and create new jobs for our area."

Assemblyman Joseph A. Errigo said,"This Center of Excellence will be a tremendous boost for Rochester and the Upstate economy as a whole. I am proud to work with Governor Pataki to bring more jobs to Rochester and look forward to similar projects in the future."

Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster President Chris Cotton, of ASE Optics, said, "The more than 50 companies in the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster are extremely excited about the Governor's announcement of the Photonics Center of Excellence. This Center will have an explosive effect on the region's ability to create new businesses and provide growth and opportunity for companies in our region."

The Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce President Thomas T. Mooney said, "The Photonics Center of Excellence announcement is great news. The work that will be done at the Center on cutting-edge technologies will create new jobs and new opportunities throughout our region for years to come. We thank Governor Pataki for his vision and leadership in making this important investment in our region."

Donald Ninestine, Chair, Ontario County Board of Supervisors, said, "Ontario County is extremely happy with today's announcement by Governor Pataki. This will be a boom to economic development for the entire region. Many potential jobs and new companies will be created due to the many projects and research that will take place."

Efforts at the Rochester Center of Excellence in Photonics and Optoelectronics will focus on creating technology transfer and pilot fabrication facilities for high resolution imaging and ultra-fast communications devices that can be shared by Center partners to accelerate product development. Associated workforce development and training programs to provide the highly skilled personnel for these industries will also be supported by the Center.

Advances in these emerging fields are expected to lead to the development of revolutionary medical devices. Possibilities include development of a small, high-tech capsule a patient could ingest in order to provide physicians with pictures of damaged internal organs. Major advances are also anticipated in the development of new devices to monitor and improve the environment.

The partnership reflects the State's ongoing commitment to support activities identified by the business community, such as product development, workforce training and leading-edge research that will make New York the world's premier location for technology-related businesses.

Under the leadership of Corning, Kodak, Xerox and the State, the Rochester Center of Excellence will collaborate with 20 academic institutions including the University of Rochester, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College, the University at Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Alfred University, Cornell University, Columbia University, NYU, the City University of New York and others to secure New York's leading position in photonics, optics and fiber optics. The use of light to transfer energy and information is making ever-faster and smaller devices possible, with wide applicability from medicine to telecommunications.

University of Rochester President Thomas Jackson said, "As one of the leading national universities in New York with over a quarter-billion dollars a year in research, the University of Rochester welcomes the research opportunities that this new center has the potential to provide. Collaborative research with other universities and our leading industries in Upstate New York should strengthen the economic infrastructure in our area."

Rochester Institute of Technology President Albert J. Simone said, "The State's investment in this Center is a testament to this region's growing reputation in the areas of photonics and micro- systems. This collaborative venture will benefit all of the partners, as well as the regional economy. We anticipate that our new Ph.D. program in microsystems and our STAR Center, the IT Collaboratory, will be particularly important resources to the Center of Excellence, and we look forward to contributing to its success."

Monroe Community College President R. Thomas Flynn said, "Monroe Community College is proud to partner with other institutions of higher education to create the educational arm that will support this Center of Excellence. From our expertise in training optical technicians to our ability to provide student interns, MCC can play a major role in this important economic development initiative."

Empire State Development Chairman Charles Gargano said, "This is great news for the people of the Finger Lakes region and is another example of how Governor Pataki's innovative policies are leading to more good paying jobs for New Yorkers and a better and brighter future for the citizens of this State."

Russell W. Bessette M.D., Executive Director of the NYS Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) said, "Through the creation of the Center of Excellence in Photonics, Governor Pataki has again shown his leadership in fostering world class high technology. The research conducted at this center will lead to the creation of new technology, new companies and new jobs in the Rochester region and in New York State."

The 2002-03 State Budget includes $250 million statewide to create the Governor's Centers of Excellence. This program will provide State capital support to match critical private sector and federal investments in emerging high technology fields. The State funds are expected to leverage approximately three times their value in federal and private funds. The program is specifically structured to provide flexibility to allow the State to effectively target its high-tech investments toward regional academic and industry strengths and to rapidly respond to ever-changing technologies and business opportunities that exist in today's marketplace by providing the critical link between ideas generated in the lab and the commercialization of new products.

Other Centers of Excellence have been created in Buffalo in Bioinformatics, in Syracuse in Environmental Systems, in Albany in Nanoelectronics, on Long Island in Information Technology, and more high-tech, bio-tech initiatives are under development for New York City, the Hudson Valley, Upstate New York and Long Island.

The new Center of Excellence in Photonics will build on a number of other technology-related initiatives in the Rochester region, such as the $14 million STAR Center at RIT, which is being funded through NYSTAR. Other examples include: approximately $2.6 million in funding for the Enhanced Center for Advanced Technology (CAT), which is jointly sponsored by the U of R and RIT; a $1 million NYSTAR faculty development award for U of R; and, $7 million for the U of R Medical School's Aab Institute.

About the Infotonics Center

The Infotonics Technology Center Inc. (Infotonics) is a not-for-profit corporation that operates New York State's Center of Excellence in Photonics and Microsystems. Infotonics is structured as a consortium whose industrial participants include Corning, Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, and Xerox Corporation. Academic participants include some 20 New York State colleges and universities. Infotonics' goal is to establish a unique, world-class research and development facility to enable rapid commercialization of new products. This initiative will provide major benefits to the region, including creation of jobs and attraction of new companies and investment revenue.

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Hasn't anyone else heard about this or know the status of the project now?

