Tiverton Parkway

Been a little busy the past couple of days finishing up a project and wanted to get the word out.

New construction split level, corner lot lot with 1700 square feet of living space, central air, granite counters, 2 underneath parking spots, private dirt road, 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths listed at 275,900. Brokers protected and $500 referral fee for any bloggers who send prospects who buy.

Scott Zobach's Worcesteria

• DIRECT AIR GETS SIGNED: The city is quickly getting ramped up to roll out the red walkway for Direct Air with some needed signage improvements. After a lightning-quick bid period, Sunshine Sign Company is providing five unspecified replacement signs for the airport at a cost of $3,341.30. The city also contracted with Lamar Central Outdoor to provide 6-8 lighted 14x48 signs on major highways in the Worcester, Metrowest, Hartford, Springfield, and Fitchburg/Leominster areas starting this month. Those are likely part of the up to $300,000 in public funds committed to Direct Air for advertising.

Direct Air Radio Ad

Just heard one on WCRN and it talked of "low" parking rates. At the last City Council Meeting, I thought Councilor Rosen brought up the fact that "no" parking rates should be offered and that it would be a great draw to ORH. Evidently "low" parking rates, versus "no" parking rates has been finalized?

Comments On Direct Air At Myrtle Beach Newspaper

Click here


Myrtle Beach Online

Telegram & Gazette Increases to .75 Cents

What do you do after you lay off a bunch of people? Increase the price of the newspaper. On October 6th the newspaper will cost you .75.

Wonder who will be the first to leave downtown, UNUM or the Telegram?

Nemeth Column

Click here to read about his assessment of Direct Air in today's Telegram. Here goes:

• "there was no leaks". Patting myself on the back, I knew that an announcement was eminent, most likely in September for the busy winter season. I even instituted the a "no airport" discussion in August to not be blamed if an airline does not come. Although I thought it was Casino Direct, I predicted Myrtle Beach Direct the day before the announcement. Not bad for a "silly blogger".
• "good formula"? The CEO's, Judy Tull, most recent public charter was Hooters, which was the same exact formula to lease planes and service secondary airports with direct leisure flights as Direct Air. It failed.
• "good track history" of Direct Air? What happened at St Pete's?
• "no pricey consultants.". We spent over $100,000 of our Small Community Air Service Grant to recruit and retain an airline on IMG, we did not even use them for Direct Air? Maybe we should have spent that $100,000 on Allegiant, when we had them to keep them.
• Company desribed as "profitable"? Not sure how the finances of any private company can be described as "profitable" or "non-profitable".
• "Mickey Mouse Air". You got to be kiddin me Allegiant is in fact a "profitable" company and surely are not a "Mickey Mouse Airline".

Although I am happy to have Direct Air and hope it leads to other announcements, this public charter concerns me. Most likely they do not have alot of cash to whether any bumps in business and I am concerned that their aggressive expansion plans may be too much to handle. Lastly Punta Gorda is no Sanford or for that matter a St Pete's.

Nick K

Good story today, click here. Mall is currently assessed at 2.1 million?? Starting to get very concerned about city finances:

• tax collections need to be slow from all the foreclosures
• ever increasing non-profit tax base
• next assessment will surely have much much lower assessed values
• the airport amongst other issues
• sewer madates
• the beattle

What really is starting to worry me is the Commonwealth's finances and our reliance on local aid. I am quite familiar with the new health reform legislation and I know it is costing much much more then expected and the increase tax on cigarettes is not filling the gap. Throw in the slowing Massachusetts economy and the cost of the big dig, I am expecting a the announcement of a big deficit after the elections of course thus a cut in our local aid.

Cape Air Begins Service in Albany

From MarketWatch. Here is part:

HYANNIS, Mass., Sept 11, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Albany, New York is the newest hub for Cape Air, the New England based regional airline, now offering three daily non-stop flights between the state capital and the three communities of Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown. "All of us at Cape Air are excited to introduce non-stop, convenient and affordable air service to upstate New York and southern Ontario," said Cape Air President Dan Wolf. "With Albany International Airport's direct air service to over a dozen cities Cape Air can provide easy access to the national air transportation network for Massena, Ogdensburg, Watertown and surrounding communities including Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall. We are also looking forward to introducing Cape Air's MOCHA HAGoTDI* brand of service to the area."

Telegram Story On Eric Waldron

Click Here

BOSTON— Management changes are in the air at Worcester Regional Airport today as the current airport manager is leaving the post he has held since 1999 to take a new Massachusetts Port Authority job at Logan International Airport, which will trigger the start of a search for a new airport manager. MassPort spokesman Matthew Brelis confirmed today that Eric N. Waldron, who came to Worcester from Cleveland where he was assistant director of Hopkins Airport, is leaving the Worcester airport job to join the aviation team that manages Logan airport operations. MassPort is expected to begin a search for a new director with the aim of filling the post sometime in the next few months.

It will be the first time the job will be filled by MassPort, since it assumed operation of the airport after Mr. Waldron was hired by former Worcester City Manager Thomas R. Hoover. The change at the top comes as MassPort is raising expectations for expanded operations at the underused regional airport and on the heels of the recent announcement that Direct Air wants to bring regularly scheduled passenger service back to the airport.

Best Case Scenario

Lets for a second assume, Direct Air is a huge success and that we, again for arguements sake, charge for parking. It will have very little effect on on our bottom line. We will still be losing $2,000,000 per year and we still should not be in the airport business.

In other words, although we should do everything we can do to make Direct Air a success, we need to pursue Plans B and C now, not later as we wait for additional studies??

Plan B: Find out how much we would save if we downgraded to only General Aviation. Based on that number, decide if we should downgrade or not.

Plan C: Put an RFP to long-term lease or outright sell ORH. We should be grateful to MassPort, but if they are not willing to take control due to access, guess what? An access road is not coming anytime soon. There are airport management companies and god knows who else that may in fact be interested in ORH. No different then the management company that runs another city owned asset, the DCU Centre.

Then eventually Plan D.

Plan D: If Plan B and Plan C do not work, we can not afford to lose $2,000,000 per year to have Direct Air to fly out of ORH and would need to close ORH and have our local delegations make efforts to waive repayment of past grants given for the airport.

