Comment Archives
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
After talking with a collegue, I think the most important consideration should be the George Eastman House. I read on RochesterSubway Jackie's comments about it being Rochester's own White House and I agree. Everything in the immediate area surrounding the GEH should be subject to the museum's enhancement. Yes, I understand this is undemocratic/uncapitalistic, but I think GEH is an asset that is much to valuable that it should take over the American Legion's plot. Too bad GEH dropped the ball on this. I hope the American Legion can forgive the GEH and work something out. Who knows, perhaps in several years the GEH could build a massive new Exhibit wing, drawing visitors from around the world especially those passionaite about photography and film.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
OK, so we turn down the Morgan Management proposal. Then what? More years of looking at a large expanse of cracked asphalt and a decaying Tudor? More years listening to how the Eastman House blew their opportunity? More years of conflict between economic reality and the striving for an unobtainable perfect architectural and cultural use for the property?
When Lincoln was looking for a new general to lead the Union armies his critics told him to pick anybody. Lincoln replied, "Anybody will do for you, but not for me. I must have somebody”. The same philosophy applies to the Monroe Voiture property. We can not afford to wait for that perfect “anybody”, we must have “somebody.”
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
@Mrs Towler: I'll leave that between you and your conscience. All I can tell from the piece is that you're carrying GEH's water on this one, because, as others pointed out, your arguments are nonsensical. Example:
"At what point does the density become too much? Has this part of the city's southeast area reached its apartment saturation point? Is it time to cap the expansion of apartments in that neighborhood, letting them spread to other areas?"
Apartment saturation point? What does that mean? Do you have any statistics to quantify this elusive tipping point? Or, am I mistaken and the name of your newspaper is "Suburb"? Because it's suburbs that want single occupancy stand alone dwellings, And what neighborhood are we talking about, the whole SE side or NOTA? Because the only NOTA apartment expansion that I've seen is near Village Gate (unless you're counting the low-income high-rise between Goodman and Upton Place). There's no apartment expansion going on near this proposed development. That's what makes it a good location for an apartment complex, even if its neighbors like GEH and the churches don't like it.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
To Rotten: Advertising has no impact on my decisions, but so that we're dealing in facts, not fiction: the George Eastman House is by no means a major advertiser for City. In fact, we donate a substantial amount of advertising to the museum's film program.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
@ParkResident: "the neighborhood surrounding Starry Nites, while up and coming, is still pretty dicey (wouldn't want my daughter walking around there at night)"
You're throwing out accusations about people not knowing this location and then you write something like this? I've been in that neighborhood at night a number of times recently and would hardly call it "dicey". Are you talking about the existence of a gay bar? Does that alone make it dicey? Perhaps you should ask the patrons of Edibles, Good Luck, Lento, Espada, Salenas and Gatehouse, just to name 6 good restaurants within easy walking distance of this new complex, whether they feel that they're in a "dicey" neighborhood. And, btw, none of those restaurants involve a walk across the sacred grass of GEH.
NIMBYism is simply another word for resistance to any change by current residents, and an inability to imagine improvement over the current status quo. Your comments exemplify that. It's an "industrial area"? Yes, there's some industry there, obviously Gleason, but there's also a huge converted-to-retail set of warehouses one block east (where Rockventures is), and a number of other former industrial buildings that are now housing high-end retail (like Joe Bean) near Price Right. Who knows what other businesses will grow there after 102 new units of housing are added?
And as to the question of where the people to populate all the new city housing will come from, young professionals and retired empty nesters will move to the city from the suburbs no matter what the schools are like. This may be a zero-sum game, but the game is played across Monroe County, not just in the city, once the city has dense enough housing that spurs the development of more retail. Look at the South Wedge as an example - I'm sure it's far too "dicey" for you to enter, but dense housing and new apartments have led to more retail which leads to higher rent and higher housing prices, not collapse.
Re: “Rochester's apartment boom”
Anyone ever do the financial analysis of costs total of rent versus own?
The apartment building owner has all the usual expenses, plus depreciation, to offset revenue, where the homeowner does not.
In addition to being at an asset cost disadvantage, the homeowner feels the property tax sting quite directly.
I'm thinking there's interest in apartments because it's a better deal than home ownership.