BuffCity
March 22nd, 2006, 06:14 AM
politicans can't promise jobs...nobody can.

btw, I'm thinking of running for Governor of NYS, just to save everyone from Spitzer.

bjfan82
March 22nd, 2006, 06:17 AM
^ haha my company donated a lot of money to Spitzer's campaign, and my company is traditionally a Republican candidate donar...so you better start selling some photos and raising some money

ROCguy
March 22nd, 2006, 06:28 AM
What difference does it make. Golisano won't run. There are NO upstate candidates in EITHER party. Does Buffalo have any billionaires that could run for Governer and crush a downstater? If so, GET HIM IN THE SCENE.

sargeantcm
March 22nd, 2006, 02:54 PM
Corporations donating money to politicians SCREAMS special interest. I think it's totally bogus that in this country, the candidate with the best fund raising wins.

Cheapest item in the world is an American's vote.

Susie
March 22nd, 2006, 03:40 PM
Rochester’s online help-wanted advertising dipped slightly in February, the Conference Board Inc. reported.
Online job ads in the area—which includes Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties—were down 2 percent last month to 4,600 from 4,700 in January.
The number represents less than nine-tenths of a new, online want ad per 100 people in the work force, roughly equal to that in January. Rochester was one of six metropolitan statistical areas with less than one online job posting per 100 people last month.

RochesterAddict
March 22nd, 2006, 05:07 PM
Susie please drop it...you have beat it to death and it is so boring. When you can find another doom and gloom topic please post that, at least it would be interesting.

RochesterAddict
March 22nd, 2006, 05:17 PM
http://cctvimedia.clearchannel.com/wokr/0321%20optic%20bldg%20lg.jpg

Can The "Urban Village" Concept Revitalize Downtown?
13 WHAM
Chalonda Roberts (Rochester, NY) -- A recent study suggests that creating an urban village in downtown Rochester by adding several thousand new housing units could be key to boosting development.

Buckingham Commons is literally the new kid on the block. The developer, Buckingham Properties, is building 36 new loft apartments in the old Artcraft Optical Building near Frontier Field. They come with the exposed brick and high beamed ceilings, and a rooftop garden with bleachers to watch games at Frontier Field.

Larry Glazer, CEO of Buckingham Properties , said, "Having a 24-hour city is very important. We have people during the day, then at night people leave and downtown loses its vibrancy."

Glazer agrees with suggestions from the real estate think tank that advises the city to add as many as 7,000 new housing units in downtown Rochester.

Glazer said, "By having people here, restaurants and retail will follow rooftops so to speak."

It's a concept that has been successful on the city's east end, starting with buildings like Chevy Place and more recently, the Sagamore. Many city planners agree that upscale condos like the Sagamore are key to revitalizing the city.

Vice President of Christa Development, Pat Tobin, said the company convinced others that the concept has validity by selling 22 out of 23 units. He estimates there's $11 million of real estate in the building.

Tobin said, "We need to look at what makes sense...I think 3,000 is our tipping point where we'll start bringing in retailers and once that starts breeding, then you have more people wanting to come to the city."

A few weeks ago, the Urban Land Institute issued the report following a study it conducted last June. The report reflects opinions of a panel of national experts and over 130 local leaders in business, government, and community.

The study looked at four specific downtown areas including Midtown Plaza and the Sibley Building. It suggests making the Sibley mostly residential and demolishing part of Midtown.

The owner of Midtown Plaza was not available for comment

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=83CAF171-F732-40A9-9FD2-EB75A773E650

Click on the link and watch the video! Its a good story and you will get to see real pics of the Sagamore on East and Buckingham Commons.

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/BUSINESS/603220322/1001

Here are approvals for more Comida tax breaks and consequential job creation.

sargeantcm
March 22nd, 2006, 07:58 PM
Does Buffalo have any billionaires that could run for Governer and crush a downstater? If so, GET HIM IN THE SCENE.
For high-profile, I believe the owner of the Boston Bruins is a Buffalonian, but I'm not sure what his worth is. Given the way he's cheaped that team out for years, he's either loaded or strapped for cash, whichever way you look at it.

NYS needs to be run like the Bruins, IMO. Just need to tend to the "fanbase" a little better.

RochesterAddict
March 22nd, 2006, 08:41 PM
No one from upstate NY will ever win Governor of NYS. The NYC metro thinks that everyone is a hick that lives north of Westchester county. They even feel Rockland county is too poor and too farmerish. The only way someone from upstate would win is if they were originally from NYC. Like Pataki who currently lives in Putnam county (above Westchester county.) Since there are 10 million people in the NY state part of the NYC metro and only about 5 million people (and shrinking) in ALL of upstate NY, we will never win a governor race. The only way that would happen is if hell froze over or if NYC succeeded from NYS. Dont think its going to happen.

Jerome
March 22nd, 2006, 09:22 PM
Since there are 10 million people in the NY state part of the NYC metro and only about 5 million people (and shrinking) in ALL of upstate NY, we will never win a governor race.
Where do the other 4 and a half million New Yorkers live?

ROCguy
March 22nd, 2006, 10:09 PM
He underestimated the NYC metro by a shitload. Of the 20 or so million people in the NYC metro, probably 15 million of them live in the New York State, with the rest in NJ, CT, and now, PA. Upstate's population is about 5 million.

Jerome
March 22nd, 2006, 10:19 PM
So I guess he really doesn't know what he is talking about. There have been staewide winners from upstae NY including former attn general Vacco and former comptroller Regan both within the last 20 years. The fact is the way upstate politicians have screwed up upstate NY why would anyone think they are deserving of a staewide victory.