Two Great Blogs on Direct Air

From the

boarding area

upgradetravel better.

More Cities

Add Toledo and Allentown to the new cities services to Direct Air to Florida. This is a very aggressive expansion plan.....

Jet USA

As Tim noticed this was added to the site. It is my understanding that the planes currently used by Direct Air are leased from Jet USA. On the other hand, the planes for the Florida flights will be from Virgin America.

On the web page, "our aircraft" still says JetBlue. This is incorrect.

Direct Air

Announces more cities. In addition to Worcester, they have announced Kalamzaoo, Michigan and Lehigh Valley to Punta Gorda and Sanford after their announcement here. I am trying real hard to support this, but three cities in one week???

Then I read this in Aero-News

The Boston Herald reports Massport agreed to waive all landing, jet bridge and terminal fees for Direct Air for two years, to help the upstart service establish a foothold in the market. The city of Worcester and Massport will also kick in up to $300,000 in federal grant money to promote the carrier's service to Florida.

Remember this was the the 450,000 grant that we got from the DOT 4 years ago that we were suppose to spend in 3 years. Last September we got an extension for one year and now it looks like the 300,000 remaining will be spent of Direct Air.

Lets hope the airport commission 1) reviews all monies planned to be spent on marketing efforts and 2) reviews paid invoices and reimbures Direct Air versus writing a check for the remaining funds to Direct Air.

Parking Fees

All of this discussion got me to thinking about how much money are we talking about. From December of 2005 thru July of 2006 (Allegiant flew August of 2006 and one flight in September), here are the parking numbers ORH broken down between month, total collected, total expenses and net:

12/5 2,350 1,112.91 1,237.09
1/6 3,770 1,196.00 2,574.00
2/6 7,715 2,394,.05 5,350.95
3/6 13,006 3,411.25 9,594.75
4/6 11,879 3,164.70 8,714.30
5/6 6,945 3,124.52 3,820.48
6/6 7,308 2,841.46 4,466.54
7/6 7,217 2,848.04 4,368.96

Totals:Gross Receipts: 60,197
Gross Expenses: 21,092.93
Net Revenues to ORH 40,097.07

Over 8 months approximately $5,000 per month was netted. This is not an insignificant amount, but pales in comparison to a $2,000,000 per year loss. The question that needs to be asked now is:

Is it worth $5,000 per month to advertise FREE PARKING, like other successful secondary airports around the country, to convince people to fly out of ORH?

I think the answer is "yes".

Diane Williamson

I just on her show talking about the airport. Should have posted that earlier, but I was a little nervous. That said she was great and want to thank her for giving me an opportunity to talk about the airport and what I feel should be getting done there.

Thanks

Boston City Council Meetings

As reported on Fox, click here.

Thanks for the link Tim

Paul Colyer

Couple of great posts.

City Council Meeting

Lets hope a councilor will ask or request:

1. How much would be saved at ORH if we downgrade to GA?
2. An RFP to either long-term lease or outright sell ORH?
3. What did Avports say regarding the information that was sent to them?

Direct Air Website

Looks good!

Worcester Business Journal Blog

Entry on Direct Air, click here.

Airport Commission

Congratulations. Versus ratifying agreements, as Chairman Delehaunty mentions, they want to see detailed plans from the company regarding how it runs its business and their marketing plan. Although one would think that they should have seen all of this already, it is good to see that they are asking for it. Kudos to the commissioners.

The website has been changed and when you book a ticket Worcester is now spelled right. Now it is spelled wrong at the top. Evidently another "information technology issue" along with the route map.

Click here for the story.

Direct Air Website Part 2 Today

All the concerns I expressed earlier still have not been fixed?

Direct Air Website

Keep finding more things that concern me:

• under about us, it says JetBlue--they forgot to change it
• currently they are only flying to Myrtle Beach from 4 locations (Pittsburgh, Newark, Plattsburgh and Columbus).
• currently not flying any planes to Florida
• Worcester still spelled Worchester
• flight map not updated
• special offers--Florida not even mentioned as a destination
• News releases, nothing about Worcester

Public Charter

What is it?

Click here

Worcester Airlines

After I explained what Direct Air is, more or less a middle man. My wife asked why we just did not do this on our own. Great question...

You see Direct Air, formerly Myrtle Beach Direct Air, really is not an airline but a public charter. Typically they do not have alot of money and they just put all the pieces together and really do not own anything:

• lease the planes and crew
• rent the call center
• utilize the FBO or the airport at the originating city and destination city to do all the processing of passengers and baggage

Why couldn't the airport powers to be have done this themselves? Could fit well into all the various programs we have Destination Worcester, Choose Worcester, Buy Worcester--Worcester Airlines...

Plan B, C, D for ORH

The other day I was listening to the WCRN Round Table and the "Q" asked Councilor Petty what plan B was, after Councilor Petty said we need to back Direct Air 100% and if that does not work we will work on plan B (more or less that was said). I like Councilor Petty, but when the Q pressed the Councilor what Plan B was, there was not a very clear answer. Let me help you:

1. The Council needs to ask for a report immediately to find out how much would be saved if we downgrade to GA and request to have it by the end of October. That is Plan B.
2. The Council needs to request that an RFP be put together to outright sell or long-term lease the entire airport and request it back to them by November and have it out on the streets by December with a return date of March. Obviously MassPort would get one of the RFP's and they need to reveal their cards once and for all. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I feel we owe a huge debt of gratitude towards MassPort, but they need to either pull the trigger on ORH or not. Waiting for another report like Mr Nemeth suggested is ridiculous. That is Plan C.
3. If there is not a huge savings in Plan B and nobody responds to Plan C then we need to proceed with Plan D--close ORH.

Maybe someone could even ask what Avports had to say after we mailed them the information that they requested.

Parking

I really can not believe we are going to charge for parking (7 per day or 42 per week). We need passengers!!! Once we have a couple of airlines there and the parking lots are full then start charging for parking but now?

