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.

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PATCHOGUE, NY

Neighborhood Watch Success Story

Inspector Mojica has forwarded a link to a Neighborhood Watch success story in Boston. Please read the article below; we must not become complacent!
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The below news article is provided for your reading pleasure. While reading this article, keep in mind that the Suffolk County Police Department in general and the Fifth Precinct in particular do provide assistance to those who are interested in starting a neighborhood watch organization.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1309852

Inspector Aristides Mojica

Commanding Officer, Fifth Precinct

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New Patchogue YMCA Brought a Smile to my Face

Yesterday my wife and I decided to visit the New Patchogue YMCA, to "take a look" at the new facility. I was impressed with the new facility. The Locker Room is the most important part of the building, that could make or break your Health Club experience. In the case of our Patchogue YMCA, the locker room has everything one could possibly want.
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A representative from the "Y" personally escorted my wife and I through the Gym, Aerobics Rooms, and finally to the Pool. A single room caught my eye! This room had a few desks, a Ping Pong table, a Shuffle Board Table, and a few Computers. I exclaimed! Wow! A Recreation Room........Do teenagers have to be a member to use this room? Our guide quickly responded; No we let teenagers in to this room, free of charge if they can show that they are currently attending school. This room is available to our children to do their homework.
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I can by personal experience relate to this; it's called "Caring."In the Fifties, many people, groups, and organizations went out of their way to help children and Teenagers; not just their children, but any and all children! Today, community assistance to children is not as prevalent as it could be; that is why I was impressed with the YMCA!
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I can personally attest to the importance of caring; the YMCA has demonstrated that it does indeed care for children and Teenagers! With a really big smile on my face I say "Kudos," to the YMCA. Why? Because they care!
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(Now... don't have your children get off the school bus at the YMCA; please make a phone call, in advance, to get the details.)

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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.

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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 Hotel

291 rental units (The Devil is in the details! Rental as opposed to Owner Occupied)

No Tower

No parking Garage

In 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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Quanza

December 26, marks the beginning of the Seven day African American Holiday of Quanza.

The founders of the Holiday of Quanza had the wisdom to realize the importance of community values. Quanza stresses family, community unity, respect, ancestry, and the value of hard work.

Most of all, the founders of Quanza realized the value of educating their children.

As stated earlier in a previous post in this Gazette

" If we do not provide our children with something to identify with, they will figure out something for themselves."

Happy Quanza!

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PATCHOGUE, NY:

IMPORTANT!!!!!

Received this email from a concerned neighbor:

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Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I would like to advise you that I read in the LI Advance today that a Community Forum sponsored by Patchogue First (which are the elected officials of Patchogue Village) www.patchoguefirst.com/government is scheduled to meet at the Elks Club on Oak Street, one block off Main Street in Patchogue on Wednesday, Jan 5 at 7:30 to discuss the Tritec 291 rental apartments to be built on the four corners. The application to approve the development is scheduled for vote sometime in January or February.

I think this development will leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren of turning Patchogue into an undesirable heavily populated urban area characterized by dense, impoverished housing.

A quick look at the apartments across from the Patchogue Post Office and behind Burlington Coat Factory will give you a quick snapshot of the future of Patchogue if this development is approved.

Also, if you were not aware the hotel will not be built.

Let’s keep our community on the right path of a village that is turning to a charming desirable downtown. Make you voice heard, this development is wrong for the community.

Craig

Comment From the Webmaster:
Originally I was in favor of the TriTec proposal which included a Hotel, Restaurant or meeting room, landscaped Pedestrian Area, 50% Hotel Rooms, and 50% Rental Rooms.

I am not in favor of any changes to the original TriTec Proposal. Patchogue has more than it's fair share of Renter Occupied Housing; we host 22% more Renter Occupied Housing than the national average.

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See updated version:
http://mapleavenuenw.blogspot.com/2011/12/most-beautiful-christmas-tree-on-long.html#links

The Most Beautiful Christmas Tree in Brooklyn and Patchogue

My wife comes from 69th Street in Brooklyn, NY. In the 50s everyone lived a very modest life. The quality of life then, doesn't even come close to the quality of life that most of us now take for granted. We owned only one pair of sneakers, and we extended the usable lifetime of a failing sneaker by inserting cardboard into the bottom of the sneaker to cover a hole. We "had no clue" that we were poor, because everyone around us lived exactly the same way.

Christmas presents were scarce at that time; toys were few, and we usually got something practical instead, such as a pair of underwear! My wife's father sold Christmas trees on 69 th St in order to supplement the family income. A side job such as this does have its perks; my wife always had the biggest and most beautiful Christmas Tree in "all of Brooklyn!"

