Entreprenuers driving renaissance in Detroit, so what about Batavia?

I could very well be wrong, but from what I understand about Detroit, for the past 10-15 yrs, businesses have been driven out of detroit, thus the population. Now there is an abundance of vacant buildings, thus CHEAP places to locate/relocate your business and a plethera of elgible workers. What is the difference between Detroit and Batavia? Cheap, vacant buildings and a elgible workforce...Genesee County is still between 8-9% unemployment.

You're not wrong. About 1 million people have fled Detroit since the 50's, leaving the city with huge areas of blight and a deficit in the neighborhood of $100 million dollars this year alone. If you're going to follow Detroit's plan, what parts of residential Batavia should be bulldozed first?

Who wants to go in on a Microbrewery? General Upton Ale and Oliver's Wort sound cool to me but I want to brew "The Batavian" a mellow crisp hoppy hippy tart sweet smooth Winter Ale with a 12% alcohol content that sells for $7 a bottle wholesale. "If you can concieve it and believe it, you can achieve it." Decent locally brewed beer pulls in $160 plus per 15.5 gallon keg. Specialty beers like "The Batavian" can sell for three times that much. I'm kidding about doing it myself but I'm not kidding about the potential or what fine beers and ales sell for. We aint talking Genny Cream Ale here folks.

Is Batavia in need of a renaissance? I don't see anything that resembles Detroit out my window.

George - Howard's from Cali, I'm guessing he's more of a wine person. I could be wrong though. :)

"how do we as a community stimulate growth"? my suggestion would be to cut governement spending (Albany and schools) and lower taxes (Corporate and property) thus allowing businesses an ultra-competitive place to locate their business...thus jobs that pay as much to their employees as they do to the govt.

"We as a community" need to define what Batavia is before people will risk their money investing money in ventures they hope will succeed.
We are a community that enjoys dining out - that is already a given. How many more restaurants (of any size) can we support?
Are we a tourist attraction? Is that the route we should go?
Are we a quaint small city where people enjoy a quiet life? Then there are ventures that would fit.
Are we an upscale community offering a high end lifestyle? That would attract other businesses.
We don't know what we are, and without that information it is difficult to find the ventures that will make an impact.

I might not be remembering correctly, but I thought that the name Batavia meant "meeting place". It's motto is "Community of Opportunity".

Put these things together and make Batavia a place for tourists and corporations East and West of us to converge. Keep the ice rink and the ballpark and go out hunting for groups that would want to come here for an experience. We have the Stuart Steiner center for performing arts, The Batavia Players, the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, LeRoy's Jello Factory, we're in close proximity to Darien Lakes, and we have some wonderful restaurants.

Forget the mayor for now, nobody around here can agree on anything. Forget consolidation and work on the City of Batavia. The Town is doing just fine on its own.

My opinion is that Batavia needs to hire a PR person or create a PR group and get this place on the map. We really do have a little bit of everything here and are in close proximity to 2 larger cities, and 2 of the Great Lakes.

Lori,
You are preaching to the choir.
We have the Chamber and business and industrial development groups that are suppose to do just what you recommend.
I often wonder exactly how they market the city of Batavia and Genesee County.
What do they perceive to be our area's identity?
Yes, we do have a little bit of everything. Can it be that it is this very diversity that is the stumbling block?
Some places looked at their heritage and chose to focus on ONE thing that would put them on the map.
A good example is Holland, Michigan http://holland.org/
Read the article about things to do in Holland, and imagine that it could be Batavia.
I wish I had more time to expand this thought. It will be a busy afternoon preparing for tonight's festivities.
Wishing you all a happy New Year.

I was actually thinking of corporations in the sense that they would want to hold meetings here. Honestly, I don't feel that the powers that be want industry here. If they did, they would be here.

I'm not in favor of a PR firm, I would rather see a native Batavian or a few (that's what I meant by a group), hired as employees. We would be putting a few people to work, and as long as there are standards set to their job duties, they could be let go if they weren't bringing folks to our City for meetings, etc.

I think we have been a "bedroom community" for a long time. People would live here but work elsewhere. I can't see that changing. So bring visitors to us by promoting our proximity to what I named above.

A couple of years ago I had the idea to open an ice cream stand and went through all the hoops. My idea was approved at planning board meetings and I felt very supported by the Health Department. My location floorplan was approved as a part of this, but all of a sudden I was told "I want to see the place in person". So I'm "approved", then they want to see the place in person, and I'm denied. The reason??? It "LOOKED too small". Are you kidding me?