Record Day on the Blog

Yesterday

383 unique visitors
731 page loads

Direct Air--Day 2

First off, I am happy that we have commercial service back to ORH. Like other secondary airports that have been able to achieve a certain level of success, you need to start with secondary airlines, show community support and then attract other airlines. I heard, however, yesterday that unlike other successful secondary airports, who offer free parking prominently on their website and other marketing efforts, ORH will charge $7 per day or $42 per week. This is a mistake.

Second, sorry, but I have concerns about Direct Air:

1. Why did they change name from Myrtle Beach Direct Air to Direct Air?
2. Why did they recently drop, what I think would be popular destinations, like St Pete's and Biloxi? Why?
3. Changed from JetBlue to Virgin America, why?
4. Yesterday's website was totally unprepared. It was not until 9:00AM that the site was changed from Myrtle Beach to Direct Air and, from what I could tell, you could not even make reservations on-line to Punta Gorda until 5:00PM. Hardly the preparation one would think would be in place with their major announcement.
5. They had to call in more operators to their telephone center. Maybe if the website was running, less people would have called, or better yet over-staff the telephone center when you make a major annoucement.

Maybe I am being too difficult, but it just does not show alot of preperation? Sorry...

Direct Air Website Update

It looks like it is up and running correctly with DIRECT flights to Punta Gorda/Sanford and no planes to Myrtle Beach yet.

Myrtle Beach Direct Air Now Direct Air

Just clicked on it Myrtle Beach Direct Air.com , like I have done for months, last night and this morning.

It does not go to Myrtle Beach Direct anymore, but goes to pretty much the same sight, the same phone numbers but is now lists Virgina America, not JetBlue, and now calls itself Direct Air. Why did they change names? As a businessman, any time someone changes names, it sends up red flags to me. Do they owe people money?

It also lists Worcester as a City, but the only destination that comes up is Myrtle Beach and Punta Gorda not even listed.

Virgin America--NO

My wife just heard on WXLO that Virgin America is coming to ORH. Let me explain, second tier carriers like Casino, Southern Skyways and Myrtle Beach Direct typically do not own their planes, but lease them. Allegiant is the exception and actually own their own plans, although I believe they lease some others.

In the past Myrtle Beach Direct leased planes from JetBlue, but now they are leasing from Virgin America. Makes you wonder why they switched airlines. Maybe someone should call JetBlue and ask them why? Although technically Virgin America planes themselves will be coming to ORH, it is in fact Myrtle Beach Direct.

Connect to Florida?

If Myrtle Beach Direct plans are to connect through Myrtle Beach to either Punta Gorda and Sanford, people are not going to buy tickets. People will only look at this as an option to go to Myrtle Beach.

In retrospect we should have spent the $300,000 of DOT grant monies keeping Allegiant when we had them. This airline really concerns me.

Myrtle Beach Direct

Although some people think that I consider myself an expert on ORH, I am not even though I slept at a Holiday Inn last night. Made some calls tonight to confirm Casino Air Direct and I do not like the vibes that I am getting? Now I am starting to doubt myself, what if it is not Casino Air Direct?

It only leaves me with one option--Myrtle Beach Direct .

I have had them as a link of my blog and web page for over a year, but they scare me. Why? Well they are based in Myrtle Beach and their management use to be involved with the old Hooters, who owes everyone money. Before that their management was involved with Aviation Advantage, who ran Lehigh Valley Air (owe everyone money) and now Southern Skyways, who seems to be failing everywhere too. Do you see a pattern?

It almost eerie how similar the websites are between Southern Skyways, Myrtle Beach Direct and the former Hooters and Aviation Advantage.... In the end I know beggers can not be choosers and we are about to lose $300,000 in grant monies from the DOT, but lets hope it is Casino Air Direct not Myrtle Beach Direct. Lastly, as far as I can tell, Myrtle Beach Direct does not even fly into St Pete's anymore so where could this SouthWest Florida destination be, Punta Gorda ?

Before I sign off tonight, I am 100% positive that tomorrow one of these two airlines will be announced out of ORH. I personally am hoping for Casino and have huge reservations about Myrtle Beach Direct.

Casino Direct Air

Press Conference tomorrow at 9:00AM at the airport to announce new service. I have been holding out of fear that I would blamed if they decided not to come. For what it is worth, here is my understanding.

Casino Direct Air will be flying a couple of times per week St Pete's . Great news!!! This airline has been doing alot of smaller planes out of St Pete's to Biloxi, but recently signed a deal with Airtran to lease one their larger planes (not sure exactly what kind). Now they will coming to ORH.

In the morning I was depressed after reading WoMag, and now my month long silence is rewarded. Good luck to Casino Air and now we need to support them so more airlines come to ORH.

Casino Direct Air
14700 Terminal Blvd
Clearwater, FL 33762-2936
(727) 828-2270

ORH WoMag Cover Story

Here is the link. Pretty depressing stuff. Couple interesting points:

1. "of the 20 airlines we have spoken to since the IMG report". Really? By review of the airport commission minutes maybe one or two airlines, DJ Airline which never became an airline and Skybus that went out of business, have ever been discussed.
2. Hard to getting in touch with our Airport Director. No surprise here.

Before I go any further. Just read it.

$1,000,000 Rumor

Rumor mill is telling me that the Dream Center on Chestnut Street just got a $1,000,000 donation from the Landsdowne Foundation?

South Worcester Industrial Park Update

Remember the lot that was sold for a dollar to Pharmashpere on the corner of Canterbury and Gardner, where construction was to begin this past March. As far as I know, the terms of coveyance have still not been signed.

FlyLeb.com

Starting November 2nd (there are 6 incoming and outgoing flights per day)!

Cape Air is your window seat to the world and starting November 2nd will be offering new fast flights to Boston’s Logan International Airport from Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Enjoy convenient, daily, fast service to Boston. We have ticket and baggage agreements with most major airlines and this means seamless, stress-free connectionsBook online today and learn more at FlyCapeAir.com or call reservations as 1-800-352-0714.


Effective November 2, 2008Cape Air Flight Schedule PDF

Lebanon Airport5 Airpark Road • West Lebanon, NH • 03784ph (603) 298-8878 • fax (603) 298-5845

Facade Program

This was a complete joke in the City of Worcester for years. Recently mainly with the help of Paul Morano and Jackson Restrepo, they have completely turned the program around. Although I do not know the exact numbers, I would bet that there has been more activity in this program the past 12 months then the prior ten years combined. I have to say that Chandler Business Group helped out alot by working out all the kinks with the successful completion of facades at Suney's and Henry Bahnan's.