I inherited the tradition of having the "Biggest and Best Christmas Tree," when I married my wife Marie. Every year we always purchase our Christmas tree at the same place. The employees knew my wife by her first name; why; because they had to lift 47 Christmas Trees for my wife, before she would select a tree. The employees always smiled as they participated in my wife's tree selection ritual; they too could feel her joy and enthusiasm; it was contagious!

Large Christmas Trees did not come without their problems! My living Room has a Nine foot ceiling; in the early days she had a tendency to select a Twelve foot Christmas Tree. So! For many years we had to cut three feet off the top of our Christmas Trees. Yep! Our trees sometimes looked like a Trapazoid! What fond memories!

I will always remember our biggest quest for the most beautiful Christmas Tree! Armed with a Cassette Player and many Christmas Carol Tapes, two adults and three teenagers, piled into a Ford Fairmont mid-sized wagon, and drove to Eastern Long Island, to cut down our own Christmas Tree. We could not find a tree that was big enough so we drove to Upstate New York, in order to find the perfect tree. Our biggest mistake was to cut down a tree that was over eight inches in diameter at its base! The tree was beautiful, but it was also huge! It took three teenagers and two adults to get this tremendous tree on the roof of our small car. The Christmas tree was so big that it offered a tremendous wind load to our car; our gas mileage was severely degraded. I couldn't understand why my small car was using so much Gasoline! With the combined weight of two adults, three teenagers, and one huge tree, the small ford Fairmont wagon was essentially hugging the ground! The tree cost us Twenty Five dollars, and the expenses, and Gasoline required to transport this huge tree back to Patchogue, cost us One Hundred and Fifty dollars.

So we have a Twenty Five dollar Christmas tree that cost us $150. dollars to transport home; a total of $175. !

After 47 years of marriage we have honed and tweaked our Christmas Tree selection process, to the point that is now an "art." This year my wife and I selected our Christmas Tree in only Fifteen minutes! Truly miraculous!

It is an absolute certainty, that if we lived in Brooklyn, NY, we would indeed have the "Best Christmas Tree in Brooklyn." We now live in Patchogue, NY, so.... we now have the "Most Beautiful Christmas Tree, in all of Patchogue, NY!"

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Merry Christmas!!!

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Cops Who Care

Free Hams and Turkeys to Benefit Needy Families

The New York State Police, the Suffolk County Police and the Urban League of Long Island have partnered for the third annual Cops Who Care food drive.
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250 Hams and 250 Turkeys will be distributed free of charge to needy families.
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One item per family, first come first serve.
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When: Wednesday, December 22, 2010. 1:00PM
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Where: Suffolk County Police Headquarters,
30 Yaphank Ave. Yaphank , NY 11980 .
Exit 67 Long Island Expressway, half-mile south on right.
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For additional information contact Lt. Bob Donohue, (631) 852-6530. donohurob@suffolkcountyny.gov

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Patchogue, NY

Patchogue Christmas Parade

November 27, 2010

I have attended many Christmas Parades in our home town of Patchogue NY, but this year I have seen an abundance of spirit that I never expected. In spite of the sluggish economy I believe that more people attended our "Christmas Parade 2010," than ever before. People were Fifteen deep along the sidewalk, viewing our parade. I estimate that there could have been Eight thousand people at our parade!

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I was very surprised to see so many groups participate in our parade; fire departments, car clubs, small businesses and clubs. I always enjoy the local dance studios that have their students, which are our children and grandchildren, perform their dance routines for all to enjoy! This is very important for all; it is important for the youth and their friends and relatives to come to the realization that these young people have attained a balance in their lifestyle. Trouble starts when our youth identify with less than reputable groups and activities. If we do not provide our children with something to identify with, they will figure out something for themselves.

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I always enjoy seeing the Tractors in our parade! Farmers and Tractors bring with them a connotation of what make our country great; "every day people who work hard for a living. There is a lesson to be learned from farmers; you can attain anything if you work hard enough!"

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Then we have the Boy Scout, and Girl Scout. It is always inspirational to see our young people involved with activities that build character. A community of youth that have not been directed toward and nurtured by groups that mold character will find it easy to turn down the wrong road

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The religious holidays of Christmas and Hanukah try to guide people down the correct path in life. We as a community must make every effort not to dilute that which creates a feeling of family, and a sense of community.

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So! Patchogue Christmas Parade 2010 was a smashing success!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah!

(Left click the arrow to start video)

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Merry Christmas!

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