The Sheriff's Office is investigating the unattended death of a 20-year-old Depew man found in a field at 1756 Chick Road, Darien.
Garry P. Pitz was found in the field shortly after midnight and first responders administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead by County Coroner Karen Lang.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by troopers, Mercy EMS and the Town of Darien Volunteer Fire Department.
The way District Attorney Lawrence Friedman sees it, Kasean Shannon is a dangerous sexual predator who is unable to comprehend the damage he does to his victims and therefore should spend the maximum amount of time available in his plea deal in prison.
That is 15 years.
Judge Robert C. Noonan agreed.
"The defendant says he made a mistake," Friedman said. "That's how he characterized his sexual assault on five females. He said he never intended to hurt them. I think that shows his total lack of understanding of what he's been doing over the years."
Before handing down the 15-year sentence on his guilty plea to attempted first-degree rape, Noonan told Shannon, "You're a predator and a serial sex offender. You don't seem to have any regard for the female person on this earth when you want what you want."
Shannon was also sentenced on his guilty pleas to sexual abuse, incest and criminal contempt.
None of Shannon's victim's appeared in court, as they could have, to plead for a stringent sentence, but the mother of his child did speak to the court, urging Noonan to not issue an order of protection in her name or the name of their child.
"I am very much in love with him and wish to get married to him as soon as I can," the woman said. "I know what he did is awful, but I want our daughter to know him. She needs to know what he did, but she also needs to know him and make up her own mind about him and not what everybody says about him."
Rarick urged Noonan to sentence Shannon to only five years, giving him time to learn from his mistakes and turn his life around.
Shannon told Noonan that he knows what he did is wrong.
"I'm willing to learn from what I've done," Shannon said. "I will enter any program I need to enter in. I want to be there for my daughter."
Once released, Shannon will be on parole for 15 years.
A 30-year-old Attica resident will spend at least the next year of his life in state prison for a burglary in Batavia last November, though he would rather spend the time with his young son.
Jason L. Cramer Sr., told Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan that he knows he has a drug problem, but that's no excuse of his criminal activity.
"I know what I did is wrong," Cramer said. "I intend to use whatever time you give me as a time to better myself and become a better man."
His attorney, Fred Rarick, said Cramer started using heroin when he was 16.
"He continued to use heroin even though he knew it might lead to his death, even though he knew that it might lead, as it could today, to time in prison," Rarick said. "In spite of that, he's been unable to combat his addiction."
Rarick said he thought his client would benefit from rehabilitation programs available through the Department of Corrections.
Noonan sentenced Cramer to an indeterminate one to three years, which is a slightly less than the maximum sentence available to the judge.
Tonight's Jackson Square concert, featuring Penny Whiskey, is being moved to City Centre because there may be rain.
The show is at 7 p.m.
A Batavia resident was jailed without bail following a motor-vehicle accident in a parking lot near Tim Horton's on Main Street at 9:51 .m., July 10.
Richard M. Schiersing is charged with DWI, combined influence of drugs and alcohol.
Police initially responded to the area after receiving a report of an erratic driver.
Schiersing was reportedly driving a 2005 Scion XA and hit a curb and allegedly committed numerous traffic offenses before striking a vehicle in the parking lot between the U.S. Post Office and Tim Horton's, located at 20 Main St., Downtown.
Officer Kevin DeFelice conducted a standardized field sobriety test, which Schiersing allegedly failed. A drug recognition expert was called in to assist in the investigation, lead to the charge of combined influence of drugs and alcohol.
The man accused of shooting Alexander resident Nicholas Mruczek with a shotgun in a fit of jealous rage has been charged with murder, according to the Chester County District Attorney.
Zachary Ludwig, 22, of King Street, Spring City, Pa., is accused of going to the residence of an ex-girlfriend in North Coventry Township, Pa., with a shotgun and firing it at Mruczek at close range.
Ludwig was reportedly upset that Mruczek was with the woman.
"Love and anger can be a dangerous mixture," said DA Tom Hogan in a statement.
