WRRB/Telegram District City Council Forum 10/18
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This forum is for all district council candidates; all candidates are here
today. Format: 14 total questions, 4 questions across districts (for all
candida...
5 months ago
19 comments:
Good thing there were no takers for my bet, or I'd be out a six-pack.
It is really amazing that there is report that costs 400,000, that we had at least two community meetings and were told numerous times that we were waiting for the Master Report.
It gets releases and nobody says anything?
Nemeth is another cat who doesn't live in the hood but speaks so glowingly about all the social service programs in Woostah until like most in this city of means they are in their backyard and then these programs belong in the urban core cause that is how it has always been.....like Billy B and Barbara H or not..the two live in the hood and I have no doubt understand the need like I do for social service programs but at a sustainable level for the city to grow! The "we put our heads down on pillows at night crowd" in this city is nauseating to be quite honest with you.
You just have to drive around the urban core of this city to realize how poorly it has been managed for decades..not years BUT decardes and I am coming up on my second decade in it..
Kate..I know you read the blogs..numerous times folks have banged you and occasionally like last week you responded "what am I doing wrong"...the banger did not respond..I have openly asked a few questions with no response..about the urban core of this city and the lack of leaders living in it...the lack of a desire to live in it by our leaders yet they want to solve the problems..including many of our media including Mr. Nemeth..and not to say the least Mr. Levy the king of local media..
Again, I'll ask..."how can we change this urban core of the city if no one of means wants to live in it?"
If an affluent person wanted to move into the urban core where would they go? Say a lawyer who is married to a doctor both decided they wanted to live downtown so they could walk to work. They could afford 550 - 750k for a place or $2500 per month for rent. Where would they go to find a place? People like this are not in the market for a triple decker. Why doesn't worcester have developers build nice apartments downtown like other citys?
The City paid for a report about three to four years ago by RKG. They recommended exactly what you are saying John.
More or less stop developing more low income housing and build more upscale housing. Needless CDC's went nuts .
John:
In other words the recommendations by RKG were completely disregarded and we keep building more and more low income housing.
Bill
Bill
Do you know what tpe of housing they are planning for the old voke school property at Gateway Park? I think this would be a great area to build some upscale housing & this may spur some redevelopment of the Aud & Old Courthouse. Does the city still have a say in this devlopment or is it sold to a private developer?
John:
No idea.
Sorry
Bill
John actully we did have a developer.....who with the aid of lots of gov't money......built a small condo sky scraper in the late late 1980's..........then came the real est. bust of '89 to '97 & the guy lost the place.............and now that small condo skyscrper is reputed to be filled Paulie Pajama People Types and possibly some college students and is not market rate condos.but instead is apts.
The place I refer is opposite the registry of Motor Vehilces and frankly, I dont know what they even call it now.
We had a another similar building go up on the corner Linden & Elm Sts about the same time......but those guys were able to hold on.....and weathered to 90's real est bust..............thanks to a very very deep pocketed fella who shall remain nameless.........and I do believe that place is now filled with middle income (and up) tenants and/or condo owners.
John actully we did have a developer.....who with the aid of lots of gov't money......built a small condo sky scraper in the late late 1980's..........then came the real est. bust of '89 to '97 & the guy lost the place.............and now that small condo skyscrper is reputed to be filled Paulie Pajama People Types and possibly some college students and is not market rate condos.but instead is apts.
The place I refer is opposite the registry of Motor Vehilces and frankly, I dont know what they even call it now.
We had a another similar building go up on the corner Linden & Elm Sts about the same time......but those guys were able to hold on.....and weathered to 90's real est bust..............thanks to a very very deep pocketed fella who shall remain nameless.........and I do believe that place is now filled with middle income (and up) tenants and/or condo owners.
John if someone was looking for something upscale in downtown Worcester I would probably direct them to the apartments in the old North High across the street from the art museum. Those look like they are very very nice.
I talked to someone over at the weekly KJ Barron's scotch tasting a couple weeks ago. Dude has a lot of money. Works in the city during the week and owns in Kennebunk and travels back there on weekends. He lives in the Sky Mark Tower(that's what it is called Jahn) during the week and loves it. I don't think it ever got over run with pajama people. Pajama people as a rule hang out in front of the buildings they live in, you know, being pajama people. These people are definitely in the neighborhood but they aren't hanging out in front of the Sky Mark doors. Based on this I would absolutely send people to look at the Sky Mark too.
I do know what you are saying though. I am really starting to believe that the West Siders who sit in our council seats can't really comprehend why anyone who has the means to live elsewhere would want to live in the urban core of the city and most of their decisions are based on that.
Gabe, you're right. I forgot about the old North High Condos. I might add, just up the street, the Salisbury gardens (I think it 's called?) also has market rate condos. These were actaully apts until the early 1980's when they were converted to condos by the same folks who built at Linden & Elm sts. North high was also converted into condos in the early 80's as well...if my memory is correct
ONly problem however is that they are somewhat away from the downtown urban core.......but definitely a good start. I love the look of those old refurbished brick buildings that also have soem nice architectural detail
Think about it..... heres' 3 decent, market rate condo's projects (Salisbury, North High & Elm-Linden) and then nothing has happened since then........except Skymark,if what you're saying about their occupants is correct?)....which is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 25 years. Yet, in the exact same time span our CDC';s have been allowed to flourish like weeds in my garden.