ROCguy
March 22nd, 2006, 10:33 PM
That's just the thing, I'm not talking about politicians, I'm talking about people who have honest business skills and now how to grow a company.... I.E. Golisano. He's not a politician, he's the founder of a very succesfull and growing business. If he can do it himself, surely he could have helped many accross state do the same thing. Someone like that.

bjfan82
March 22nd, 2006, 10:52 PM
I estimate 3 million on Long Island, 9 million in NYC, 1 million in Westchester...leaving approximately 7 million for the rest of upstate.

RochesterAddict
March 23rd, 2006, 12:27 AM
Another bank downtown, First Niagara just opened a branch on Exchange Blvd next to Atlanta Bread Company last month. Services are slowly moving back into downtown, now we just need a good grocery store.

Northwest to open bank branch
Rochester Business Journal
March 22, 2006

Northwest Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Northwest Bancorp Inc., is opening its first Monroe County branch in June, the financial institution said Wednesday.
Northwest operates ATMs in the Rochester region, including 11 in Monroe County. It has bank branches in Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in Upstate New York.
The Monroe County branch, at 36 W. Main St. in Rochester, will feature a full-service community banking center with checking, savings and retirement savings programs, as well as personal, commercial and home loans, said Jonathan Scalise, New York state region president, in a statement.
Northwest Bancorp (NYSE: NWSB), founded in 1986, operates 154 banking offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Florida. Based in Warren, Pa., it holds more than $6 billion in assets.

Jerome, I think you have been on the "Frontier" too long, that is why I said "Governor" not other positions in government. It is the same battle that a woman or minority would have to become president.

I may have understated the population in the NYC metro, but I did not look up the "numbers" before I wrote that. I really dont care how many people live in NYC, its too many for me. A better number would have been for me to say "A LOT" or that they out-number upstate population. No matter how rich or intelligent someone in upstate is, they will still be inferior to anyone who lives in NYC (They feel that is the finest place in the world.) But who cares about their opinions, I would rather live around poorly dressed hicks that dont hurt you, than to live around the absorbanant number of white trash that live in the NYC metro that would shoot you for a dollar.

ROCguy
March 23rd, 2006, 02:10 AM
I estimate 3 million on Long Island, 9 million in NYC, 1 million in Westchester...leaving approximately 7 million for the rest of upstate.

Rockland, Putnam, and even Orange Counties are all pretty much in the NYC metro now. Add them in, and it's at least another 1.5 million. And as long as we are talking about Upstate/Downstate relations; look at what that bastard Spitzer said about Upstate NY. Nobody would argue that these aren't tough times in Upstate NY, but to call it Appalaicha is deffinitely crossing the line;

'Appalachia' shoe fits, Spitzer says


Comment on upstate economy riles foes


Joseph Spector
Staff Writer


(March 22, 2006) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer on Tuesday defended recent comments that likened the upstate economy to poverty-stricken Appalachia.

"If they (his political foes) do not like the metaphors that are used and if they do not like the harsh reality of where they have taken us, then that is simply another argument for them to leave office," the state's attorney general said after a Rochester rally.

Republicans are seizing on the Appalachia comment he initially made last week during a speech in Manhattan. State GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik, who also heads the Monroe County GOP, wrote an op-ed piece to newspapers that claims Spitzer insulted upstate.

Republican candidate William Weld said Spitzer "likened upstate to those Walker Evans photographs showing kids with rickets and missing teeth."

But Spitzer's campaign released economic statistics showing that, in some cases, upstate is worse off than Appalachia, which includes West Virginia and parts of 12 states, including the Southern Tier of New York.

In explaining the need for business investment upstate, the front-running Spitzer reportedly told a Manhattan crowd that "if you drive from Schenectady to Niagara Falls, you'll see an economy that is devastated. It looks like Appalachia. This is not the New York we dream of."

Minarik and other Republicans compared the comments to ones made by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, whose 1982 run for governor was hurt when he quipped that upstaters waste "time in a pickup truck" and "have to drive 20 miles to buy a gingham dress or a Sears, Roebuck suit."

But Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, suggested Tuesday that Spitzer is right about upstate's dire situation.

Also Tuesday, Spitzer was endorsed by the Rochester Building Trades Council.

Earlier in Syracuse, he proposed ways to revive New York cities, including a downtown development grant program.



I do have to give him props for that last part in bold though. But still.

bjfan82
March 23rd, 2006, 02:50 AM
^ there's no question about it, no one here would ever like to linked with Appalachia...on the surface the comment may be insulting, but look at its context. He was trying to give a harsh reality check to the Albany leaders that either don't pay attention to Upstate NY or have been masking Upstate's bad economy with rediculous positive spin for years. Normally, I would've agreed with the Republican's "outrage" but they are even more out of touch with Upstate than they claim Spitzer is.

blangjr21
March 23rd, 2006, 03:19 AM
I think after sitting on this news for about 12 hours now, that they are using old marketing techniques. The "shock" value alone is enough to allow your interest to peak enough to read the article. Whenever someone read's appalachia, those famous photo's flash to your brain, they are hard to forget. Though I don't think upstate is anywhere near appalachia, I think that the ability to shock is there, and it works.

blangjr21
March 23rd, 2006, 03:34 AM
I shudder at the thought of this, I just would rather put it to bed, and allow private enterprise to take over, if they think it's viable, do it. If not leave it, just focus on bigger issues Louise, like lowering our taxes and making upstate competitive with downstate as far as new business goes...how is that? Anyways here's the news I found...