The rest of the press release:
On July 15, 2015 at 2:18 a.m., North Coventry Police responded to a call for a shooting at Apartment #218, 858 E. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown, North Coventry Township, Pa. The victim, Nicholas Mruczek, had been shot in the chest and was bleeding heavily.
The victim’s roommates stated that somebody had come over to the apartment and confronted the victim outside. The victim then came back into the apartment with a gunshot wound to the chest. The roommates called the police and attempted to stop the bleeding.
The victim told his roommates that he was dying and to tell the victim’s father that he loved him. The victim stated that “Zach” had shot him. When the police arrived, the victim told them that his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend “Zach” had shot him. The victim was taken to a hospital for surgery. Prior to surgery, the victim informed medical personnel that “Zach L.” shot him. The victim was pronounced dead from the gunshot wound on July 16, 2015.
While the victim was still in surgery, the police located the victim’s girlfriend, whose identity is known to police but is being withheld for security (the “Girlfriend”). The Girlfriend identified “Zach” as the defendant, Zachary Ludwig. She stated that the defendant was her ex-boyfriend, that he was angry about the relationship between her and the victim, and that the defendant owned guns. The defendant previously had stated to the Girlfriend that he would get a “dirty gun” and shoot the victim.
Subsequent investigation by the police revealed the following. The defendant purchased an unregistered .410-bore shotgun approximately two weeks before the shooting. The defendant sawed down the barrel of the shotgun. On the evening of July 14, 2015, the defendant drove by the victim’s residence and observed that the Girlfriend’s car was at the victim’s residence.
After switching vehicles, the defendant later returned to the area of the victim’s apartment in the early morning hours of July 15. The defendant brought the sawed-off shotgun with him. The defendant parked his vehicle in an empty lot away from the apartment complex and walked across a field to the back entrance to the victim’s apartment building. The defendant got the victim to meet with him at the back of the apartment building. The defendant confronted the victim and shot him in the chest with the sawed-off shotgun.
The defendant then returned across the field to his vehicle and fled from the area. He took the sawed-off shotgun to French Creek and threw the shotgun into the water. The defendant then returned to his residence. Police subsequently recovered the shotgun from the stream.
The defendant was arrested by the police while the victim was still alive, and charged with attempted homicide and related charges. Subsequent to the victim’s death, the defendant additionally has been charged with murder. The defendant did not post bail and was remanded to Chester County Prison.
North Coventry Police Chief Robert A. Schurr stated, “This was an excellent cooperative investigation by the North Coventry Police Department and the Chester County Detectives. We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and pledge to keep working on this case until justice is served.”
District Attorney Hogan added, “This was a senseless and premeditated killing. One young man is dead, one young man faces murder charges, and two families are shattered. The only good thing to report is that the North Coventry Police Department and Chester County detectives did an outstanding job to investigate this case rapidly, thoroughly, and professionally.”
This case was investigated by the North Coventry Police Department and the Chester County detectives, with assistance from the West Pottsgrove Police Department, Pottstown Police Department, Spring City Police Department, and East Pikeland Police Department.
UPDATE: According to the Police Criminal Complaint, filed by Chester County Det. Thomas Goggin, Mruczek was living with a man who initially attempted to provide first aid on Mruczek after he was shot in the chest. He was bleeding heavily. Mruczek told the roommate that he thought he was dying and to tell his father he loves him. Mruczek identified Ludwig as the shooter to the roommate and to police once they arrived on scene. He later identified the same person as the shooter to a nurse at the hospital. Ludwig was interviewed after receiving his Miranda warnings that same day. He allegedly admitted to shooting Mruczek. He reportedly said he purchased the shotgun a week or two prior from a fellow employee at his job. He said he used a hacksaw to cut off the barrel in his parents' garage. He said he drove to Mruczek's apartment complex at 5:30 and saw his ex-girlfriend's car there. He went to his parents' house and switched trucks, he said, and drove back to the apartment complex with the .410 shotgun. He parked in an empty lot near an ice cream store. He concealed the shotgun, he said, in a long-sleeve black shirt. Ludwig said he approached the complex from a field in the rear of the building and called for Mruczek to come outside. Mruczek came outside and the two spoke briefly before Ludwig allegedly shot him. Ludwig said he fled the scene and drove to French Creek and tossed the gun into the water and then returned home. Police recovered the shotgun from the creek.