Over the week-end I made some comments about my tenant's restaurant, Pupuseria at 82 Pleasant Street. Although we still have a little more work to do, this was also a beneficiary of the Facade Program (new front pictures above). Please note Raymundo is closed on Tuesdays. If you want to learn more about the program, contact Jackson.

Allegiant Airlines

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air did what most other airlines can't seem to do anymore: It reported revenues were up 48 percent to $132 million in the second quarter, in part by scooping up passengers more troubled carriers left behind.

The gain was enough to help Allegiant outrun a 40 percent increase in fuel prices during the last six months. The company's profit, or operating margin, slipped below 4 percent on the quarter, a decrease from a 16 percent margin during the second quarter last year.

Earnings per share were down almost 75 percent for the quarter to 13 cents. That was 1 cent less than Wall Street analysts anticipated, according to one survey. Still, Allegiant officials hailed the fact they made more than they spent while the rest of the domestic airline industry is in shambles. "We can produce strong profit margins at any fuel price," Allegiant CFO Andrew Levy said. "We have the unique ability to be very nimble."

The airline made money by squeezing more people onto each flight, extracting more cash from customers in-flight, flying shorter routes to save fuel and taking advantage of the Las Vegas tourism slump by offering cut-rate deals on hotel and airfare packages. Allegiant officials also believe their business model of flying from small towns to tourist destinations has another advantage because those communities that haven't been hammered as hard as big cities during the real estate and credit market crashes

Hurricane Gustav

Does anyone else see the ironies that the day Paul was to throw his New Orleans party, a hurricane is pounding New Orleans. Then to top it off Paul postpones his party, did he realize a storm was coming and it would be bad taste to throw his party??

City Trash Bags

A business friendly city should reward businesses that sell city trash bags and run it like the lottery. Offer a 1% commission for all bags sold and have a quarterly drawing whereby a business gets a $1,000.

4rilla

Let me recommend this blog today on this labor day, 4rilla is for real.

Airport Commissioner

It really bothers me that I can not be on a local commission like the Airport Board. People can be part of the City Administration and not have to live in the City of Worcester, which I have no problem with. We even had a State Senator, who did not live in Worcester, but I can not serve on a local volunteer board because I live in Holden?

Is this business friendly? Do business in the City of Worcester, pay your taxes but we do not want you serving on any of our boards?

The City of Worcester should change eligibility to read that you need to either live in the City of Worcester, own property or own a business in the City of Worcester. All things being equal the nod should go to the Worcester resident.
Although this is outdated, there were 57 openings on March 7, 2008.

Wormtown Taxi

I have not been blogging as much as reading other blogs. To that end can I plug Jeff at Wormtown Taxi. Really liked his posted on Michael Moore. His documentary, Roger and me, was classic and has steadily gone downhill.

Also there was an interesting interview with Brendan Melican in the last issue of WoMag on blogging.

Buy Worcester

I have been asking various realtors that I know and they say that it has not done much.

Whatever happened to the foreclosure moratium?

Hey seriously what is the name of ORH, was it ever changed to Worcester-Metrowest-Boston Airport?

Downtown

I see two keys for downtown development. First we need more people living downtown. Here are some ideas to accomplish this, lets call it the Hanover Treatment:

1. We need to work on some program where downtown residents get "FREE" access to municipal garages from 6:00PM to 6:00AM during the week and on week-ends.
2. Waive all permitting fees for developers who will build market rental or home ownership opportunities.
3. Lock assessed values of any proposed development for 7 years.
4. Encourage all colleges and other non-profits to offer downpayment and rental assistance to any employees living downtown.
5. Work closely with all the colleges to have some presence downtown. We could even market the city for parents of high school children to come to Worcester and learn about all our different colleges by one trip to downtown.

Airport

It has been a while but here goes:

1. If we downgrade to General Aviation, how much will we be able to save.
2. The 300,000 remaining in the Department of Transportation Grant to recruit and retain air service which expired last September was extended for one year. Did we get another one year extension or did we lose the monies.
3. We need to put together an RFP to outright sell or long term lease ORH.
4. What did Avports say after we mailed them the information that they asked for?
5. When will we know the results of the current negotiations with the airline interested in ORH?

Scott Zobach Worcesteria

THE NOT-QUITE GARAGE: Worcesteria used the new “Garage Mahal” for the first time over the weekend for a daytrip into Boston. A few things we noticed, for what it’s worth.

WHERE TO?: When you leave the garage on the first floor and cross over into Union Station, you end up facing a wall in what used to be Union Station’s back hallway. Now, it’s a main entry point. There’s zero signage there about where to go if you want to find the busport. To your left is the sign that reads “Parking Lot,” to the right is a security office with a hallway that leads to the general station — but nothing tells you that. If you don’t know your way, it could become a guessing game.

I GOTTA PAY FOR THIS?: Yes, the parking costs are clearly displayed when you enter the garage. But on the way out, the sign reminding and directing customers to pay in the garage “lobby” is located on a support beam ten feet above your head. So while we noticed it, the eight cars that were clustered at the exit trying to get out without paying (or figuring out how to pay) obviously weren’t as observant. Mayhem. And it wasn’t just them. At least four other people asked directions to get to the “lobby,” which was right in front of them.

HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THIS? Worcesteria went to the pay lobby, walked up to the automated machines and — wait a minute. No credit cards accepted at this time? “Sorry for the inconvenience.” OK, no biggie. There’s still the ATM in Union Station. Back to the doors to the station and — wait a minute. They’re locked. If you take the last train in from Boston on a Saturday night and get in at midnight and don’t have cash on you, get ready to explore the Canal District looking for an ATM. (For the record, we’d like to thank the stragglers leaving the station who, sensing our frustration, held the doors for us to get back in.)

City Square Video

Click here

CitySquare

????????

Airline??

There is an airline thinking of coming to Worcester, that is a fact. Are they coming--do not know. Know this, however, if they want to get the winter traffic to Florida they need to announce in September so they will be ready for November-April. Here is hoping that we get some good news next month on ORH.

