Isn't it frustrating when you try to interrupt the operation of a malfunctioning program by pressing ctrl-alt-delete, and it doesn't work? It keeps on malfunctioning? That is frustrating.
I also find it frustrating when I read or hear someone say that the Pinegrove Building isn't able to be expanded, because the Town only owns the building, or the WISD owns the land surrounding the building. I find it extremely unacceptable when Town Government tries to spoon feed me that same rhetoric.
For example:
Supervisor Heyman has stated on the town website, and in her "facts sheet" that the "WISD owns the land around the building." She's had a Guest Essay in MPNnow titled, "Where Do We Go From Here?", where she states yet again that "in fact, the WISD owns the land surrounding Pinegrove."
Debbie Evans has stated in an e-mail to some residents that "we can't enlarge the footprint of the building, because we do not own the land that surrounds it. We cannot expand the parking......."
Bill Domm, assistant superintendent for business in West Irondequoit said in Dec. 2008 that "the Town purchased the building and just 3 ft. all the way around it, plus the parking lot out front for about $185,000 in the mid '70s."
Ted Schoonmaker, a senior center visitor, said in a letter to MPNnow "To expand at Pinegrove, where are you going, with only five feet all around the building to add space? It's impossible."
Folks, it's just not true.
Let me say it again.
It's. just. not. true.
3 ft? 5 ft? Where are they getting this information from? The Town?
The $185,000 purchase price is true, but the claims above about the amount of property the Town owns at Pinegrove is not.
Recently a resident made a visit to the County Offices to view any documents related to the purchase/development/deed etc., of Pinegrove. There were 6 pages, and the clerk assured the resident that this was all they had on file for this property.
The following 6 pages are what the Town has filed with the County of Monroe concerning the property at 154 Pinegrove Ave.
The deed states that the parcel is 275' wide x 300' deep.
That = 82,500 sq. ft.
1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.
That means that the Town owns 1.9 acres for Pinegrove with the existing building on site.
The deed also states that the WISD retained the right to use the North End room (about 1,000 sq. ft. as an office for the Nature Center) rent free and this continues in perpetuity (or "forever" in 'real people' speak).
The Supervisor has said that the Town doesn't own the property around the building, but the Supervisor has also said that Pinegrove is 1.9 acres. This was on the following document, and on the town website titled "Let's Talk About Our Town.....".
How can the Town NOT own the property surrounding the building (according to the Supervisor) and own 1.9 acres (according to the Supervisor)? In which statement is she lying?
What is most frustrating, is that the option to expand or new-build was never given. Never discussed. The 1.9 acres of Pinegrove is never mentioned in the "Senior Center Facts Sheet" at all!
All we kept hearing about was how the Town wanted to lease 20,000 sq. ft. of space for seniors only at King$ Pork, and how great it is.
Residents have said that the Supervisor has said at previous meetings that the Town only owns a few feet around the building, and that as soon as you walk out the door the town owned property ends, etc.
That is not true, according to documents filed by the Town with Monroe County concerning the property at 154 Pinegrove, and according to the Supervisor herself.
1.9 acres would give you a building with enough square footage for the community (not just seniors) with ample room for parking.
The Town wanted to spend $1.2 million on a five year lease for 20,000 sq. ft. for just seniors.
Since the Supervisor likes to refer to Greece's facilities......
Greece built a two story (elevator!), 35,000 SF building at the Town Campus. The building contains community use rooms, a full service kitchen, a senior’s room, activity rooms, art room, gymnasium, elevated running track, exercise room, locker rooms, staff offices, conference rooms, support and utility areas, and a future expansion office area on the second floor.
That's for the whole community of over 90,000 people in Greece. Not just 7,000 seniors. 35,000 sq. ft. for the WHOLE POPULATION of Greece.
Meanwhile....in Irondequoit.....the Town Board, through a unanimous vote, opted for a lease of over 20,000 sq. ft. for just seniors, and they refuse to fix up the existing building, or even let a resident volunteer who has commitments from businesses for free labor/materials to fix up Pinegrove....for FREE!
Another bit of misinformation that the Town Board likes to float around is that King$ Pork is on a bus line (which is true), therefore easier for residents to access. But what they conveniently leave out is that RTS service runs down St. Paul Blvd. and services Helmer Nature Center too. Read for yourself.
I keep pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete, but the program keeps malfunctioning.
Frustrating!