The City of Batavia is just beginning what will be a nearly two-year process to review and rewrite its comprehensive plan, and one topic of discussion that will certainly come up is whether -- or to what degree -- should the city adopt what's known as "form-based codes."
Form-based codes move community planning and development away from complex regulatory zoning codes and into a planning document that sets the parameters of what a community wants to be. A community is still divided into zones -- commercial, residential, industrial, for example -- but the form-based code sets the vision for the kind of structures that should be encouraged and what the outcome of new construction or remodeling should be.
An increasing number of communities throughout the United States are going to a form-based code process and Felipe A. Oltramari, director of planning for Genesee County, and Derik Kane, a senior planner with the county, presented a seminar Wednesday night for a handful of community planners on form-based codes.
City Manager Jason Molino attended, as did Matt Gray, a member of the city's Planning Board.
"This is one direction we could go in," Molino said. "It may not be, but that's a discussion you need to have to see if there is a consensus in the community."
The comprehensive plan process is built around the idea of gathering input and feedback from members of the community who care enough and engage enough to ensure their voices are heard. Consultants will be hired -- the city has a $100,000 budget for the comprehensive plan process -- and many meetings will be held, where views and visions will be aired.
The city's current comprehensive plan was drafted in 1997. The city is currently collecting bids from consultants to help with drafting a new plan. Soon, the planning board will review those bids and make a recommendation to the City Council. Meetings, hearings and reviews will begin once the contract is awarded.
Molino expects the city will hear concerns about how difficult the current planning process is. It's already a common complaint, that it's too hard to develop either commercial or residential real estate, that the regulatory process is cumbersome, arbitrary and too much is left open to interpretation.
Form-based codes are designed to fix those issues, which are so common to traditional zoning regulations.
Gray, owner of Alex's Restaurant as well as three restaurants in Raleigh, N.C., has some experience dealing with Byzantine planning methods. He's also been on the other side now for a few months, trying to make decisions about development applications.
"Form-based codes will help developers and the inspection department administer new building," Gray said. "From that angle, I think it will facilitate a much quicker and better-understood design. Period."
One outcome that has been consistent for communities that have implemented form-based codes is developers are more attracted to those communities. It's economically beneficial for them to build where the planning process is clear, concise and simplified.
A form-based code could help increase interest in the city's Brownfield Opportunity Area sites, all of which are already drawing some degree of developer interest, Molino said.
"Everything we've done and tried to begin (regarding) redevelopment of the BOA sites is about making it easier for the developer to come in and start redevelopment," Molino said. "This may dovetail right into that. This may be our perfect transition into what else we can do."
Form-based codes are a favorite planning tool of new urbanism's acolytes.
New urbanism promotes more mixed-use communities with a density of structures that is less car-oriented and tailored more toward pedestrians and bicyclists.
A form-based code does not necessarily have to lead to a community vision that follows the goals of new urbanism, but it can help in that process.
A key concept of form-based codes is something called the "transect," a word borrowed from the world of natural environment planning. A transect is a gradient between the lowest land -- sea level, up to the mountains, and all of the changes in environment and microenvironments in between.
In a form-based code environment that takes on a large geographical area, a transect is planned between the very rural to the very urban.
The idea is to find the right form base for each point on the continuum of the transect. Those zoning areas are written into the code, based on what the community wants. The process that uncovers these wants, dreams and desires and concerns is known as the charrette.
Gray thinks a form-based code could help the City of Batavia.
He's seen firsthand what sprawl does to a community, which is why he and his family returned to his hometown after living in Raleigh for a while.
