[RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams

[Marc Molino]

I like the idea of collectively organizing, but in the case of the Field of 
Dreams, there was weight behind the effort: public property being rushed to 
sale w/out really getting public input. In this case, we've got property 
that has already been sold to a developer, a developer who will continue to 
use the same quote he did in the Gazette saying that the properties were 
vacant for 15 years before he bought them and no one wants to rent there. Do 
we have any facts to support our position such as commercial lease/rent 
prices that are high for this area? Potential businesses whose interest has 
been ignored or rejected by Jemal?

It seems like our interests would be better served by getting a group of 
people and sitting on the doorstep of a business we do want to come to our 
town or aggressively marketing our town--I'm hoping the economic develop 
consultant also has some concrete ideas when she gives her presentation on 
the 17th.

Or perhaps doing both--putting the public spotlight on Jemal and actively 
putting our town out there. I know the marketing part is in the plans giving 
various talks I've had with town reps, but could someone who knows more 
about economic development chime in as to how this process usually works? 
More often than not, do businesses come knocking on a small town's door or 
do town's offer incentives/rewards to lure them in? How much is luck and 
timing, and how much is hard work and self-marketing? Other than Old Town 
Pets, what is the last new business that opened up in the Town Center?

-Marc Molino
4801 Queensbury


From: bruce.wernek at mindspring.com
Reply-To: bruce.wernek at mindspring.com
To: euniverz at aol.com, towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:27:05 -0400 (GMT-04:00)







Adrianne

Why don't we round up everyone in the town, make up a bunch of signs saying 
Jemalville, and demonstrate in front of the Town Center screaming these 
buildings have been vacant for 20+ years and we've had enough.  Then make 
arrangements for the Washington Post to interview some of us while we are 
demonstrating.  Maybe we could even get some coverage on News 4.  We did it 
with the Field of Dreams, we can do it now.  How about some volunteers?

Bruce



-----Original Message-----
From: euniverz at aol.com
Sent: Sep 10, 2007 11:22 AM
To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams

Bruce,

It has ALWAYS been my understanding that there was nothing we could do about 
the vacant buildings and that it was all the developer's "fault".  This is 
what I have heard from our town's leaders, whom I would have expected to be 
the subject matter expert on the issue.

Are you saying this is something that is within OUR power to be remedied?  
What would it take, and would such an action be realistic?  This would be a 
very interesting development (pun intended).

Adrianne Lefkowitz
48th & Madison


 





Message: 2
Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 13:58:59 -0400
From: "Bruce Wernek" <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center Bldgs
To: <OurDollMom at aol.com>,   <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
Message-ID: <000001c7f30b$1c0b9760$2d01a8c0 at brucespc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Emily

Vacan is vacant.  Dressing up buildings is not going to make it go away.  We
don't have to tolerate vacant if we don't want to.  Those buildings have
been vacant for so long, they go unnoticed.  I assure you this would not
occur in College Park.

Recall the episode with the Field of Dreams.  We as citizens can make things
happen.

Bruce


Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail!






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