Mower Street

I was just over there, running something over for my mom. The road was being repaved? I swear I do not know how they prioritize this stuff, but I can think of about 100 roads that are in worse shape. One of my latest worst streets in the city of Worcester is Birch Street between Maywood and Oliver.

Also how about the sidewalk on Main and Pleasant Street, is that City money and was there anything wrong with the sidewalks to begin with? Lastly lots of work going on at 915 Pleasant Street.

Ti Nova

Remember they were bought out earlier this year by a restaurant owner from the North End? well, they should be opening soon. The rumor mill is alive and well.

New Bedford Airport

Saw this story in the Boston Globe, click here: Here is part,


Mayor Scott W. Lang is trying something that might not fly: He's lobbying small, regional airlines to launch service from here to Boston's Logan International or Warwick's T.F. Green International airports. To some, it might seem absurd to fly for 20 to 25 minutes between New Bedford Regional Airport and Boston instead of driving the 60 miles, and even more so for the 40-mile trek to Warwick, R.I.

But commercial air service from New Bedford to one of the two cities would mean South Coast residents could catch connecting flights in Boston or Warwick and avoid traffic, expensive airport parking, and long lines at security checkpoints. Not to mention, it could turn New Bedford's tiny airport into a better economic engine for an old whaling town trying to attract more biotechnology manufacturing, alternative energy, and marine science and technology companies.
"It adds a tremendous amount of convenience," said Lang, who in his State of the City address proclaimed 2008 would be the "year of the airport." The airport already is being used more: Corporate jet operations are up 66 percent in the past year and Bridgewater State College is opening a flight academy there this fall.

"There's a real niche for a place like New Bedford, to go through a smaller airport to a hub."
But starting new service may not be on the radar for an industry crushed by record-high fuel prices and huge losses. "Carriers, if anything, are trying to determine which airports and routes to eliminate, rather than add," said Darin Lee, aviation economist for consulting firm LECG. "It would be difficult to make it commercially viable with today's fuel costs."

Still, there's some demand for the service. Agostinho Amado commuted between his Taunton home and Boston office - which could take two hours one way during rush hour - before opening an immigration services business in New Bedford in 2007. "I wouldn't mind paying $150 to $200 round trip" to fly between New Bedford and Boston, said Amado, 57. "Traffic makes you upset

Councilor Rushton Blogging

Rushton blog

July Airport Commission

I do not even report on this anymore since there is never any information of worth. If you want click here for the July minutes. One thing, however, Tim DeSantis is off the commission as of July 31st so there is an opening for any of your Worcester resident bloggers.

I can not be on the board of the Worcester "Regional" Airport because I do not live in the City of Worcester. Live in Holden. On the other hand you can be a State Senator and live in Boston.

This really needs to be looked at. We need to consider making eligible applicants either be city residents or owning property in the City of Worcester. If all things are equal, then the position should go to the city resident.

South Worcester Industrial Park Parcel Watch

As far as I know the terms of conveyance (TOC) still have not been agreed upon. Once they are agreed upon the winning bidder still has 90 days to sign the deed.

This is the parcel, whereby the winning bidder, Pharmasphere, was awarded the parcel for $1 over an abutter who offered $50,ooo and was suppose to start construction this past March.

Hanover Theatre Parking

Yesterday I had a chance to chat and sip some coffee with Jahn. One of the things we discussed was the use of the City-owned parking garage by the Hanover Theatre. Here is the story in the Telegram, click here.

This is the most interesting part:

He said the board recognized the value to the city of the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts by offering the theater 400 parking spots in Federal Plaza for 80 nights a year at $1 per space. He said the theater charges $10 for those parking spaces, which he said allows the theater a potential profit of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

I would have no problem with this if the Hanover turned around and rented these spots for $1, but to mark them up 1000%. Keep in mind this is the same entity that claimed that had all their permitting fees waived and the assessed value of their properties locked in for 7 years.

Here is a quote from Mayor Lukes:

. “It’s clear the city has to give incentives to anyone willing to invest downtown. We have been discussing the development of downtown Worcester for the last 20 years.”

We do?? The only one , who has got incentives to invest downtown is the Hanover Theatre. What if they were able to work out a program whereby downtown residents could access the city owned parking garages from 6:00PM to 6:AM for free during the week and on the week-ends? What if the City of Worcester waived permitting fees and locked in assessed values for 7 years for everyone??

Dangers of Playing Baseball Inside

Why you should not play baseball inside a liquor store after closing, click here.

Paulie's Bash

How about some exact times and date, I want to plan appropriately.

Dick Chernisky Letter to the Editor

The Elm Street neighborhood leaders have made a terrible mistake in supporting the Housing

First program at 62 Elm St. First, you don’t put a flophouse for drunkards in the middle of an up-and-coming neighborhood that’s needed to expand the city’s tax base.

Second, you don’t give free food and shelter to drunkards who refuse to submit to mandatory treatment or do one day’s work.

Third, there’s nothing Christian about dumping all social misfits on Worcester and letting surrounding towns escape doing their fair share.

The task force’s plan to end homelessness is a stupid plan. Why? The answer is that the plan calls for the development of 600 units to be dumped in Worcester. None will be located in surrounding towns. Six hundred units is on par with the number of units at the Great Brook Valley housing project. Dumping 600 units, housing drunks, junkies, prostitutes and welfare families into our neighborhoods is absolutely insane.

Remember, SMOC, Healthlink, Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts and the Housing Alliance want to trash city neighborhoods. The City Council is wondering why Worcester is losing its city employees to the towns. Service providers and housing mongers are driving out our productive people.

For example, a writer talked with a firefighter who lives in Worcester. This firefighter informed me that he worked with seven other firefighters, all of whom live outside of Worcester. Worcester is also losing the people who finance the city. Councilors should wake up before Worcester ends up like Springfield.

RICHARD L. CHERNISKY Worcester

Genesee Cream Ale

Still make it. Here is the website with history and all. In Worcester it is one of the cheaper 30 pacs you can buy along with Coors Extra Gold or Pabst. If you ask me one of the best deals you can get out 20 pacs of Busch and Busch Light 20 pac bottles at 9.99 plus deposit at Randell Package Store.