"We couldn't take the commute anymore," Gray said. "It took 40 minutes to get to work and it really wasn't that far."
If a form-based code implemented along new urbanism's lines helps spur greater commercial and residential development Downtown, that could help alleviate the traffic congestion building up on the west side of the town, Gray said.
Whether Batavia adopts a form-based code, either for the whole city, or just a portion, such as Downtown, will really be up to the community members who participate in the comprehensive plan process, Molino said.
As it proceeds, there may be no demand for form-based code, or people may decide that the current code is good enough even as complicated as it is, or perhaps some new idea pops out.
"A form-based code isn't the only option," Molino said.
This Saturday, a new group of volunteer firefighters graduates from a tri-county fire training program conducted at the Genesee County Fire Training Center.
This morning, they completed their second morning of live fire training under the teaching of Chuck Dodson.
Here's the graduating class:
Press release:
Stafford Country Club hosted Genesee ARC’s 39th annual Lullo Memorial Tournament Monday, the longest-running charity event at the local private club. The tournament features golf, tennis and bocce and raises funds for disability services ARC provides to more than 450 children and adults and their families throughout Genesee County.
The event chair is Ed Carney; Peggy Lamb and Deb Fischer are the tennis and bocce chairs.
Coming out on top in the golf was Rod Hamilton who shot a 72, followed by Steve Harrison, 73. Low gross honors for women went to Tina Lambert with an 86.
In the low net category, Paul Barton came in with a 62, and Travis West was a close second with a 63. Maria Woodward had a low net score of 71 for women. Joan DeCarlo is also being recognized with low net honors.
In the blind bogey competition, Mark Yost matched the blind bogey number drawn of 74.
There were several contests on the course. In the longest drive on 7, John Houseknecht was the winner and winning closest to the line on 15 was Sheila Laird. Rod Hamilton won a Coor’s Lite golf bag, courtesy of C.H. Wright, in closest to the pin on 8 (9’11”). Hamilton also won a Schwinn bicycle, donated by Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, in the same contest on 14 (4’ 11”). The top winners in the closest to the pin on 12 were Greg Strauss, Chip Braaten, Joe Lestorti and Craig Rinefierd.
The hole-in-one contest on 8 was sponsored by Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Unfortunately, no one shot an ace to drive away with a 2015 Jeep Renegade.
In bocce, the first place team was Donna Hummel, Bryan Falitico, Joe Teresi and JoAnne McInerney.
Top score in tennis went to Steve Rumery. First-place team honors went to Steve Rumery and Phil McNulty and second-place team went to Steve Clemm and Len Jasinski.
Gold sponsors of the event were: Turnbull Heating & Air-Conditioning, The Bank of Castile/Tompkins Insurance Agencies, The Bonadio Group, Graham Corporation, and Tom & Lynn and John Houseknecht. Silver sponsors were: The Batavia Daily News, Oakfield Family Medical Care, Alpina Foods, Erie Niagara Insurance Association, Ralph & Agnes Houseknecht, Ed Arnold Scrap Processors, Inc., Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Tops Friendly Markets, Bessey Tools, Parkview Health Services, Genesee Valley PennySaver, United Memorial Medical Center and The Insurance Center.
Also supporting the event were 19 golf sponsors, four tennis sponsors, six bocce sponsors and nine Friend of ARC Tournament Sponsors. Door Prizes, silent and Chinese auction items were donated by dozens of area businesses. The 2015 cart sponsor was Manning Napier.
A total of 110 golfers, 14 tennis players and 36 bocce players participated in the annual event that raises money to benefit programs and service for people with disabilities served by Genesee ARC. The winner of the $1,000 cash drawing was Susan Spiotta, of Batavia, with ticket number 19210. Florence Lullo picked the winning ticket.
The tournament is named in memory of Florence’s late husband Danny Lullo. Mr. Lullo was a local businessman who came up with the idea to hold a tournament to benefit Genesee ARC programs and services for people with disabilities in our community.
