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Masse Gateway assessment changed, could improve grant chances

By Howard B. Owens

Rose Mary Christian's call to RestoreNY about the Masse Gateway Project caused a bit of a stir at the last City Council meeting, but it also helped uncover a mistake in the grant application, Joanne Beck reports.

It turns out, the property in question doesn't carry an assessed value of $825,000, but $278,000.

Both City Manager Jason Molino and City Council President Charlie Mallow said the change in the grant application will actually improve the city's chances of winning funding.

"I think it adds to the application," he (Molino) said Tuesday. "Unfortunately we didn't have a unanimous vote. Overall, it's still a great project; it's got a decent chance of getting funding."

John Roach

How about that?
Rose Mary asking questions found an error, good for her. I think this Masse Mall project gives away too much of our city money to a private business, but now that the vote has been taken, I am happy Rose Mary doing her job might help us get the funding.

Apr 29, 2009, 7:27am Permalink
Karen Miconi

Way to Go Rosemary!! She'll show them how its done, by being Honest and Aware. Was this just an innocent mistake??? I think I hear the Shredder...

Just My Opinion

Apr 29, 2009, 8:33am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Karen, the public wasn't allowed to attend what? The meeting I was at the other night in which this was an issue was attended by the public and the press.

Apr 29, 2009, 8:16am Permalink
Jason Murray

if im not mistaken wasnt rose mary the sole vote against this. so i guess her own questioning, regardless of her intentions with it, kinda backfired

Apr 29, 2009, 8:49am Permalink
Jason Murray

how is this a "way to go rose mary" she voted against this but now because of her going behind everybodies back its going to be easier for this to pass

Apr 29, 2009, 9:26am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

I guess the rest of us on council must understand that doing nothing, hasn’t worked in the past so, why keep doing the same thing.

I have trouble understanding the philosophy of failure that some of you follow. I also completely understand that the posters on this site are not representative of the public. Not one person showed up against this project Monday night and yes Rosemary’s questions did help this project, whether she intended it or not. It helped the project because we now can show that the improvements, if done will bring in more tax money to help take the burden off residential taxpayers.

Apr 29, 2009, 9:38am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I guess people are just skeptical when it comes spending money to attract money. I think the mistake in assesment value alone proves that mistakes can be made. I guess when the mistake proves to be positive for a certain outcome then it shouldnt be worried about until a negative mistake occurs.

Apr 29, 2009, 9:47am Permalink
John Roach

We have heard this before; not supporting somehting means your against everything.

We were burned on the Dwyer Stadium and the new City Hall. We have over $400,000 spent on the faint hope we will get something more in stimulus money that part of Oak Street paved. With all the vacant buildings in the City, the Town of Batavia and other parts of the county, we should ask questions if we will ever see a return on our money for this project.

Apr 29, 2009, 3:21pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

It's not $400,000 dollars ..Mr.Mancuso is getting $3,000,000 dollars and only putting up 400,000 dollars...To get improvement done to his private property.At least we own city hall...Speaking of City Hall what are all those white streak on the building...Time to call back the builder of such a great temple and have them clean it....

Apr 29, 2009, 4:06pm Permalink
Beth Kinsley

I think that the $400,000 that John is talking about is the money that we spent on plans to get projects shovel ready so that we could get some stimulus money. I hope we get something out of it.

Apr 29, 2009, 4:17pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Sorry John..I read your post wrong.You right ,it does seem that we aren't getting anything for the money we spent to get all these shovel ready projects...I didn't realize that the plans to help Mr.Mancuso were taken out of the $450,000 the city spent for the plans needed to get shovel ready projects,I thought we were going to get new sewers,streets and sidewalk repair.....But i was right about the rest i think..correct me if im wrong...

Apr 29, 2009, 5:18pm Permalink
John Roach

Mark,
The $450,000 for the Stimulus money is not the same as the money being spent for the Masse Mall project. The Masse Mall project will be $250,000 in City money (If the project is approved). Add that to the Stimulus money and the City will spend $700,000. This is all a crap shoot. We might win and we might lose, both big time.

Apr 29, 2009, 5:59pm Permalink
daniel cherry

Mark . i noticed those streaks of mortar years ago.I thought my camera must be messed up.But no it was poor workmanship.They should fix it free.There are more streaks from the white rats with wings too.

Apr 29, 2009, 8:25pm Permalink

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