Social Service Programs

I owned and lived at 41 Richmond Ave for 4, or was it 5 years. We had one three decker around the corner (going towards Flagg Street), another next to the the pizza place down the street (name escapes me) and another one past that, which was recently torn down and replaced. Not to mention the new building next to Flagg Street school.

To be honest I have no idea, who ran any of them or even who their customers were. They did a great job at all of these places and fit right into the fabric of the neighborhood. Once the three decker around the corner from me had a problem and they sent a note out apologizing to everyone.

Before anyone accuses me of being against all of these programs, I am not. There are alot of good social service programs that serve a need and make our community a better place to live. On the other hand, there are others that are not run so well!!!

I do feel, however, that tax-paying neighbors need to know exactly what is going on. Matter of fact I think one of the main recommendations of the task force for sitting social service programs was the notification of abutters as to exactly what is being proposed.

Lastly, in retrospect I may have jumped the gun on this by posting the contents of this e-mail from my source without doing more homework. My fault and it will not happen again.

915 Pleasant Street

Rumor mill is cranking today. I was dropped an e-mail about 915 Pleasant Street up near Flagg, next to the house with the garage doors that face the street. Big old house siting n over 28,000 square feet of land.

Heard a social service agency bought the house and plans on housing a program there. Not substantiated--anyone know about this??

New Hooka Bar

Rumor has it new Hooka Bar planned for lower Pleasant Street. Gabe, or anyone, can you explain this to me again.

Comments

I have added moderation.

Comment Moderation

I just went on Gabe's blog again it is good stuff, you need to read. Noticed after trying to post some comments that Gabe has "comment moderation". Basically he needs to approve comments ,before they post.

I have never done this ,but this may change. Yesterday and today I deleted about ten comments from Will from Wonderland, aka Chris, aka anonymous--all the same person. Basically he calls me a hypocrite and asks why do I do this since there are only 5 people reading this blog, while attacking various city councilors personally.

He keeps trying to post it time and time again, while making other disparaging comments about me. My mother in law is in town and I have had pretty much my fill of disparaging comments this week.

Do not expect everyone to agree with me, in fact it is actually more fun when people disagree and make some real good arguements. In the end I may need to add "comment moderation".

Police Station Future BioResearch Space?

Found this article in BioregionNews. Too long to get into details here and you will have to subscribe, but here is a short part. I recommend that you read this.

Timothy McGourthy, Worcester’s director of economic development, told BioRegion News last week the study was intended as a long-range guide to “looking at those spaces in terms of their potential for higher and better uses.”

The strategic plan offered two redevelopment options for the city’s police HQ, a low-rise, modernist-style concrete fortress completed in the 1970s:

1. Two buildings containing 220,000 square feet of R&D space, plus 200,000 square feet of offices, 32,500 square feet of retail space, and 1,044 parking spaces; and
2. Three buildings containing 147,000 square feet of R&D space, plus 214,900 square feet of offices, 16,000 square feet of retail space, and 875 parking spaces.
   

The city could not advance either scenario without first acquiring a site for a new police home base, a process McGourthy acknowledged would likely take several years given its cost and the need to relocate all police functions somewhere else.

“Something like the police station building, we’re looking at 10 to 15 years [into the future], minimum,” McGourthy said.

Gabe's Blog

Check it out, I particularly like the block by block section and how did I miss the Austrialian Performance Troupe? I must admit, however, I am disappointed in the David Simon's new effort or maybe the Wire was impossible to match.

Gabe's blog

Tim Niles

Good guy. He has worked for me a few different times and I have even rented him an apartment. Why am I mentioning this? Matter of fact there was a picture of him in the newspaper a week ago standing in waist high water directing traffic. Needless to say he is one of a kind.

Check out the story in the Telegram. I am speechless.

Chamber of Commerce

Where are they on this ??? Nowhere to be found.

It really should not be us bloggers or the City Council, but the Chamber of Commerce that makes sure things like this do not become an issue.

Street Vendor Finale

Got to say of all the points and comments have really made me think. Don't get me wrong I still don't agee with many, but great arguements. The last thing I would want is everyone to agree with each other.

How is this then.... After everything I have read:

1. Boston plan. If the abutting businesses within "x" amount of feet have no problem then allow a street food vendor to sell their products.
2. $200 per year to operate a business in the City of Worcester is ridiculous. We need to increase the annual fee to $1,000.
3. Enforce all the existing codes to ensure the existing food vendors are in compliance.
4. If any food vendors have a track history of problems after midnight require a police detail.

Bill

Deleted Comments

I just deleted some comments from Will. I am not going to allow people to attack other people hiding behind a clown's picture. This is not the Telegram on-line comment section.

If you want to be factually critical of someone that is fine, but you can not be anonymous.

Street Vendors

I kid you not the main story on the front page of today's paper in about street vendors. Just to add to the effect of the plight of the street vendors, they even had Danny of Danny's Dogs stand behind his cart in front of his home to take a picture.

I am not making light of this, since I am sure that Danny and others have sunk alot of time and money into their businesses. I have a couple questions maybe someone can answer:

1. Are they subject to annual inspections by health & code?
2. If they sell milk, or other items that require a permit by a convenience store, do they have to have a permit?
3. What is the annual permit fee to operate this business?
4. What do they do with the grease?
5. Do they pay any taxes on their equipment like other businesses do?

This past week-end I went to Providence to see the Fire Water, although there were vendors selling lights and other items there was nobody selling food except in on specific area down by the financial district. Their reasoning must be that if you want to get something to eat, they want you to go to one of the restaurants. Can you argue with that?

I only wish the same coverage and attention was given to 1)City Square, 2) the Airport and the 3) the proliferation of low income housing that is taking over the core of our city. Stay tuned for tomorrow's story in the Telegram on a party on Southgate Place announcing the two million dollar grant for the seven million dollar three story 19 unit low income apartment building.

