Consultants lay out three-year plan to help reshape future of Batavia

So what else is new. These comments have been told to the city fathers/mothers for years, AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. The mall is an eyesore, one of the green walking areas from the back parking lot to Main Street has become a "Don't know what". It sure isn't pretty. MORE RESTAURANTS????, we have enough. We need more clothing stores, jewelry stores, places to buy things, ice cream parlors like we used to have, movie theater that is not buried on some back street that only Batavians know exists. One time Batavia was worth living in, know I don't know.

One word really stands out and at the same time scares me (CONSULTANTS).What! we need to spend money on consulants? Our local goverment cant come up with the answers,sooooo we need outside help from people that make money doing the foot work for us, huh?
Where I come from; If it looks like a dog, walks like a dog, then more than likely its a dog.

For this we paid money?

Regardless of who said it, it's completely dead on. So the real question is now is do we actually have the conviction the do it?

Sometimes an objective, outside analysis of a problem and the possible solutions is beneficial, provided the suggestions are implemented, and can be worth the expenditure.

I've seen firsthand how this approach has made a community blossom. I am thinking of Escondido, Calif. (in Northern San Diego County), which had a raggedy hodgepodge downtown, no cohesive design or vision and it flailed about for years "throwing good money after bad" as it struggled to carve out a future.

Consultants helped a great deal as did their advice concerning funding sources, Community Development Block Grants, downtown storefront rehabilitation grants, etc. The efforts grew success. The core of the city became attractive, robust and key to marketing the rest of the area. It didn't happen overnight but positive strides overcame a lot of negative baggage.

Regrettably, the community seemed to transfer its previous modus operandi to the then-fledgling Escondido Performing Arts Center, which had something stupid like 24 people on the board of directors and nobody seemed capable of getting on the same page. Guess what? This wasn't working.

The problem resolved itself when real leadership emerged and the carpers were booted off or voted off the board, which shrunk to something manageable like eight people. Consensus became easier to reach. The performing arts center there today is a regional attraction pumping lots of tourism dollars into Escondido.

Also, they discovered that the leadership couldn't do it all. People who sat around pointing fingers were not as useful as those who called up and said "I would like to serve on this committee," or "I have some ideas for a community award," et cetera.

This is something I would agree to spend tax money on, even if it means an increase. but I'd want the tax as a surcharge that expired in 36 months and tied to this only. that way it could not be just continued as a permanent increase. Or, we could just sit and cry about how it 'used to be in the old days'.

"The aging population -- 25 percent of city home owners are 65 or older -- is especially a problem when combined with the aging housing stock. Eighty percent of the homes were built before 1930."

...So this consulting group is advocating euthanasia and urban renewal? Sorry, grandma, study says you outlived your usefulness. Didn't we already level all the historically significant homes? Here's an idea! ...Demolish old houses with the residents inside. ...Kill two birds with one stone!

CM,
A bit off the wall. They are not advocating killing off old people and you know it. Or if you don't, tell us how you made that conclusion. They are pointing out that we are an aging city, with younger people not moving here in any great numbers.

Yepper, we need more young families moving here. With the prospect of good jobs in the foreseeable future, that's possible and a more inviting city couldn't hurt. What the consultant said is factually true. He did not indicate eradicating anything or anybody. He's just pointing out that positive growth requires positive ACTION.

C.M. wrote:
"The aging population -- 25 percent of city home owners are 65 or older -- is especially a problem when combined with the aging housing stock. Eighty percent of the homes were built before 1930."

...So this consulting group is advocating euthanasia and urban renewal? Sorry, grandma, study says you outlived your usefulness. Didn't we already level all the historically significant homes? Here's an idea! ...Demolish old houses with the residents inside. ...Kill two birds with one stone!

You beat me to this.
the comment about the aging population being a 'problem' raised hackles (as you can imagine).
I've said, for years, that the city lost it's identity. Past city fathers/mothers worked tirelessly to destroy any identity we once had (the historic value of being the birthplace of Western New York; a county seat of a prosperous rural area; a clean, well lit environment in which to raise families; and we are within a days drive (in any direction) to major cities in the northeast as well as Canada, Pennsylvanis, Deleware, Virginia, Washington DC, Ohio and Michigan.
We were once known for having an active transportation/freight hub, in the form of the railroads. Our location is still the ideal place for a transportation hub similar to what Syracuse has. http://www.centro.org/regional.aspx
I agree with John (don't faint). Try it for a limited amount of time. I'd give it three years. Let's see if we can bring this city back. It will take more than a few to do this - perhaps some of those problematic senior citizens might be tapped to give their time, energy and experience.

John, it was dripping with sarcasm...and quite funny. Stop taking things so literally.