Says Canada should split cost of ferry.
Slaughter Wants New, Smaller Ferry
by Rich Turner
Published Mar 22, 2006

With Rochester's high speed ferry still up for sale, a local lawmaker says it's time to talk about bringing a new ferry service back to Lake Ontario.

British ferry company Navmed has offered the city $30 million for the Spirit of Ontario.

The city is not commenting on any negotiations.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says she has met with a senior Canadian government official about the possibility of a new, smaller ferry service between Rochester and Toronto.

Slaughter says any new ferry venture should be privately owned, with the Canadian government sharing half the cost.

The Spirit of Ontario remains moored at the Port of Rochester.

sargeantcm
March 23rd, 2006, 04:34 AM
About the Appalachia comment, I don't care either way, really. Appalachia is the one that should be offended, actually, as they've been having a better go of things recently, on a relative basis anyways.

But what I did notice is yet another reason why I don't want Bill Weld running for or getting the Governor's office. His comments, to me, echoed the same status quo, "making a mountain out of a molehill", there isn't really a problem attitude that I'm sick of seeing.

If Bill Weld gets elected, we might as well all move out.

I'm sure it's more than just coincidence that NYS lost it's status as the pre-eminent state in the US just at the time the upstate economy started to tank. Yet these imbeciles apparently fail to grasp both that piece of harsh reality, or the theory that anything that helps upstate will, in general, undoubtedly benefit downstate.

bjfan82
March 23rd, 2006, 05:35 AM
^ who's Bill Weld?

BuffCity
March 23rd, 2006, 05:44 AM
I hear the city might be able to sell the Ferry to a UK company for 30 million

good idea

ROCguy
March 23rd, 2006, 05:58 AM
I'm sure it's more than just coincidence that NYS lost it's status as the pre-eminent state in the US just at the time the upstate economy started to tank. Yet these imbeciles apparently fail to grasp both that piece of harsh reality, or the theory that anything that helps upstate will, in general, undoubtedly benefit downstate.

Sargeant.... didn't you get the memo? Downstate doesn't depend on upstate at all..... they are the center of the universe for Gods sake. Upstate would be abolutely nothing without downstate, but downstate could remain the center of the universe without Upstate (it would actually be better off, that's why they are doing all they can to sink upstate into oblivian).



I hear the city might be able to sell the Ferry to a UK company for 30 million

good idea


LOL.......

City in no hurry on $30 million ferry bid


Ship has many suitors, says Duffy; 'can't put timeline' on deal
Brian Sharp
Staff writer


(March 22, 2006) — An overseas investor interested in Rochester's high-speed ferry said he is willing to pay more than the $30 million he offered for the ship earlier this month, but the city does not appear interested.

"As it looks like right now, they are not going to give it to us," John Paul Airs, CEO of Shikara Holdings LLC, said in a phone interview. "I think it's become too political now, and I think they're looking for a blue chip operation. We're a new company ... but you've got to start somewhere."

Shikara is the investment arm of Navmed Limited, based in Folkestone, England. How city officials view Navmed's bid for Rochester's Spirit of Ontario ferry is unclear. But the company's vocal interest mirrored in the foreign press has sparked a flurry of media attention here. Navmed plans a three-ship operation crossing the English Channel, with the Spirit of Ontario tagged for a route between Dover, England, and Boulogne, France.

City officials have declined to comment on specific interest shown in the ferry. Mayor Robert Duffy said Tuesday that the ship has not been sold but the city continues to negotiate with several potential buyers. He has said the city is not negotiating with Navmed, which would be the ship operator, but it is unclear whether Shikara has a seat at the table.

"We are having a lot of activity," Duffy said. "We certainly have negotiations going on with a number of parties. ... I really can't put a timeline on it. The deal has not been finalized yet — any deal."

The city backed a $40 million loan last year and created Rochester Ferry Co., which bought the ship in February 2005 for $32 million. But ticket sales for the resurrected Rochester-to-Toronto service lagged and the venture lost $10 million in 10 months.

Duffy announced Jan. 10 that the city was pulling the plug and would sell the ship, which remains docked at the Port of Rochester.

Airs, who also is Navmed's CEO, said he signed and submitted a $30 million bid to the city more than 10 days ago to meet a city deadline but the city has yet to respond.

"We have never snubbed or directly not answered an offer from a serious buyer," city spokesman Gary Walker said, describing the city's negotiating efforts as professional, forthright and honest.

"But we can't really control how other folks or other entities characterize this."

Airs said he has "proven" to the city his company has $30 million available, and to Port of Dover officials that it has the equivalent of $54 million (U.S.). Shikara formed in April 2005 and gets its money from Middle Eastern investors, Airs said. Navmed formed last month.

He said the Spirit of Ontario is "like a pair of Italian shoes, handmade and a perfect fit."

"We would like to discuss our bid," said Airs, who has yet to inspect the ship but claims to have reviewed all pertinent documents and drawings. He planned to come see the ship once he was on solid footing with the city.

"We're waiting. I keep hearing they (Rochester officials) are going to write."

One broker who claims to have spoken with Duffy and Corporation Counsel Tom Richards says there should only be one qualification: "Money. M-O-N-E-Y," said ship broker Bill Mollard with Jacque Pierot Jr. & Sons in New York. Mollard said he last spoke with Richards on Feb. 2 but has not heard back. Selling the ship should take 30 to 60 days, he said.