City Builders Housing Project

Story in Telegram today. Here is my review:

1. "affordable" housing means low income
2. 19 apartments will cost 7 million. Now add the purchase price of $500,000 and that comes to $7.5 million or 394,736 per apartment.
3. no timetable has been set. In other words although $2 million has been committed there is still $5 million needed and nobody has any idea when this will come in.
4. This is in fact the second project by SWNIC. The organization did recently complete complete a $2 million dollar project on Hacker and Cambridge, but only 3 of 11 units were sold and Holy Cross came in as the guarantor on the 1st mortgage

This project initially requested all sorts of variances, but when the neighbors came in opposition the project was scaled back to avoir any variances. Although better housing is needed in this area, a story story 19 unit low income apartment building is not what the neighbors had in mind.

I can state this not only as a "silly" blogger, but as the owner of a three family that directly abuts this project.

Nick K & Dianne Williamson

Just read both of their stories in the Telegram, pretty depressing but accurate. Maybe at the next City Council meeting we can find out a couple answers about the airport:

1. Assuming we do not get the airline that we are talking with, how much would we save if we downgraded to General Aviation?
2. Did we get another one year extension that is expiring this September to spend the remaining $300,000 of grant monies from the DOT to attract and retain commercial service?
3. Why can't we put together an RFP to outright sell or long term lease the airport?
4. What did Avports have to say after receiving the information from the City of Worcester?

I am sure, however, none of this will come up.

Fire Water

I am not going to elaborate too much, I do not want to bum Paul out or be told that comparing to Worcester to Boston/Providence is not fair. I spent alot of time in Providence during my college years (82-86) with my roommate from Warwick. Providence was not much better then Worcester then, today there is no comparison.

Towards the end of the night, one person on the other side of the Blackstone River jumped in, very much like Jenny in Forest Gump. This person was screaming something other then Forrest, but I could not make it out until the person next to me said that it sounded like "silly blogger" then I noticed the Z Cavarice Jeans. Thats right, yours truly Harry Tembenis.

Actually did not bump into him last night, but we did have breakfast with Harry and his wife on Federal Hill today. The possibilities are endless in Worcester, but if we could only straighten out this street vendor problem.

If you have never seen Fire Water, I strongly recommend it but stay over at one of the many fine hotels. We stayed at the Westin that had a walkway right into Providence Place. The weird thing about Providence, however, is that signs that say Art District, you can actually find art?

Providence

Heading down to the Waterfire tonight. Pictures to follow. By the way I was able to to get a preliminary glimpse of chez Paul Collyer this week. Look forward to the bash.

Big party Tuesday to announce the new location income housing project on Armory/Southgate.

Under Construction

1. Burwick Furniture on Main Street
2. May Street
3. Gardner, Kilby & Hammond

Awaiting Construction

1. Mason Street
2. Piedmont Street
3. Armory/Southgate
4. 93 Grand Street

Recently Finished

1. Cambridge Street/Hacker
2. Standish
3. Odd Fellows

Amogst all of this low income housing projects, is there any private market driven new construction? Nope.

South Worcester Industrial Park Update

Remember earlier in the year, when a parcel of land on the Canterbury and Grand Street was awarded to Pharmasphere? Click here to read the article from the Telegram this past January. Their bid of $1 won over a $50,000 bid of an abutting manufacturer, since the long term potential was seen as being better and they would move quickly starting construction in March.

Today is August 14th and the terms of conveyance, a fancy way of saying working out the details once the award is given, have still no been signed although the underlying RFP required this to be done within 30 days. Even when the terms of conveyance have been signed, there is an additional 90 days allowed for the actual deed to be signed. In other words the parcel still has not been conveyed.

For full disclosure, I am biased on this since I thought the abutting mfg deserved the award since 1) they were an abutter and was 2) paying $50,000 versus $1. Putting that aside, this parcel should have been transferred by now earning tax revenue for the the City of Worcester as the terms specified or the RFP should have been redone.

South Worcester--More Low Income Housing

E-mail I received yesterday from Ron Charette, Executive Director of the South Worcester Neighborhood Center, regarding a proposed three story 20 unit low income housing project on the corners of Armory and Southgate Street (former City Builders):


I received a telephone call today from both Joanne McGuirk of DHCD and Senator Augustus's office to inform me the SWNIC has been awarded approx. 1.8 million in subsidies and 393,000 in low interest tax credits to construct the rental units on Armory Street.

So many to thank for the effort in securing these funds. Sen. Augustus, Rep. Fresolo, the City, our partners at Horne and Johnson and of course the neighborhood support for this project.
Our Southgate Place project is moving! More and better details will follow in the coming days.

Ten years of dreaming about to come true!!

ron

Implaccable

There was a story in the newspaper today about the neighbors accepting the homeless program on 62 Elm Street. The reporter referred to the neighbors as being "seemingly implaccable."

Should neighbors asking for no sex offenders and 24 hour supervision at the shelter be referred to as being implaccable? They sound pretty reasonable to me.

University Park Lofts Blog

Check out this blog out especially their latest addition. Here is a group of people who are trying to make the best of a difficult situation. As a potential investor in this building I take this blog quite seriously and the realtors and new owners should do the same.

Some will call blogging silly but it can be quite powerful. Please check out the latest blog and the flooding in the basement would you buy a unit? By the way the flooding problem has been in existence for three years--at least.

Blogger Week

After check up my friend Paul I read 4Rilla and Gabe's blog. Sorry I do not catch up on other blogs enough, but man there is some good material out there.

Right now I am tired. This week I will hi-light a new blog each day and change the lings on my blog. Got to tell you, I am pretty impressed.

Keep up the good work.

Paul Collyer Blog

No excuses. I have not caught up on Paul for a couple weeks. The guy is on a roll.. Check up on him.

Kudos to Noah Bombard

Great story in WoMag this week on the Shifting Population in our schools. Here is my favorite line:

"Nearly two thirds (65.2%) of Worcester's students are from low-income families. Ten years ago that percentage was slightly less then 48%. "

In ten years the percentage of students from low-income families has increased over 17%!! That is unreal. Do you think maybe we should stop building more low-income housing? Must read story!!

Save Our Pools

Behind Faneiul Hall, where the old Interstate overpass use to be, there are brand new parks, gardens, benches and a spray park. My daughter pictured to the left had a great time.