I sat through the first public presentation they had on their findings and one of the things they found to be significant is all the talk of doubt people in this community have about their own town, they learned this from just sitting in restaurants and listening to people talk.
When you use a consulting firm it is for new ideas from fresh minds impartial opinions. They weren't saying anything negative about our older citizens what they said is 25% are seniors and our property s here are old that their living in many need work now, seniors typically don't spend a lot of money on their property because their on budgets it's the young eager ambitious homeowners that do that. What will happen the homes are usually sold at the time the person is done with it and most cases show the estate just sells and most people buy for investment in batavia and turn them into more apartments. We don't need anymore run down housing in this town. This company had very good fresh ideas that should be taken seriously one was the signs that are everywhere in town when you come in town you have so many signs telling you what you can't do here it's rediculous, did we really need signs at the parks telling people how to walk a dog or to not smoke or stay off grass come on People there not very inviting and do you think people that live here really read them negative signs everywhere and none welcoming you how about a sign that says thanks for using our parks come again, a sign that says pick up dog poop or else! Wow optimism people thats what we need here and more approachable city officials how about council takes a poll and ask people what council district the reside in bet not many know maybe you should inform the residents what district their in. Thank you come again.....

Ive been saying this since two thousand eight. No community pride, no development. The round about is the city of Batavia's ny last development. Look at Gcc , enough said. Batavia is run by old money. Jason Malino is doing a good job, but it's going to take more than him. Where are the Politicians? They were elected to bring a Positive change to Batavia, Ny. A couple of photo ops and then keep quiet. Batavia Downs rakes in more than 40 million a year, what have they done? nothing but stuff their pockets. Again, where are the Politicians? Really sad a bunch of consultants from outside of Batavia, Ny telling The City Council and local Politicians about their City and what's wrong with it. This City needs Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Instead of handing out checks to Ex-cons, welfare and social security recipients. Batavia, Ny is a good community but it's falling behind the times. All sorts of young families live here, but this community is run by old way's
Their needs to be a political shake up within the County of Genesee and City of Batavia, Ny. to get things moving in the correct direction.

Bea,
I think it was a cheap shot at people trying to do a job. I also don't think joking about killing old people is appropriate, period.

I like the outline of the plan as long as we as a city can qualify for grants ect. Does it matter where the plan originates as long as it can be tailored for us & work ?
By tailor I mean bring jobs not eateries & shops to Batavia, those will follow.

Just a note about housing, this may not be true of fellow homeowners in Batavia, but for me I am surrounded by 3 homes which are either abandoned, foreclosed, or on the brink of foreclosure. Ten years ago when I moved here this was a nice street. It still is if you ignore the boarded up windows & blue tarps on roofs.

I don't think we need consultants. What we need are fewer politicians that were born in the 30's, 40's & 50's, and get some fresh ideas ... with less interference. I wasn't born here, but in my 23 years here, the "who you know" mentality has grown to a disgusting level.

Its the Mall stupid.......When city council gets around to really taking action on that one issue i believe positive change will come....We need to stop all non profits from taking any land in this city..no more houses being turned into two family apt...Code enforcement needs to do their job..We don't need a fire chief and police chief..Reward homeowners for upgrading there property not raise there assessment because of it....Rental property should be assessed more per thousand then single family homes..You have to build pride into home ownership..also do something about the trash issue ...There is no reason why someone should pay more to get rid of their trash because of what their house is worth.......City council wasted our money on that study because they allready knew all that..Besides that what do we pay Malino and Kuzon for...i remember the other study we spend thousands on and nothing became of it..The shovel ready study what a joke..

Sadly, I see some people clamoring against any sort of change and using historic preservation as a means to block progress. I've had it with nostalgia, it's ridiculous as an economic strategy and it doesn't work. The Mall's agreement with the city is horrible (for example, there cannot be the same two type of stores in the mall) and that's why it never thrived, but the notion that we should just keep everything the way it is and people will come fleeing back is absurd. Yes, when it comes to a Mall in Batavia we need to start over (or at least toss the agreement), that I've said for years, but we also need to fundamentally recognize that nothing will change unless we really start changing.

John, I didn't refer to 25% of Batavians as "a problem." That's from the story, and one has to assume that the study as interpreted by those who conducted it is dead serious concluding Batavia's elderly bode less than good fortune for the city. Maybe you missed that part ...Or were you hoping no one would notice? Witnessing you break a blood vessel over my hyperbole...I know you aren't stupid enough to take my facetious remarks at face value!

Dan, I suggest you ask a transplant like Howard about preservation. Would Batavia be as charming if the gingerbread houses were torn down and replaced with nice new condominiums and townhouses? Those looking to escape Buffalo or Rochester's brand of sprawl would be disappointed to know that the tackiness they are escaping will be replaced by a different set of charmless features. There is a sizable population of people anxious to purchase an old home, restore it and become an investing member of the community. Anyone who concludes pre-1930 homes are a negative, likely gets a commission from a cousin who owns a demolition company. (Not to mention they must be living under a rock) If you remain unconvinced, take a look at the housing off Pearl Street. Yeah- the places that evolved from townhouses to apartments to low-income housing. Take a trip to Brockport, Ellicottville, Owego, Ithaca or Victor... The old buildings make those communities thrive!