My second attempt went similarly. The site was great, but suddenly I would have to put in a handicapped accessible bathroom even if I only had seating for 2 people. The rules changed every time I turned around. I was told that no other ice cream business was coming to town, then Cold Stone showed up in the blink of an eye.

Batavia does not want small businesses to succeed. I was ready, willing, and able to go for it and was shut down cold in my tracks. And opening in downtown would be out of the question as far as I'm concerned. There isn't any parking, and nobody would walk with their family down Main Street for an ice cream cone. Rental prices were completely ridiculous, too. One site had been vacant for over 5 years, yet they were completely unwilling to negotiate on their price.

If I were to ever consider opening a small business again, it certainly would not be in Batavia. So while I want people to come here, it's only to help with the taxes.

Bea, I know I'm preaching to the choir. It's sad, isn't it?

One more thought before I tackle the shrimp; cocktail sausage; relish tray, etc.
Corporate meeting places don't need to be big or lavish. When I worked for Kodak, one of the favorite places for corporate meetings for Eastman Pharmaceutical (later, Sterling Drug) was a bed and breakfast just outside of Albany.
It was located in the middle of the community (picture those big homes on East Main St.) within walking distance to the business district.
The bedrooms were clean, but small. The service impeccable. The meeting rooms were just large enough to conduct business. Breakfast was served at 7:30am; lunch at noon. The lunch menu never varied from day to day. An amazing reuben sandwich, home made chips, a dill pickle and just baked chocolate chip cookies.

Another example of an area that reinvented themselves is Goshen, Indiana in Elkhart County.
"Elkhart County is the home of the recreational vehicle industry, which makes up 23% of this area's employment. Elkhart County is fortunate to have a high concentration of good paying manufacturing jobs. In fact, Elkhart County has the highest percentage in the country of total workforce employed in manufacturing. The city of Goshen actually maintains a low unemployment rate that is consistently at least one percentage point lower than the national average"
It celebrates it's location and it's ability to keep their residents employed. http://www.goshen.org/dynaPages.php?cid=73
I've been there and I can tell you they came up with a win/win solution.
Their industry didn't dilute the agricultural footprint, but celebrates it.
Okay, back to the kitchen, again :)

The flip side- I had the opportunity to sample opinion of non-resident businessmen who had stayed in Batavia while attending a meeting. "There's nothing to do!" "The sidewalks roll up at 7!" "The place is dead!" When they asked around, the unanimous recommendation was Playmates in South Byron. Apparently, unlimited access to pizza was not what they had in mind.

C.M.!!!!
I'm never going to get to that kitchen. lol
Happy New Year, by the way.
That same complaint is aired about Buffalo. Nothing to do.
I guess it depends on what one wants to do.
Yes, we have limited night life.
However, when planning a meeting, it is up to the organizers to make sure that they provide adequate information on what to do and where one might go while in the area.
So, partial blame for leaving attendees to their own devices falls on those who plam the event.
If it is a business person who is just passing through and spending the night, then the hotel should have a list of events from which the traveler can chose.
Just saying...

I'd go with an artistic theme. We have the Batavia Players, GO ART, the Rotary show, the music in Jackson Square, the Ramble and the GCC performing arts center. The new theater on Harvester Ave. will also open soon.

If they could all coordinate and with some PR, that might be one answer. And there would be very little government involvement, giving it a better chance to succeed.

Bea, I don't dispute your claim. Hotels DO have an obligation to their guests. Part of this is urban planning, though. In the past, hotels were located in the center, surrounded by restaurants, theaters, shops and the businesses attendant to visiting clients. The current model is to locate accommodations in the fringe areas, relying on local transportation (bus and taxi) for personal logistics. Business offices have also drifted away from what used to be called the business district.

In a city such as Batavia- sans dedicated bus or taxi service, visitors are shuttered in a hotel room. If downtown merchants desire the business of guests at any of the hotels or motels, they are dependent upon an exceptional level of aggressive pursuit on the part of their potential customers. Even an informed guest would be put off by a two mile trudge through WNY weather given the questionable level of gratification awaiting at, say, City Centre.