"It isn't complicated. It's a piece of steel that's sitting on Lake Ontario," he said, adding that the ship's attributes and good condition would make for a quick sale but buyers must be able to deliver the money up front.

Overseas, Navmed is reportedly one of two potential operators — the other reportedly a company called Fidentia — vying to start up a new service at the already busy Dover port. Keith Southey, spokesman for the Port of Dover, said discussions have been ongoing for some time with unresolved details that include berthing slots to dock the ships.

"When this sale is done, and we're counting the money ... we'll be willing to share every step of the negotiations with the public and the media," Walker said.

"But we're not going to share that information in the middle of negotiations. It's too important ... we want to get the most we can for this boat."

RochesterAddict
March 23rd, 2006, 11:47 PM
http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1143120522.jpg

Nice picture on www.picturerochester.com today

City newspaper had a nice article on future hopes for downtown Rochester.
http://www.rochester-citynews.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A4270

Public Market Boasts New Restaurant
WHAM 13
Chalonda Roberts (Rochester, NY) - The local “Coffee King” Java Joe is opening the first full-service restaurant to operate at the public market in 25 years.

The new restaurant is called "Java Joe's Next Generation".

Java Joe said, "We're going to have a whole line of things."

He will special-order his pastrami but, he said, "everything else we'll be serving will come from within the walls of the public market."

His menu will name farmers whose products he uses.

He plans to be open seven days a week—something he knows it's risky.

"I guess maybe I'm crazy, but I think people will come for two reasons…it's convenient and safe, and it has easy access and parking. Parking is very important in any restaurant business."

The market has been gradually renewing its architecture and methods for the last ten years, working to become a seven-day-a-week venue.

Jim Farr of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said, "We think Joe's is going to draw a crowd every day, and once you have that traffic here, I think the other businesses will follow, and open more than the traditional market days."

The new Java Joe’s Next Generation restaurant opens Saturday, March 25.

Said Java Joe, ”I absolutely think we can pull it off."

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=628AF159-84CD-444D-834A-2C40C6249E7A
I think it could be a lucrative restaurant, watch the video to take a look at what they have done with the market, they have fixed it up to be halfway decent.
http://www.ci.rochester.ny.us/PRHS/PublicMarket/index.cfm


High Falls entertainment resort opening soon
WROC 8

The "High Falls Entertainment Resort" is about to open in the old Jillian's Building. The 40,000 square foot entertainment spot will include 5 different businesses.

Eric Schilder, the director of Operations and Marketing, SR Rochester LCC, said "this will all be places where people can meet and mix and mingle and happy hours."

One restaurant and bar inside is Coco Locos Mexican Cantina. There is also a country themed bar and club called the Saddle Ridge Rock and Country Saloon.

"You ever seen the movie coyote ugly? All the girls will dance on the bar in their cowboy hats, just like in the movie," said Schilder.

There are 2 phases of construction. Phase 1 is scheduled to open April 6th and includes the Cheyenne Supper Club, King Pinz Bowling Alley and Palm Bar and Lounge.

One of the main attractions is a 15 Lane bowling alley with a full bar. Developers say Jillians was geared more towards kids but this is different.

"We're kind of geared more towards the nightlife for adults with the food, the restaurant and all the professional crowd," said Schilder.

Another reason Schilder believes the resort will be popular, he says it attracts so many different demographics. "We know our concepts we know they're all pretty strong... we've put quit a bit of investment into it!"

http://wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=22210&r=l
Watch this video for a sneak peek inside, looks kind of nice! We will see what happens with this, if it is just another cheesy incarnation of other bars then it will fail, but it could become a nighttime destination? Only time will tell.

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 03:11 AM
Looks wild! Count me as one who will at least go to see what's going on when it opens up.

ROCguy
March 24th, 2006, 04:37 AM
WORD!. Something important in the sports world is finally happening in Rochester....AND THEY ARE GETTING A DIVISION I SPORTS TEAM!

College hockey postseason tourneys here in '07


Kevin Oklobzija
Staff writer


(March 23, 2006) — Rochester's Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial has signed a three-year contract to host the Atlantic Hockey Association championships, beginning in March 2007.

The 2007 NCAA East Regional also will be played at the Blue Cross Arena the following weekend in 2007.

Rochester Institute of Technology will begin play as a member of the Division I Atlantic Hockey Association next season, but the Tigers are not eligible for the tournament until 2008.

The Atlantic Hockey Association was formed when nine institutions joined together in 2003 to found a new Division-I men's ice hockey conference. The league currently consists of eight members: American International College, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart. Next season, Air Force Academy and RIT will join the conference.

Holy Cross (26-9-2) is the AHA representative in this year's NCAA Tournament. The Crusaders will play top-seeded Minnesota Friday in Grand Forks, N.D.

BuffCity
March 24th, 2006, 04:43 AM
thats a cool site on that Rochester photography, good to see the Kodak city boasting some good photos.

I'm going to the Dinosour tomorrow night...yea!

ROCguy
March 24th, 2006, 04:47 AM
^^ The one in DT Rochester?

sargeantcm
March 24th, 2006, 04:58 AM
I'm going to the Dinosour tomorrow night...yea!

Well, hopefully your anticipated seating time is less than 90 minutes lol.

BuffCity
March 24th, 2006, 08:27 AM
yea, would be nice huh?

I might make reservations now that you mention it lol.