CM,
Just don't think jokes about killing off old people are as acceptable as you do.
As for the high percentage of elderly, that is not the first time it has been reported. And why would I "hope nobody noticed"? that makes no sense.

The mall was never going to be a success. It was one of the few malls built that had each store privately owned, and that was the major flaw. Other malls are owned by one person/group and those malls have standard policies for the stores that lease space such as hours of operation and days of the week they will be open.

In Batavia, each mall store was able to set its own policy. Even now not all stores and businesses open up at the same time or are open the same days. That makes it hard to shop there, so people go someplace else. Batavia is the only example of of individually owned mall stores left, the others all folded.

Of course, prior City Councils did not help. The maintenance agreement was poorly written and has us tied up in court again. Then when Dr. Chess offered to buy vacant property owned by the city for back taxes, and open retail stores, Council repeatedly refused to sell him the property. Then that same Council decided to build City Hall there, taking what could have been retail property off the tax roles.

And remember, a developer did offer to buy all the mall except Penny's and the theaters, knock it down and rebuild it. But he was unable to get all the owners to agree to his offer. So now, unless you are willing to spend the money to take away the property from the individual owners, we're stuck with it. There are things that can be done, and Howard mentioned a few, but it takes money.

Dan wrote:
I've had it with nostalgia, it's ridiculous as an economic strategy and it doesn't work.
Dan, what you would suggest?
There is a reality here. Batavia has been here since the 1800s. There are structures that tell the story of our community from one decade to another - even one century to another. I've visited places that celebrate structures like that. Small signs are placed to identify them; ie: "Smith-Jones House, Circa 1860" or "Smith's Ice House, Circa 1900". Even, homes or stores that first had electricity or telephone.
This isn't just a walk down some nostalgic path, but real assets that should be highlighted.
Yes, the mall was doomed from the start. As John points out, "It was one of the few malls built that had each store privately owned, and that was the major flaw.". Make no mistake, that "flaw" was not an oversight, but what those in power at the time wanted. I don't know anyone who has any significant attachment to the mall. Howard, Mark, C.M. and John are on the right track.
The new, that you want and preservation that sells our community as a friendly, charming enviroment can co-exist. The secret is to work together to make it happen.

Ok, I admit upfront that I did only scan all of the comments, so bear with me:

I imagine what the consultants were saying is that older people tend to have a more difficult time taking care of old houses. I live in one, they take A LOT of work and energy. When you combine this with lack of appropriate housing for said population then they tend to continue to live in the older houses and eventually the houses fall into disrepair, making them less desirable for younger people to purchase (less desirable). Part of the County's Comprehensive Plan addresses this and it is something we are working on in Le Roy with the Robbins Nest project. The idea is that if you have more appropriate housing for older people to move into before their houses fall into disrepair then you free up the market for younger people. The advantage I see in this is that you cannot tear old houses down, Dan, for the sake of tearing them down and it's better to keep them up. They are a part of our history and they go a long way to providing beauty in our communities. I have been to "newer" sections of the south and even some of the suburbs in our area and they lack the charm that we have here. Modern architecture has its place, maybe even in our old communties, but not at the expense of historical architecture.

Also, our county has an excellent leadership program through Genesee CCE (Cornell Cooperative Extension) called Leadership Genesee. Check it out!

Thanks!

Jennifer, It isn't the fact the older people have a hard time keeping property up that I find irritating, it is the verbage that states older people are a "problem".
By the way, we went by your house last weekend. You all did a great job decorating.

What do the members of city council have to say about this study....When asked who the competition is, Boehlke said it's the Town of Batavia..Found that statement kind of ironic because we have another study going on to see if we should consolidate...yet these guys never mention consolidation....

Mark,
They were hired to study the city, as it is, not a hypothetical consolidation.
And if you think as many do that the Town will not vote to consolidate, then the Town is the competition in the immediate area.

Where did I say I wanted to tear old houses down? That was a reach and a half. My Mother lives in one and I love it. I said I was tired of nostalgia that's opposed to new housing or apartment projects, like say the housing on East Main Street near Aldi's, that causes opposition to opening up part of the North Street extension for new houses, that discourages improvements by homeowners by assessment punishment and a NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude that's unfortunately all too pervasive across WNY. I remember once when I was on the School Board as it's student member a gentlemen came to the board meeting and complained that a certain school construction project was going to interfere with the enjoyment of his sunset, even when the district's engineers came up with diagrams proving otherwise. The Batavia of 40 years ago is not coming back, so let's build a better and new one.