If Batavia intends to attract visitors, it must provide attractions to visit. With the majority of downtown establishments closed after 5 PM, I question how attractive the city could be to someone from Akron, Ohio pondering a visit. As an example of idiotic urban planning, I submit Rochester, NY- a city that attempted to boost itself through the vicarious thrill of Toronto, Ontario; built a port facility miles from its city-center and sunk millions in water transportation that no one availed (besides being out of service during winter).

Batavia has to anchor itself in the minds of outsiders as a unique and comprehensive destination before anyone will consider bringing their hard-earned cash here. HLOM and the race track are examples of attractions- they, alone, are not enough, though. Likely anyone who finds one or the other attractive, will not find both attractive. I've always felt that a mega outlet mall would be an incredible boost for Batavia. It would be well-placed between Buff/Roch/Canada to earn a respectable flow of business. There, again, if it is placed on the outskirts of the city, some magnet must lure visitors downtown.

...To make the whole concept truly comprehensive, Batavia (a genuine hub) links up as partner with outlying communities (as foreign travel bureaus do) providing links to bed and breakfasts, day trips to Bergen Swamp, Holley/Medina canal tours, Ontario fishing junkets, Letchwork Park, LeRoy eateries, Kutters Cheese shop, etc. etc. etc.

It's also our poor luck to have the HOLM located away from downtown. To build on the historic HOLM theme is hard given its location, far from the city center.

The artistic theme sounds pretty workable, John, we have much to build on here. I'm also thinking of a "green" component. Since we in WNY use a lot of energy in the winter time, some sort of an indoor/outdoor venue that provides people a reason to visit, such as.....I hate to say it, but a mall (bad word for Batavia) but can also showcase innovative energy ideas from local entrepreneurs. I don't have anything specific in mind, but Phil is quite correct that a forward looking vision has to be a part of any renaissance, which basically means re-birth.

Maybe a re-birth of the City Centre albatross idea; playing with the cards the 70's dealt us. Lemonade from lemons, etc etc

Mall of America is the model of a successful enterprise.
http://www.mallofamerica.com/shopping/directory
They have FOUR keystone stores - all brand names. The list of stores (400+) would certainly be the draw to Batavia.

The Morgantown Outlet Mall is another example of a good attraction.
http://www.outletbound.com/cgi-bin/enh_center.cgi?geocity=8N8FPNSX&stat…

The Eastwood Mall is one of the largest and most diverse shopping centers in the state of Ohio. The total complex is one of the largest in the United States. Eastwood Mall Complex is viewed as more than merely a shopping destination. With the addition of a 6,300-seat minor league stadium (10,000 for concerts), 55,000 sq.ft. Exposition Center, hotels, theatres, and concept restaurants, Eastwood Mall Complex has emerged as the hub for entertainment within the Mahoning Valley
http://www.eastwoodmall.com/tourist/index.ch2

Sadly, we have to think outside the box. We have to realize that the big named stores are vital to the success of such an attraction. Our local businesses are wonderful, but basing a mall around them is a recipe for disaster.
(I figured if I used the word 'recipe', it would absolve me from leaving the kitchen once again).

The problem with Batavia, as with most of the state, is that the government is antiquated. I believe that if we start making wholesale changes to the way that government is administered, like let's say, consolidation and shared services and reviewing the way government is administered, the cost of government will go down and the efficiency of government will rise.

I believe that the City Charter commission did a pretty good job the last time around of making changes, like allowing a committee system to be set up on Council. Local legislating can be done without having it backlogged due to a committee of the whole, this way a committee on council can review and analyze a decision while another committee reviews another. Governing can be done in less time this way. It also eliminated the need for more bureaucracy by eliminating the unnecessary position of City Engineer, we seemed to have gotten along just fine without one.

What the Charter Commission did in 2009 was an encouraging start. I hope that we continue in the direction they pointed us in and spend where needed on quality of life issues, such as on code enforcement, keeping neighborhoods safe (which means keeping the City Police Department) and youth services. I think that if we keep the status quo we'll miss our 'rendezvous with destiny'.

Bea,
While big mall attractions sound good, and they are, there is not enough land inside the Batavia city limits.

A mall that big would end up in the Town, probably north of the Thruway, and away from downtown. Also, something as big as the Mall of America gives you very little reason to go anywhere else.