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 09:02 AM
Not a bad idea at all....are you going to take any pictures?

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 06:47 PM
Well it looks like the fighting between Rochester and Buffalo extends beyond this forum...

Rochester vs. Buffalo: Tempers flare

Robach at center of quarrel at Capitol

Yancey Roy
Albany bureau

(March 24, 2006) — ALBANY — A regional spat erupted Thursday at the Capitol pitting Rochester against Buffalo in a fight over the state's surplus.

In a hot exchange that featured legislators arguing for the microphone and trading rebukes, a Rochester-area senator accused Democrats of undercutting his city. Democrats countered that Republicans were trying to rob Buffalo to pay Rochester.

The action centered on Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece, who quarreled with Democrats on a panel convened to parcel out the local aid portion of the state budget.

Robach even debated a bit with the Republican panel leader, Sen. Hugh Farley.

And at one point, Robach reached for the microphone and Farley refused to give it up, saying: "Joe, calm down."

At issue was the Rochester delegation's long-standing demand to receive aid at a rate more comparable to Buffalo's. Rochester gets about $271 per resident compared with $433 for Buffalo, $415 for Yonkers and $368 for Syracuse. As part of the 2006-07 state budget, the two houses are talking about boosting aid to municipalities across New York by roughly 18 percent. Lawmakers are attempting to adopt a state budget April 1, the start of the fiscal year.

Robach contended that rather than spread the increase evenly, lawmakers should give Rochester a bigger boost "to address the inequities."

Democrats said their plan would give Rochester a bigger percentage boost than Buffalo (26 percent compared with 23 percent), although Buffalo would still get $26 million compared with Rochester's $14 million. Republicans originally wanted to increase the three upstate cities by the identical real-dollar amount, $14 million. Later, they amended their offer to $23.7 million for Buffalo, $16.9 million for Rochester.

Democrats said they couldn't go along with that because of Buffalo's fiscal problems — the city is under a state-appointed financial control board.

"If we're going to start getting parochial," said Sen. William Stachowski, D-Buffalo, "then we're not going to be serving the state as a whole."

"That's easy to say when Buffalo gets the most in every (aid) category," Robach shot back. He said he'd "reject out of hand" a plan that gave Rochester and Buffalo equal size increases.

"Buffalo has just laid off a third of its work force," chimed in Assemblyman Jim Brennan, D-Brooklyn. "We're not going to (give) something less to Buffalo."

At one point, Democrats said a previous bailout of Buffalo had led to its high per-capita aid rate and that under their plan Rochester would get one of the biggest percentage increases among municipalities this year.

Farley, R-Niskayuna, Schenectady County, replied: "I understand ..."

"Don't understand!" Robach cut off his GOP colleague, then reached for the mike again.

"Just a minute, Joe," Farley said, waving him off.

Later, voicing a concern of other small-town representatives on the panel, Farley said: "As much as I love you, Joe, we're not going to suck it out from the small cities."

The panel disbanded after a contentious 45 minutes and consented to have staffs talk about the numbers behind closed doors. Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, D-Nassau County, said he hoped they could reach a compromise but added: "The Senate is saying to us, you've got to take money away from Buffalo and give it to Rochester. We can't do that."

Back in Rochester, Mayor Robert Duffy said he was encouraged by the exchange, "because it shows our delegation is fighting for us." What he didn't like was the characterization that solving Rochester's problems meant taking from Buffalo.

"I have never once asked anyone to reduce aid to Buffalo, or Syracuse or Yonkers and give that to Rochester," Duffy said. He took issue with anyone portraying Buffalo as worse off than Rochester, saying data show Rochester is the most economically depressed upstate city.

"Buffalo's struggles are not worse," he said. "There should be equity in the approach (to state aid), and that's what I've fought for."

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 06:48 PM
Wanna rumble?
To lighten the intercity acrimony, here’s a tongue-in-cheek list:

We get: $271 per resident in state aid; They get: $433 per.

We have: A ferry for sale; They have: Bridges to Canada.

We have: Shaky finances; They have: a state control board.

We have: J-Mac; They have: J.P.

We have: Garbage plates and white hots; They have: Chicken wings and beef on ’weck.

We have: White-collar smugness; They have: Blue-collar grittiness.

We have: Philip Seymour Hoffman; They have: Vincent Gallo.

We have: Tom Golisano, who made his fortune here;
They have: Tom Golisano, spending a fortune there (on the Sabres).

We have: Lake Ontario; They have: Lake Erie.
We have: The Upper Falls; They have: Niagara Falls.

We have: Teddy Geiger; They have: Ani DiFranco.

We have: Garth Fagan; They have: Mark Russell.

We have: One national championship (the NBA Royals in 1951); They have: Four fruitless trips to the Super Bowl (we share the pain).



Hillarious writing by a paper that I didn't think had it in them...

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 06:50 PM
Triangle Building's D.C. buyer calls it a bargain

Frank Bilovsky
Staff writer

(March 24, 2006) — A century-old architectural landmark downtown building has changed hands.

Flaum Management Co. Inc. has sold the Triangle Building at the corner of East Main Street and East Avenue to a Washington, D.C., partnership headed by renowned bookstore owner Danny Gainsburg for more than $2 million, Flaum Chief Operating Officer Michael Palumbo said.

"Danny said that the cost of real estate in D.C. was just astronomical and he thought that Rochester would be a great place to invest," Palumbo said, adding that the Washington partnership was looking to buy more property in the Rochester area.