Assemblyman Michael DenDekker was in Batavia today as part of a tour of Steve Hawley's district, with stops at the state's Veterans' Hospital and the VA Center as well as Lamb Farms. DenDekker, a Democrat, is chairman of the Assembly's Veterans' Affairs Committee. Hawley is the ranking minority member of the committee. The tour was aimed at helping DenDekker increase his knowledge of veterans issues across the state as well as introduce him to rural Western New York.
One of the stops was the A Ward in the VA hospital that is being remodeled into private and semi-private rooms. Conducting the tour were contractor Martin Brothers, left, and Royce Calhoun, assistant director of the Batavia VA Center.
Six-year-old Jaedyn listens to instructions from Officer Kevin DeFelice during a bike safety course this morning at Williams Park.
The course is the second of five conducted by the city at Batavia's five municipal parks as part of the summer rec programs.
The children participating learn the rules of the road, proper hand signals and the importance of wearing bike safety helmets.
At the end of the course, they receive a certificate that makes them eligible for a free helmet, courtesy of the Batavia Lions Club, which they can pick up at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.
The course today was conducted by DeFelice, Det. Rich Schauf and Toni Funke, program coordinator for the Youth Bureau.
Say it loud: Batavia Proud.
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City Manager Jason Molino today announced his appointment of Matthew Worth as the director of Public Works for the City of Batavia. Matt has worked for the City for more than 28 years, his most recent post as the superintendent of Water and Wastewater.
As a lifelong Pembroke and Indian Falls Road resident, Matt has held several roles throughout his tenure with the City of Batavia. He started with the City in 1987 as an engineering technician where he was then promoted to deputy superintendent of Water and Wastewater in 1999. Matt took over the superintendent of Water and Wastewater role in 2002.
During his time with the City, Matt has been an intricate part of the public works team, participating in almost every aspect of the public works operations from street reconstruction, water and sewer plant upgrades, to capital infrastructure planning.
Pier Cipollone, 4th Ward councilmember who participated in the interview process, said, “I think it’s great to have someone from within the department move up and take on the responsibilities of running the department. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to the job and I know I speak for Council in saying we applaud his appointment to the position of director of DPW and we look forward to our continued relationship.”
City Manager Jason Molino added, “Over the years Matt has proven himself as a steadfast leader. He has served this community for over 28 years and comes into his new role with a depth of knowledge. Having worked side by side with Matt over the past decade, his passion to serve the community and residents has never been stronger. I’m looking forward to what the future brings.”
Matt lives with his wife Joan, and they have two grown children: Adam (25) and Kathryn (22).
Matt holds a Grade-D Distribution System Operator License issued by the NY State Department of Health.
Matt’s first day as the director of Public Works is July 14. His annual salary is $88,705.
City Manager Jason Molino encourages all Batavia residents to celebrate this appointment and welcome Matt to his new position.
Press release:
Executives from Frontier Communications and IBM recently joined local officials and members of the business community at the D&R Depot Restaurant in Le Roy to celebrate being named a quarter finalist in America’s Best Communities (ABC) prize competition.
The team of Le Roy and Bergen is one of 50 communities in the competition, which is a $10 million initiative to stimulate economic revitalization in small towns and cities across the United States. The Le Roy and Bergen team has been awarded $50,000 to date to develop a comprehensive strategy to start the process of developing a plan to accelerate the revival of the local economies and improve the quality of life in their communities.
Sponsored by Frontier Communications, the ABC prize competition could net a Grand Prize of $3 million for the communities to advance their strategic economic development revitalization plan.
“The collaborative efforts of the community and business leaders of Le Roy and Bergen give reason to celebrate the recognition as one of America’s Best Communities,” said Robert Smith, Frontier Area general manager -- Rochester West. “The team has a great vision on economic development and nurturing the cultural identity of their towns, two key outcomes desired of this contest.”
Le Roy and Bergen have been awarded $35,000 from the ABC prize competition to date and $15,000 from American Express and IBM, which are serving as financial sponsor and active mentor, respectively, as the team pursues the next round of funding.