Is it a mere coincidence that building market rate dwelling units in our more "downtown areas" came to a complete standstill at about the same time that CDC's began to flourish?
I am telling you.......this very, very dense construction of low income housing on small lots with little or no parking will come back to haunt the city forever. In other parts of the country they are razing the housing projects built in the 40's & 50's b/c it was decided that such dense constr. of low income housing is a bad idea. In Great Brook vallley it appears to me thay have actually razed at least one of these brick apt blocks.
Meanwhile private landlords are losing their tenants to these 100% gov't subsidized non profit builders.....while their CEO's are deemed the "good Guys" and draw down some nice salaries and bennies and I suggest to you that none of these CEO's have the talents or expertise or skills to earn anywhere near that in the private sector....so basically we have a bunch of political hacks who are aided & abetted by Havana Jim Mc Govern who will fight to the death to keep these CDC's going into pertetuity.
I still am curious to know how many CDC/non profit builders cities like Providence or Hartford or Springfield have and how much housing they produce
I am wondering here....re the Master Plan......isnt it always said in media circles .......that if you have bads news to release that you wait until the summer doldrums of July & August ( esp a Fri. or Sat.) when people tend to be on vacation and the council meets only once a month in July & August.
I also must 'fess up to a previous WRONG prediction that I made over the course of the last 6 to 9 months.........i repeatedly said the city budget for fiscal '09was going to be a disaster....and evidently things are "OK" with the '09 budget......and it has been pretty much finalized, I guess.....and it's "tight"...but I guess we'll make it.
I guess all I can say is stay tuned....................let's see how it all unravels.....and hope for the best.
We did budget for heating oil & diesel fuel at $4.71 per gallon.......right??...........and now Deval wants emergency powers to slash the state budget at mid year if necesary.........OUCH.......I'll swear one day last winter I saw him on TV telling us with his great politcal persona..........."dont worry...we're going to be just fine"........stay tuned
Right about North High, and we may as well add the Executive House, but I would consider them just outside the core. Should we add the Linden House?
You are also right about SkyMark, they are trying to reinivent themself and are doing a good job. I do believe, however, that there is a 20 or 25% low income requirement on this building like say a Royal Worcester.
I have been in North High Gardens & they are very nice.
On my way home from the YMCA this morning I stopped to look at the apartment buildings (2) at the corner of Chestnut & Harvard streets. Anyone know what these apartments are like? I thought the location was great overlooking the city & a short walk to main st.
This is from a 2004 boston.com article. the www.biscuitlofts.com link appears to be broken.
Biscuit Lofts
1 Envelope Terrace, Worcester www.biscuitlofts.com
What it was: A former manufacturing facility built in 1894 to house a forging company. Bikes, as well as car and steam engines, were manufactured. In 1901 it became the Cartwright Borden Biscuit Co., and from 1910 to 1924 was the New England Biscuit Co. It was last occupied by the Sheppard Envelope Co.
What it is now: 43 loft condos ranging from 846 to 1,850 square feet, priced from the low $200,000s to $349,900. Units have 12-foot ceilings, oversize windows, exposed brick walls, wood beams on the ceilings, original wood plank flooring.
Re-use challenge: All of the windows had to be replaced and everything needed extensive cleaning. The brick exterior had to be shored up and the insides gutted.
Leftovers: Nothing had been baked in the building in over 60 years. "I wish I could tell you we found something, but there wasn't even a can of crackers," said developer Steven Gubb. Nothing harkens to the building's biscuit background -- except its name. "It's appealing and better-sounding than Envelope Condos, don't you think?"
They'll be passing the envelope trying to save it.
There will be a 2nd collection AAAAAAAMEN!
Nah, that area is definitely still part of urban Worcester. It's just that over there it is done right. That's still the city of Worcester over there, not the town of Worcester.
"I do know what you are saying though. I am really starting to believe that the West Siders who sit in our council seats can't really comprehend why anyone who has the means to live elsewhere would want to live in the urban core of the city and most of their decisions are based on that."
>>bingo Gabe and it is not just those who sit in the council seats:>) I don't think Tim Murray feels this way and I know B. Haller doesn't but I remember a ways back a big shot at city hall once saying to me that we had to get me ovah to the west side..I told him that I moved to Woostah to be part of something and really part of something-being part of the improvement of Woostah Urban would bre gratifying..if I wanted what is on the west side I would have stayed home-the west side of Woostah is a dime a dozen in Greater Boston..one problem we have Gabe is not enough urban neighborhood associations made up of folks who own..have good jobs, VOTE en masse...and are smart enough to get it done...we have no voting powah and this makes a huge difference...did you know that I along with two other property owners empty the trash barrels on Chandler??? We can't get trash barrels picked up on a major thorough fare in the city but the city can pick up leaves raked into the street in the fall...can you name me one other city in this Commonwealth that picks up leaves on a public way left there from a private property owner?? I can't name one and I am about this Commonwealth quite a bit..you think if I could deliver 1000 votes in the urban core (I can't cause all that is being invited by the city and our state and federal delegation are "poor by choice") that those barrels would get emptied if I said I'll sway em' elsewhere???
State Rep. Fresolo mentioned the power of a voting block last week at the CC meeting.....in regards to the firehouse issue..he insinuated that the proposed closing of a fire station was partly due to a lack of voters in the area who could not fight back via the ballot box..well they could but they don't...I am not agreeing with this particular argument but it is a real one in Woostah as it is everywhere..
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