"For what they paid us for the Rochester building, which is 40,000 square feet, they told me down there you get 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, if you're lucky," Palumbo said.

Meanwhile, Flaum has bought two Brighton buildings that once were owned by Sear-Brown Group Inc., he said. One is a 20,000-square-foot property at 2250 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road that is fully occupied.

The other is a 40,000-square-foot single-story structure at 85 Metro Park, which is vacant. Palumbo said that building would be marketed as office-tech space.

"It's a unique building," he said. "It's an office building that actually has some warehouse components to it with loading docks."

Flaum turned a handsome capital gain on the 109-year-old Triangle Building, which it bought for $50,000 in December 1997 from John Summers. Summers had paid $1.275 million for the property 10 years earlier.

When Flaum bought the five-story building, only one tenant remained in it. By early 1999, the building was vacant. But Flaum did a total renovation and the building now is fully leased to the state of New York and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.

RochesterAddict
March 24th, 2006, 06:51 PM
Here is an amazing video tour of the new Saddle Ridge concept in the former Jillians opening April 6th!

http://whec.com/newspoll.asp?template=item&story_id=18193

To be honest it looks kind of cool and I am a little excited! And I HATE country music.

http://iamthirsty.com/
It will be direct competition for Ronnie Davis' concepts. Right now he has very popular bars (With the cheesy crowd) with his newest concept opening two weeks ago a sports bar called "Pig n Whistle." Pig n whistle is the least cheesy but Im sure Ronnie will ruin it. He has more money than god, but as much class as my toe, but some of his bars are a success story, so he must be doing something right? I hope this succeeds to bring High Falls up like it was when Centers first opened. The last piece of the puzzle will be housing around High Falls.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20060324&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=603240395&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=430
Here you go RocGuy, your favorite topic. I will say the list to the right in this article is funny though.
http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/NEWS01/603240395

RochesterAddict
March 24th, 2006, 07:06 PM
Hey blang you beat me to it! I dont know if all this outside investment is good or bad? The buildings in the St Paul quarter being built and upgraded by the NYC firm, the purchase of the office parks by a Boston firm, now this investment by a Washington DC investor, is that a good sign that others have faith in the community. Or will these investors purchase the buildings and let them rot without putting in any investment or upgrades? If they have no local pride, and if the building were to fail, would they just give up on it? I hope not, I hope that outside investors with more clout and a bigger name in a bigger city will bring some recognition to Rochester and bring in major investment.

Pro tourism, here are good signs of an interest to promote tourism:

http://rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=36141&rnews_story_type=51

With the Hyatts recent and beautiful luxury renovation, the new Doubletree renovation in Henrietta, this articles hotel renovation, the ongoing Brookwood Inn's renovation in Bushnells Basin, the new Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express being built in Webster on 104, and the recent purchase and planned upgrades on the Lodge at Woodcliff in Victor, someone must think that people will be staying overnight in the Rochester area.

Susie
March 24th, 2006, 07:35 PM
Here is an amazing video tour of the new Saddle Ridge concept in the former Jillians opening April 6th!

http://whec.com/newspoll.asp?template=item&story_id=18193

To be honest it looks kind of cool and I am a little excited! And I HATE country music.

http://iamthirsty.com/
It will be direct competition for Ronnie Davis' concepts. Right now he has very popular bars (With the cheesy crowd) with his newest concept opening two weeks ago a sports bar called "Pig n Whistle." Pig n whistle is the least cheesy but Im sure Ronnie will ruin it. He has more money than god, but as much class as my toe, but some of his bars are a success story, so he must be doing something right? I hope this succeeds to bring High Falls up like it was when Centers first opened. The last piece of the puzzle will be housing around High Falls.




Can't get enough of you hotel and reataurant renovation articles. Now that's what I call economic development.

I may have to change my tag line to:

Rochester: We Will Work For Tips!

Susie
March 24th, 2006, 07:38 PM
What he didn't like was the characterization that solving Rochester's problems meant taking from Buffalo.

"I have never once asked anyone to reduce aid to Buffalo, or Syracuse or Yonkers and give that to Rochester," Duffy said. He took issue with anyone portraying Buffalo as worse off than Rochester, saying data show Rochester is the most economically depressed upstate city.
"Buffalo's struggles are not worse," he said.

Truer words were never spoken

sargeantcm
March 24th, 2006, 08:10 PM
Wanna rumble?
To lighten the intercity acrimony, here’s a tongue-in-cheek list:

We have: J-Mac; They have: J.P.
Not much longer, I fear. Unless by J.P. you mean J.P. Dumont.

We have: Garbage plates and white hots; They have: Chicken wings and beef on ’weck.
Don't forget Coolwhip and Red Hots, repsectively.

We have: One national championship (the NBA Royals in 1951); They have: Four fruitless trips to the Super Bowl (we share the pain).
If you want to get technical, Buffalo had:
- 2 fruitless trips to the Stanley Cup finals (one lost, one no-decision)
- A few champsionships out of the Bandits (lacrosse)
- Several Bisons championship teams, historic and modern-day.
- 2 Bills AFL Championships (equivalent to appearances in Super Bowls -1 and 0). Of course we would have lost those too, they coincide with the glory days of the Green Bay Packers w/Vince Lombardi.
Maybe a few others, that's all that comes to mind right now, not counting amateur/college sports. I would imagine Rochester might have a few of these less obvious ones as well.