The Town of Le Roy, under the leadership of Supervisor Stephen R. Barbeau, has committed up to $15,000 to ensure the communities can compete in the semifinal round. Other sponsors and potential funding partners include local governments and businesses. A consultant also will be hired in July to finalize the community revitalization plan.
"This is a perfect example of communities working together for collective betterment. Our Upstate communities serve as a positive example for the rest of the state: coordination, cooperation, ingenuity and efficiencies of scale,” said New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley.
Only 15 communities will be selected to advance to the semifinal round. Each community will present to a panel of judges about why they deserve $100,000 to advance their plan. Three Grand Prize winners will receive up to $3 million.
“Our communities demonstrate resiliency and survival,” said Rochelle Stein, Genesee County legislator. “Constant change and adaptation are hallmarks of our ability to survive and thrive. We have the benefit of youth investing in our family generational businesses, entrepreneurs advancing, and a passion to work towards a brighter future for our entire community. This contest will bring about positive energy for Le Roy and Bergen. I am pleased to work with such high-caliber partners.”
The Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation (GGLDC), an affiliate of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), is the entity administering the grant dollars and overseeing the selection of the consultant.
The U.S. Census Bureau put out a press release and the national media ate it up: There are now more people living in the United States who are classified as Millennials than there are Baby Boomers.
The Democrat & Chronicle got into the act by pointing out Millennials now outpace Baby Boomers in Monroe County.
There’s been no similar coverage in Erie County, but Buffalo has enjoyed a reputation for the past couple of years as one of the major cities young adults are helping to revitalize.
So where does that leave Genesee County?
Not on par, it seems.
While nationally, there are 83.1 million Millennials, comprising a quarter of the U.S. population, and the number of Baby Boomers has slipped to 75.4 million, the post-war cohort still rules the roost in the Batavia Micropolitan Area.
According to the Census Bureau Web site, there are 15,422 Baby Boomers locally compared to 14,670 Millennials.
Is Genesee County’s lagging Millennial population a trend that's important?
Absolutely, say those with the jobs related to the area’s development and growth.
“You definitely want to have Millennials in a community,” said Felipe Oltramari, the county planning director. “The next generation will create the jobs and opportunities for future generations to be here. As they become players with purchasing power, we want to make sure they are living here and they’re bringing more buying power and creating more jobs and running our community. From an economic development perspective, and social perspective, you want people here from all sorts of generations.”
The window of opportunity to anchor a small town with Millennials may be closing shortly, according to William Fulton, director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
And it’s a critically important issue for the future of small cities.
“Most people settle down by age 35, and usually don’t move from one metro area to another after that,” Fuller wrote in an article for Governing.com. “And the demographic group behind the Millennials is a lot smaller. Just like Baby Boomers, the preferences of the Millennials will drive our society for two generations. They’re making location decisions based on their idea of quality of life. And they’re going to make all those decisions in the next few years -- by the time they’re 35.”
The good news, according to Fuller, is even if time is short, the goal is obtainable for small cities.
“Even Millennials … want to live near their families and near where they grew up, meaning that if you can create interesting places, they’re likelier to stay,” Fuller wrote. “And you don’t need the endless hip urban fabric of New York or D.C. to compete. You just need a few great neighborhoods for people to live and work in. For most cities, that’s an achievable goal.”
Interesting places, amenities, activities, culture and the opportunity to interact socially, these are the things planners say Batavia needs to retain and attract Millennials.
“I try to drive this point every time I speak,” Oltramari said. “This generation moves first and then finds a job. If you look, there are jobs here and available, but they want to be where their peers are.”
So how do we create an environment where Millennials want to live?
A key word: density.
According to research by Nielsen:
“Sixty-two percent indicate they prefer to live in the type of mixed-use communities found in urban centers, where they can be close to shops, restaurants and offices. They are currently living in these urban areas at a higher rate than any other generation, and 40 percent say they would like to live in an urban area in the future. As a result, for the first time since the 1920s growth in U.S. cities outpaces growth outside of them.”
