Last Chance to Make the Tritec Deal Acceptable
I did not attend the January 24, 2011 Patchogue Village meeting where the Village Board was going to make a decision on the TriTec Issue! Why?....... because I felt that the decision had already been made, even before the Elks Club Forum! I did not want to waste my time only to be angered by a decision that I figured was inevitable!
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the final decision was postponed until March 1, 2011. I believe that it is up to our Mayor and Village Board members to negotiate the best possible deal with Tritec on our behalf; granting 291 rental apartments to Tritec is the same as giving away the Goose that laid the golden egg!
I do not think that anyone is against granting Tritec permission to start construction, but some portion of the agreement must be in the best interest of our village; 291 rentals is not! We do need to protect our village from possible abuse in the future.
I suggested reserving and designating a group of apartments as "Condo," and allow them to be rented as hotel rooms. Please read the article below! (Left click the link below)
http://mapleavenuenw.blogspot.com/2011/01/patchogue-ny-possible-solution-to.html#links
Kellene Guyer is also in favor of building the apartments, but with Co-op owner occupied provisions, that keep our "Young Professionals," on the Radar Screen. Please read the article that was written by Kellene Guyer. (Left click the link below)
http://patchogue.patch.com/articles/op-ed-letter-to-mayor-and-trustees-on-new-village-project
In my opinion approving the construction of 291 apartments without provisions that protect our neighborhood and children, is unacceptable.
Patchogue NY:
Possible Solution to the Tritek Delemma!
The original Tritek proposal for Main Street, Patchogue, NY, included a Hotel and Rental units! Many people are displeased with the current proposal from Tritek which does not include a Hotel! A merchant from Patchogue suggested that we start all over from ground zero!
I have a suggestion that may help to defuse the controversy. In addition, my suggestion would include Tritek, as part of the solution.
Using a condo complex called "Villas by the Sea," in Georgia, as a template; Tritek could take the 106 units that were originally slated for Hotel Rooms, and convert them to Condos. Each condo unit would be privately owned. The "Villas by the Sea" model, allows for the condos to be used as rentals if approved by the individual owners. All of the owners of the individual units constitute a "Condo Association."
An individual Condo unit owner can choose to live there, or allow his unit to be available for long and or short term rental. It is the short term rental facility that allows the complex to function as a Hotel.
An independent Rental Management Company would be in charge of rentals. A Maid Service would be resident; and a maintenance company could be on call. If something like a TV is broken, the Building Manager will call the Maintenance Company to deal with the issue.
Tritek as well as the individual condo owners would receive a check each month in compensation for the rental of their units, and Maintenance fees would be paid to Tritek by the Condo owners.
Given these difficult times, this proposal could solve our problem. My suggestion could be used as an abstract model, that would be altered through negotiations, with the ultimate goal of creating something that will benefit both Patchogue, and Tritek.
Patchogue, TriTec Swezey's Project
On Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011, "Patchogue First," hosted a Community Forum to discuss the changes that have been made, by the TriTec Corporation, to the original Swezey property, construction project, on Main Street, in Patchogue, NY. This is the second community forum; almost three years after the first and original forum.
In 2008 the TriTec Corporation originally proposed a Hotel, with a multi tier Parking Garage, a pedestrian Promenade, and a Tower with a Community Room at the top, that could be used for community events such as an art exhibit. The possible vista from the tower was flaunted.
Half of the rooms in the complex, were slated to be used for the hotel; the remaining rooms were slated to be condos or rentals. Although ambiguous the entire community was mesmerized with, and in favor of, the original Tritec Hotel proposal. I was in favor of the project! It did appear to be a project that could bolster Patchogue, as a genuine venue.
Details of the first and original March 2, 2008, TriTec forum, at the Patchogue Theatre can be found at the URL Below. http://mapleavenuenw.blogspot.com/2008/03/tri-tec-presentation-at-patchogue.html
T On January 5, 2011 a second Community Forum was held at the Elks Club, in Patchogue, because the TriTec corp changed the terms of the original agreement. The new proposal is as follows:
No HotelIn one case TriTec was not able to entice a well known Hotel Chain to build in Patchogue because the hotel wanted dedicated parking; triTec offered shared parking.
A few residents who are currently “Renters,” were in favor of the 291 rental units. TriTec kept playing the "Our Children Card." One Renter/resident stated that his children cannot afford to pay current rental rates in Suffolk County. As stated by TriTec only 64 units would be used as "Work Force Housing" with a slightly cheaper rental rate.
The entire TriTec presentation took on the persona of an employer dealing with a Union Negotiating Team; offer them nothing and hope that they will settle for less! As I perceive their offering; they are not giving us anything that will bolster our mission to become a venue; rental housing does not create a venue.
A woman made a statement that Patchogue is trying to become a "Destination;" she asked, "What kind of destination?" The woman suggested that progress should be equated against quality of life. In my opinion 291 Rental Housing Units does not create a destination, nor does it improve our quality of life!.
Another resident stated that the current parking situation in the area of the Brick House is critical. 291 rental units could generate an additional 600 cars. The only parking TriTec offered was some basement parking; not nearly enough!
TriTec suggested that we let them build 291 Rental Apartments, with the possibility of future expansion. Exactly how stupid do they think we are! The only one who would benefit from 291 Rental Units is the TriTec Corporation! We all know that Santa Clause is dead! One gentleman stated at the meeting that we have absolutely no control over Section 8 placement; he feared that 291 section 8 rentals could appear on Main Street!
So!..... “Where’s the beef?” “What’s in this deal for Patchogue?” Does Patchogue need more rental Housing, in additional to the Clare Rose 140 unit, owner occupied development? I don’t think so. If some spice were added to the deal it may once again become palatable, as it was in 2008.
I would like to see the proposed complex at the Swezey’s location, be offered as a combination of dedicated Workforce Housing, Senior Housing, Condo owner occupied housing and also with provision for at least 20 Professional Business Offices. I would like to see something that benefits Patchogue, not just the triTec Corp.
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