Re: “"American Idol" 2013: Top 4 Performances (AGAIN: 2013/Standards Week)”
Kirk: I just want to clarify, I don't think Angie "deserves to go home on the basis of one night." I think Angie is very talented -- I think all of the Final 4 are. I do think she turned in the weakest overall performance last night, however. And at this point, I feel like they are all on mostly equal ground, with Candice slightly ahead and probably Amber slightly behind (but only because she's just not getting the votes for some reason). But please do not think I am attempting to disparage Angie in any way. I think she's terrific. But somebody has to go tonight, and I think all three other girls had at least one performance that beat both of hers.
Re: “Local drone protesters arrested”
Can't you journalists ever get over excluding men from being innocent? The article states "Critics say the drones are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people, including women and children." Is it any worse to kill innocent women and children than innocent men? Are men's lives worth less? Or is it a given that 'innocent people' only means 'men' and you have to emphasize that innocent people can also be women and children? Why not just say "innocent men, women and children'? That should cover it.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
One more thing: there is nothing wrong with NIMBY. What do you think about the Village of Pittsford's fight against Mark IV's proposal to build apartments along the Canal!?! Second: Greater Rochester's transit situation WON'T change until gas prices are sky high or there is significant population growth. Since neither are likely for the foreseeable future, almost all people (except hipsters and true progressives) are going to keep their cars and shop, live, and work where they can drive and park freely. Third: without change in Rochester's schools, you are not going to see family's clamoring to live in the city. Fourth: See City's other article about apartment building in rochester, eventually, with so many apartments coming online, rents will decrease (without the population increase) and fringe areas (like NOTA and the Morgan location) are going to see deteriotation rather than gentrification. As Larry Glazer says in that article, apartment building in Rochester is a Zero-Sum game.
Re: “Blumenauer talks up investment in bike-pedestrian infrastructure”
Rochester is NOT Portland. Even though Portland gets planty of rain, and cyclists there don't mind riding in it, they rarely get extremely cold weather or snow - unlike Rochester. Rochester can be a bike-friendly city as long as it's kept in the perspective that people will only ride bikes about half of the year and only in good weather.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
I think it's pretty clear most of the commenters here don't live in this part of the city. Adding that many units here does not help increase the density of the city. There is little to nothing nearby. The residents would likely walk across the Eastman lawn to get to Park and East Avenues, where they would make a large trek to either the EastEnd or Berkley & Park, yes, they could also walk to Starry Nites Cafe, but the neighborhood surrounding Starry Nites, while up and coming, is still pretty dicey (wouldn't want my daughter walking around there at night). Don't forget the amazing foodstore of PriceRite, cheaper than Walmart!?! There is little to no residential life on most of this stretch of University, it's mostly old warehouse buildings where manufacturing STILL takes place. Allowing this to be built would be a great example of poor city planning. The East/Park area has survived 100 years because of its preservation. While we are at it, why don't we tear down the Eastman House and build apartments there too?!?. F$ck the majesty of East Avenue, it stands in the way of PROGRESS (and tax revenues). And for those against a parking lot, there is already a massive parking lot there. This is Rochester, where people demand free parking (hence the demise of downtown as the workplace of the region). Eastman's plan would beautify the lot, increasing green space and including a new sculpture garden adding to the ArtWalk.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
Thank you for this well researched article on the proposed development at 933 University Avenue. Your paper serves an important role when providing substance to issues facing urban development.
My understanding of the process of having private investment of additional housing has been in existence for the last 2 decades. The influx of non tax supported multimillion dollar proposals should be taken seriously and facilitated to an outcome of quality, integrating with neighborhoods, and celebration.
This proposal at its current or alternative site reflects a very positive indicator of demand for development in Rochester. Hooray, at last! May your paper, neighborhood activists, and city officials work together towards its potential of a promising end for the City of Rochester.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
It's nice to see City supporting a major advertiser, George Eastman House, even though GEH completely and totally screwed up what should have been a no-brainer acquisition of the Voiture. We wouldn't be having this conversation if GEH had dealt with those vets in a straightforward manner. And, once GEH bought the property, and once they figured out what they wanted to do with it after they used it for a parking lot for a few years (and Lord knows the one thing Rochester doesn't need is nicely landscaped parking lot), then City will be explaining why whatever GEH wants to do is worth tearing down the historic Voiture building. After reading this ill-reasoned piece, City has no credibility on this subject.