Sorry, John, how silly of me to make the point that something like a mega-mall (as suggested by C.M.) would be the panacea for those visiting the city.
Once again, you take me too literally. I should know better than to get into a discussion. Trust me, this is the last time.
I never suggested that we should have something that big. I did say that if we had those 400 stores in Batavia, it would be a draw.
Many of those stores are brand name stores that would add a bigger problem for our local merchants.
The discussion is where would business people go while spending a night or two in Batavia. A mall was mentioned.
Yes, a big mall would have to be located outside the city. Yes, public transportation issues would finally have to be addressed. Yes, it is a pipedream.
Have a happy new year.

When I say outlet mall, I'm talking factory outlet- as in the Waterloo Factory Outlet Mall. People drive hundreds of miles to that wholesale outlet. If Waterloo -in the middle of nowhere- can attract business, why can't Batavia? With some savvy conceptualization and zoning finesse, it does not have to be another suburban eyesore- think Pittsford. Incorporate a farmers market and space for eclectic restaurants, shops and entertainment venues into the scheme. Leave the typical suburban schlock out- something unique that edifies Batavia. The last thing we need is more Bob Evans, Tim Horton and Burger King!

Another Mall of America? Yuck. Might as well erect the Pet Rock, Furby and Chia Pet Hall of Fame.

By the way... Did Google get hacked? It hasn't loaded since earlier this afternoon.

Dan, you are correct, but you're thinking inside the box. No one in Akron, Ohio gives a hoot about Batavia's Charter Commission. The Akron vacation planner is led to Batavia by reputation or a glitzy pamphlet they find in an interstate rest stop. If Batavia intends to be anything more impressive than a post-oil embargo small city on Route 5, it has to invest in a comprehensive development plan. The outcome of that plan needs to enhance cultural standing IE: recreation, restaurants, museums, theaters, accommodations, transportation and entertainment- not how many jail cells we have or DPW engineers. Such a plan would revive commercial development.

I wasn't necessarily referring to a shopping mall. More like an artisan's mall with smaller shops and music and drama workshops, stages at different ends. Arts and crafts for sale and art expositions. Coffee shops, bakery, brew-pubs (thanks George), book store, maybe even move the library and the youth program in; the list could go on and on. I'm thinking glass walls and sky lights that can be opened up in the summer. This is where the energy ideas come in, heating and/or cooling different zones with different technologies and space in the area for them to sell their service or products. You gotta get way outside the box. People aren't going to come and see a copy of someplace else nor are investors going to get excited enough to open checkbooks.

C.M. - You have to have people willing to invest here. That's the bottom line. If government is archaic and difficult to navigate for a business....and if they feel the weight of a high local tax burden they won't come here, period. I agree, we need to revise the City Master Plan and put into place a new plan for development, but we also need to make basic reforms about the way that governments operate.

Dave, I stand corrected- mall is a horrible word choice. I have no vision of a suburban monstrosity housing the typical mall tenants. I use mall in a city sense... New and old construction. I'm thinking Poughkeepsie and Auburn- not Ridge Road.

Daniel: "we also need to make basic reforms about the way that governments operate." No doubt about that. Agree completely.

C.M. no correction necessary. Mall is a dirty word in Batavia, I think we are are at least in the same chapter if not the same page.

Dan is right. If Albany continues to tax and spend, business and money will go other places. But there are some things that can be done here now, despite Albany.

The idea of a "theme" for the downtown area is one. The things that CM mentions like restaurants, theaters and accommodations are already here; they are just not coordinating.

I think the Business Improvement District (BID)should be the lead group on something like this. Two theme ideas, sports and arts, were already mentioned. The City can assist BID and provide some support, but the City should stay out of it as much as possible.

Batavia will take a step towards becoming an actual tourist destination once the indoor water park at the Hampton Inn is open. Businesses downtown need to find a niche that will bring the families coming to the Downs / Hampton hub into the city center. It will be essential to be tourism partners, not competitors.

Along those lines, trying to support two Farm Markets isn't viable, at least in their present state. I've been to both and after three visits to the one downtown, didn't bother going back. It is a shadow of the market at the Downs and will be even more so now that one of the mainstays is gone.

I certainly understand the desire to revitalize downtown. However, wishing something could be better and trying to figure out what direction to take while others have an actionable plan underway puts you farther behind each day.

I'd recommend following a model similar to what we use in Wyoming County. Build a comprehensive business development plan around the specific actual "draws" you have in place today with an eye toward features you could add in the foreseeable future, and down the road. Following that, hire someone who will make the plan a reality.

So my question is, if Detroit can have a renaissance, why can't Batavia?

Answer: Because there are two Batavia's with divergent goals.