Tim Tielman, a Buffalo preservationist and development consultant, observed at a Landmark Society talk in 2013 that Batavia is hampering its ability create the kind of economic core that attracts Millennials and like-minded residents with its over-abundance of downtown parking.
"One of the biggest issues every city faces is dead zones," Tielman said. "Batavia has dead zones up and down its streets. Dead zones are devoid of commercial activity. You chain too many dead zones together and you destroy your local community."
When you build your commercial district around the car, the district loses its appeal to pedestrians, and when people walk and interact, commercial activity soars, the feeling of community is pervasive, and social and civic capital grows.
"It isn't cars that make a place a commercial success," Tielman said. "It's a success (based) on how well the human animal can get about certain places. It's what appeals and what stimulates them to walk."
More and more, City Manager Jason Molino said, he’s hearing people talk about walkability. Increasingly, it’s what all communities are after, and something — along with the companion concept bikeability — that Batavia is lacking.
“People want quality-of-life amenities,” Molino said. “People will commute a little bit if you don’t have the jobs in this area if they have the amenities.”
Molino got an immersive experience in the kind of lifestyle amenities that help bring vitality to an urban area. On a vacation day, he and his family visited a couple of the shopping districts in Buffalo and then stopped for dinner at Larkin Square. It was Food Truck Tuesday (video).
Larkin Square, part of what is now known as Larkinville, an area once known as the Larkin District, which is considered Buffalo’s first commercial district, was a rundown industrial warehouse neighborhood. Spurred by a $2 million public-private investment in 2009, the Larkin Building and surrounding cityscape was redeveloped and revitalized. It’s become a hot spot in Buffalo for retail, food and entertainment activity. Tielman was a consultant on the project.
“Two things were obvious to me,” Molino said. “You had people coming to the square right after work, Millennials coming right after work, but you also had the senior population and families — people interested in this kind of quality-of-life amenity with vendors, live music, a pavilion and seating area, and a grass area, and 20 food trucks, all reasonably priced.”
There’s an interesting intersection these days between what Millennials want and Empty-nesters want, Molino noted. They want to get away from the demands of suburban home ownership and the lack of a closely knit community fabric and they seek out walkable neighborhoods with plenty of retail, dining and entertainment options.
That’s what he saw throughout his vacation day with his family in Buffalo.
Steve Hyde’s spent some time recently in Larkinville as well and came away with the same observations.
“It’s a fabulous, vibrant place,” said Hyde, who is the president and CEO of Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC).
Hyde has been spending more time recently working with the City of Batavia to help secure funding and support for the city’s Batavia Opportunity Area, also known at the Brownfield Opportunity Area, or BOA.
The BOA plan is focused specifically on redevelopment of properties that are stalled in the revitalization pipeline in the Downtown area, such as the Della Penna property on Ellicott Street. Moving these projects forward would help advance further Downtown revitalization.
A look around town at all the underused and often dilapidated space might make revitalization feel like a daunting task, and though time is short to attract Millennials, Julie Pacatte, the economic development coordinator for the Batavia Development Corp., isn't feeling any pressure, at least in the sense that revitalization needs to occur before Millennials age out of relocating.
"I think we're fortunate that by the time people reach 35, they tend to move back here with their families," Pacatte said. "They want that smaller-town environment, where they know who's who and they like that feeling of community. We're fortunate it in that way, so no, I don't feel the pressure. I do think we have an opportunity to attract younger people sooner into our community and we're excited about that opportunity. I don't feel the pressure of it, but I certainly want to see something happen in a shorter time frame, in the next five years, in terms of turning some of these sites around."
Since the trend in cities across the country is toward density and mixed use, with greater demand for apartments in downtown areas, Batavia has backed several initiatives to convert underused or unoccupied space in Downtown into apartments, and Pacatte has been right in the middle of it.
She said the new apartments Downtown have certainly proven attractive to Millennials.
Molino agreed.