ROCguy
March 24th, 2006, 10:02 PM
Can't get enough of you hotel and reataurant renovation articles. Now that's what I call economic development.

I may have to change my tag line to:

Rochester: We Will Work For Tips!

Exactly how are businesses opening not development news? What would you consider development news susie? Besides, what youw want to say..."nothing, there is no development in Rochester"

Triangle Building's D.C. buyer calls it a bargain

Frank Bilovsky
Staff writer

(March 24, 2006) — A century-old architectural landmark downtown building has changed hands.

Flaum Management Co. Inc. has sold the Triangle Building at the corner of East Main Street and East Avenue to a Washington, D.C., partnership headed by renowned bookstore owner Danny Gainsburg for more than $2 million, Flaum Chief Operating Officer Michael Palumbo said.

"Danny said that the cost of real estate in D.C. was just astronomical and he thought that Rochester would be a great place to invest," Palumbo said, adding that the Washington partnership was looking to buy more property in the Rochester area.

"For what they paid us for the Rochester building, which is 40,000 square feet, they told me down there you get 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, if you're lucky," Palumbo said.

Meanwhile, Flaum has bought two Brighton buildings that once were owned by Sear-Brown Group Inc., he said. One is a 20,000-square-foot property at 2250 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road that is fully occupied.

The other is a 40,000-square-foot single-story structure at 85 Metro Park, which is vacant. Palumbo said that building would be marketed as office-tech space.

"It's a unique building," he said. "It's an office building that actually has some warehouse components to it with loading docks."

Flaum turned a handsome capital gain on the 109-year-old Triangle Building, which it bought for $50,000 in December 1997 from John Summers. Summers had paid $1.275 million for the property 10 years earlier.

When Flaum bought the five-story building, only one tenant remained in it. By early 1999, the building was vacant. But Flaum did a total renovation and the building now is fully leased to the state of New York and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.

Here is the building they are talkign about, it needs a little sprucing up on it's facade (notice a little rotting in upper molding) but it's a nice solid peice of turn of the century architecture:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/nixter369/trianglebuilding.jpg

bjfan82
March 24th, 2006, 10:05 PM
Rochester Addict, that was a great article about Buffalo vs. Rochester.

blangjr21
March 24th, 2006, 11:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by blangjr21
We have: One national championship (the NBA Royals in 1951); They have: Four fruitless trips to the Super Bowl (we share the pain).

If you want to get technical, Buffalo had:
- 2 fruitless trips to the Stanley Cup finals (one lost, one no-decision)
- A few champsionships out of the Bandits (lacrosse)
- Several Bisons championship teams, historic and modern-day.
- 2 Bills AFL Championships (equivalent to appearances in Super Bowls -1 and 0). Of course we would have lost those too, they coincide with the glory days of the Green Bay Packers w/Vince Lombardi.
Maybe a few others, that's all that comes to mind right now, not counting amateur/college sports. I would imagine Rochester might have a few of these less obvious ones as well.


As long as you are comparing don't forget that the Knighthawks have won a championship in lacrosse, the Red Wings have won the most governors cups in minor league baseball and the Rochester Jeffersons were the only team to never win 1 game in NFL history!


As for all of the outside investment that is a great thing, that means the market is either stable, below market value, or rising. Outside investors or not, any investment is a good investment, and I wouldn't worry about investors letting buildings rot, that just doesn't make any business sense.

blangjr21
March 25th, 2006, 01:04 AM
Rochester To Get $18M In State Aid
by R News staff
Published Mar 24, 2006

More state funding than ever before appears headed to Rochester.

The state Legislature agreed late Friday afternoon on an $18 million aid package for the city late Friday afternoon.

That is 33 percent more than Rochester has ever received from the state.

Rochester delegates to the state legislature continued last minute negotiations for more aid.

The local aid total is still half the amount Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy had been lobbying for.

The funding still needs the approval of the full legislature and the governor. Rochester's state delegation had argued for more aid in a budget year when a state surplus could help local governments. That argument was made loudest Thurssday by Republican state senator Joe Robach, who challenged a proposal that would maintain what he called the disparity in state funding to upstate New York's major cities.

Rochester currently gets $271 in state aid for each of its residents. That's the lowest among major upstate cities. Syracuse, with far less population, receives $368, while Buffalo gets the most from the state: $433 per person.

Joe Robach raised his voice Thursday during closed door negotiations.

“I am insistent that during this budget year, we have money to add, that not only Rochester gets an epic amount of money, a record-breaking amount of money, but also begins to cut into the disparity between Bufffalo and Syracuse,” Robach said.

sargeantcm
March 25th, 2006, 01:06 AM
Yeah that's what I was going for. What about the Amerks, I know they were in the Calder Cup Final a few years ago at least.

As for the Jeffersons, I never even knew Rochester had an NFL team. Learn something new every day, thanks, I can now go to bed! (I slept horrible last night b/c I forgot to turn the heat off!)

BuffCity
March 25th, 2006, 02:49 AM
state aide...

Rochester Buffalo and Syracuse seem to fight over aide in Albany, give me some...gimme some.

I dunno, why dont they just make a flat rate of 450$ per person living in any city and call it that, flat rate.

what they do with it from there will determine how smart the political figures are and how well they can plan.

BuffCity
March 27th, 2006, 05:42 AM
just got a HUGE number of skyline shots from the Ford Street bridge, any Rochester or Buffalo forumers want the originals...IM me on AIM or PM me here...I'll give anyone the original file, would make a great 8x10 or desktop background.

AIM - nfi3