Compare the cost to maintain this to one of our city pools? Guess what no lifeguards.

At the Boston Commons last week-end they had a spray park pool pictured above.

This whole Save Our Pools issue reminds me of the pocket park on Pleasant and Winslow. We would all love to pools and pocket parks everywhere, but there is a question of annual maintenance and future capital improvements. We need to be realistic.

What do you think would get more use on the Worcester Commons a Skating Rink or a Spray Park/Spray Park Pool?

Yesterday's Traffic

198 Visitors
396 page loads

most ever

Airport Free Zone

Although this is suppose to a airport free zone for the month of August, there is a story in the Telegram today about the City Council wanting to look into long term alternatives for ORH.

Before I comment. The reason this is an airport free zone this month is that the airport is in negotiations with an airline to maybe have service this winter season. If they decided to come then we should keep the airport Part 139 certified.

That said, this committee should be looking into:

1. The cost savings to downgrade to General Aviation if we do not get this airline.
2. Putting together an RFP to long-term lease or outright sell ORH and market it extensively.

Not saying that looking into long-term alternatives is a bad idea but what about short-term alternatives?

Businesses that have Left Worc

Is it time to update the list?

UNUM to Move in City

Today's headline in the Telegram. Let me tell you right now there is no way they are going to stay in the City of Worcester. Where are you going to find space and parking for 700 people?

Maybe a better question will be what is going to happen to the space that they leave behind. Maybe a CDC will come in and turn it into low income/affordable housing. Best part is that the welfare offices are right next door.

On another note I walked downtown working late last night to grab a couple things from CVS. Tried to open the doors, but they were closed. What time was it? 7:15Pm--it closes at 7:00PM.

95 Grand Street

Note the attached article from the Worcester Business Journal, click here. The same realization should have been made on May Street. Bottom line is that private developers realize that some of these projects simply make no sense and only an organization that can receive grant monies from the Commonwealth for low/affordable housing can make the numbers work. Notice who owns 93 Grand Street, what do you think will be put in there?

Sunday in Boston

I went over to Southie and parked the car at the L Street beach. They have a great walk there called the harborwalk, highly recommend it. About mile, mile and 1/2 in you can reach the point and Fort Independence. After the Fort, there is a place to grab a hot dog and drink--Sullivan's.

Only bad thing about the walk is that every 30-45 seconds a plane flies right over on their approach to Logan. Actually get use to the sound, but during my walk I saw more planes land in Boston then have landed the last 5 years at ORH.

No lie I saw 6, maybe 7, Cape Air shuttles.

Sunday Arrivals at ORH

Arrivals (More)
Ident	Type	From	Depart	Arrive
N84CQ	BE20	La Guardia (KLGA)	05:02p EDT	05:35p EDT
EJA885	H25B	Newark Liberty Intl (KEWR)	04:30p EDT	05:06p EDT
N530PU	P28R	Boire Field (KASH)	12:26p EDT	12:53p EDT
SGB147	B732	Manchester (KMHT)	11:10a EDT	11:27a EDT
N8135V	SR22	Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)	09:29a EDT	09:35a EDT

Private Investments

We need to somehow stimulate private investments in our downtown core. Here are some ideas:

• target an area downtown, or anywhere in need of development, and clearly delineate the boundaries
• lock in current assessed values for any approved project for ten years
• waive all permitting fees and water & sewerage connection fees
• if there are any monies from the State or Federal Gov't that require any portion of the project to be low income, the project is not eligible
• 80% of the project must be residential
• require minimum size for the project
• encourage the colleges and other non-profits to provide down payment assistance for anyone buying into any of these projects

Something like this would truly give someone a reason to Buy Worcester.

Saturday Morning In Boston

I got up early Saturday and walked out of my hotel, off Faneuil Hall, for a coffee. After grabbing my coffee, I decided to take a walk, which ended up going through the old downtown crossing, combat zone ( no longer exists), chinatown and back through the financial district.

Although I was thinking of a peaceful quiet walk, comparing the current Boston versus the Boston I remembered when I went to college between 1982-1986, it was the complete opposite. The sidewalks may not have bussled with people going to work, but every single block had construction. This is no exaggeration I could not find a block that did not have construction workers, sidewalks blocked to raise steel beems, a crew were filming a motion picture (The Surrogates with Bruce Willis) and cranes were everywhere.

There was one major difference between this construstion and the construction that goes in Worcester. This was private construction!! Think about it-- Federal Courthouse, local Courthouse, Union Station, Parking Garages, Centrum, Convention Center, Gateway, Hanover Theatre, CDC projects or Ice skating rinks on the Common. All public.

The combat zone was entrenched in this area for years and now you can not see a trace, except for the Glass Slipper down the same side street. Maybe the big difference between Boston and Worcester is the reliance on private, not public, investments?

Coming back to Worcester I saw a sign on 290 that said Worcester Cultural District Exit 16-18, can anyone tell me what this means? If someone pulled up to on the sidewalk and ask how to get to the Worcester Cultural District what would you say?

Boston Duck Tours

Highly recommend next time you are in Bostonat dusk (7PM to 8:25PM) . Our conducktor, Seargeant Meatball, was awesome and had an incredible knowledge of Boston and the history of the entire route. In addition he looked and sounded slightly similarity in appearance to one Paul Collyer.

Lastly I did not see one low income housing development by a CDC during the whole route, instead the route was litered with high end condo and rental projects. I did see, however, several spray parks including one behind Faneuil Hall.

People

Maybe it was Jahn, who said the the problem for Rovezzi's was that the City of Worcester does not have enough people who want to frequent an upper scale restaurant like this.

Tonight and tomorrow night, my wife, daughter and I have come down to Boston right on Faneuil Hall. Real nice and I have walked around here at noon, this afternoon and at night. I simply amazed by the number of people.

When all the projects are done on May Street, the Burwick Furniture Building, Piedmont Street, Mason-Winfield, Grand Street, Armory and whatever low income projects that are on the drawing are done (trust me there are more this is big business), nothing will improve. We are literally talking 100 million dollars.

RKG said 6 years that we need to build upscale housing and to stop the over reliance on CDC's and low income housing. They were so right. When will anyone listen??