“All of our marketing studies show there is a demand for this kind of housing in Batavia,” Molino said. “People want to come to our area. It’s a core, central area.”
Part of the plan for Downtown is also creating more office space. Businesses that are founded by Millennials or that hire Millennials need space to relocate and grow, Pacatte said.
"A priority for us is drawing more people Downtown to live, work and shop," Pacatte said. "Millennials are the right target market for our Downtown plan."
While Hyde’s job is to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Genesee County, Molino’s focus is a little broader. He wants to see Batavia become a better place to live.
He believes Batavia is ideally suited to be a less-expensive alternative to Buffalo and Rochester for Millennials and Empty-nesters, even when they work in the larger neighboring counties.
“With mobility being what it is these days, if you draw a half-hour circle around Rochester and Buffalo, they’re going to intersect in Batavia,” Molino said. “If people at that half-hour distance as a reasonable community, where can they find those amenities? That’s going to be what sells communities to Millennials and Empty-nesters.”
Hyde said what has already been accomplished in Batavia is attracting Millennials. He knows because his daughter, who works in Rochester, and a roommate, who works in Buffalo, rented one of those Downtown apartments.
“They love it,” Hyde said. “Everything is in walking distance. There are restaurants and bars and things for them to do. We need more of that Downtown.”
A place for Millennials to land in Batavia will increase the impact of STAMP (Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park) if the GCEDC is successful in attracting the kind of high tech, nano tech, advanced materials, solar and bio-manufacturing the park is designed to accommodate. The companies that set up shop in STAMP are going to hire a lot of Millennials who will make good wages and want a lifestyle that is social and active.
Hyde believes Batavia needs to be ready for them, or miss the opportunity to secure future growth.
“We can be a bigger center of economic opportunity,” Hyde said. “We can create a hip, smaller center city with lots of lifestyle choices.”
The BOA is tuned to provide just that kind of boost.
"The opportunity is in front of us," Pacatte said. "We have to make our Downtown more attractive and through these BOA sites, we will really be able to transform the Downtown experience."
The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Def Leppard/Styx concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday:
Renno J. Rushton, 23, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal mischie, 4th, criminal trespass, 3rd, harassment, 2nd, and disorderly conduct after allegedly refusing to leave Darien Lake property after being told to leave several times. Rushton allegedly attempted to grab a security officer, created a disturbance in the park parking lot, and also damaged a wall inside the security office. Rushton was arraigned in Darien Court and jailed on $500 bail.
Erika L. Schmid, 23, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, 2nd, after allegedly creating a disturbance in the parking lot and pushing a security officer.
Krystie M. Martinez, 30, of Geneva Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Jason J. Tombari, 37, of Oak Orchard Road, Medina, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Kevin G. Bent, 31, of Carol Place, The Bronx, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the park property after being escorted from the property and told not to return.
The following people were arrested while at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center during the Toby Keith concert on Saturday.
Nicholas D. Winkley, 20, of Windspear Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with false personation after allegedly providing a false date of birth.
Nathan D. Cammarano, 25, of Broadway Road, Lancaster, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly entering the concert venue after being told he was not allowed inside.
James T. Deluca, 22, of Broadway Road, Lancaster, is charged with trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue several times after being ejected and told not to return.
Tyler J. Goodenough, 21, of West Filbert Street, East Rochester, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance while being ejected from the concert.
Alexander J. Rajla, 21, of Bobrich Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly possessing marijuana.
A one-car rollover accident is reported at 3768 Drake Street Road, Oakfield.
A person is trapped in the vehicle.
Oakfield fire and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 10:08 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire's Rescue 20 requested to the scene. Fire Police requested to set up road blocks. Mercy Flight on ground standby.
UPDATE 10:10 p.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene.
UPDATE 11:12 p.m.: Mercy Flight landed, but wasn't needed. The driver was extricated and appeared to have no or only minor injuries. She was transported to UMMC. The car appeared to have been westbound and crossed the road and into a ditch, pitching it end over end.
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