All the things that make Rochester a better city- better mass transit, more small neighborhood businesses, more use of bikes and walking instead of driving-require population density. The way you get population density is to developments like this.
Also, that Kahn quote is just NIMBY dressed up in elegant words.
Re: ““Doctor Who” Season 7: “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS””
I don't think Clara being River and The Doctor's daughter would be appropriate (mainly because they've kissed). The Doctor went back to her parents to see how they met and how Clara grew up. She seemed perfectly normal. The TARDIS may not have bothered with women before because he wasn't... "married" in his timeline. However, now he has another girl who isn't River or Amy (his mother-in-law) and the TARDIS is not amused.
To address point 7 in the list, the voices were all taken from previous Doctors, both from the classic and new series, listen carefully and you'll notice. Now, the Big Bad isn't clear or obvious but it must be related to The Silence because we know the season has to end with his name being revealed before we hit the 50th anniversary special. The Silence is a movement. We don't know its founder yet. We know only of the members. For all we know, it could be The Great Intelligence who is behind all of it. Although it would make little sense since The Silence wants to avoid the answer and the Great Intelligence would most likely seek it out. However, why would his name be so important? Furthermore, why would the TARDIS let Clara into the library where she immediately found out his true name? The episode made it a point to show that the TARDIS lets you go where she wants you to go. The plot thickens.
There is at least one thing that we should consider, his name must be meaningful to us. It cannot be something like "John Smith" because it would just be that... a name. Why hide your name if it doesn't mean anything to anyone? His name means something and something he may not even be proud of. Why else would River have said "I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry" before whispering his name to him while dealing with the Vashta Nerada?
hmm... that makes me think of a possible answer, but it's all still speculation... by the way, who could've possibly written the book about the Time War? I thought no one got out but The Doctor so how can a finished book survive without its author having finished it? Also... how is it that the author knows The Doctor's true name if no one but The Doctor himself knows? As I understood it, not even the time lords knew... is the author The Doctor?
...now I won't be able to sleep peacefully.
Re: “"American Idol" 2013: Top 4 Performances (AGAIN: 2013/Standards Week)”
Anyone who thinks Angie should go home on the basis of one night should never comment on music again. If we had finalized the voting for last week, Candice could be going home. Is there anyone in the entire universe who thinks Candice should be going home now? GG.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
I don't agree with the article. Parking lots are terrible for urban areas and density is almost always a good thing. When density gets high enough in a desirable area the result is usually fewer cars, better transit, and great restaurants. Parking lots lead to sterile, unwalkable, neighborhoods with few services. Morgan's proposal looks fine and will be a fine addition to University Avenue and the city.
Re: “"American Idol" 2013: Top 4 Performances (AGAIN: 2013/Standards Week)”
I fell asleep the show's music was more boring than the elevator I rode in today.
Re: “"American Idol" 2013: Top 4 Performances (AGAIN: 2013/Standards Week)”
Mariah is actually the voice of reason if you get past her "blathering." She saw the potential in Candice over a month ago. It was so wonderful to finally hear Harry call Randy out on his nonsense. Randy and Nicki just talk to talk. Keith is a little cheesy, but like Mariah, he hits on the technicalities. I'd love to see Harry, Keith, and Mariah on the pannel next year.
As for the girls, a clear winner emerged tonight (as if it wasn't already obvious): Candice. Angie and Amber should be next to go, but hopefully Angie first.
Re: “City should turn down University Ave. project”
I agree with you Mike and JAM. It is because of efforts like this that will block Rochester from moving forward. This building is seriously ugly and people had the nerve to complain about Erie harbor apartments. In this case you would be replacing an ugly building with a beautiful one.
Re: “Local drone protesters arrested”
"fermenting [sic] even more mistrust and hostility"?!? Oy. So now we have a problem with drunk droning?
"drones are responsible..." Uh, no. Drones don't kill people — people do. Specifically, Prof. B. H. Obama. Don't blame and harass the operators, who selflessly and patriotically do the work we ask them and pay them to do. If you're going to get up in someone's face, then follow the chain of command to Lafayette Park and share your feelings with the commander in chief.