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Editorials
The former Colecraft manufacturing building at 3949 Walden Avenue purchased by the Town of Lancaster in April of 2003 to be used as a facility for housing the combined Lancaster Town / Village police departments and the Town courts was considered an ill-conceived project by many at the time, and more so today.
The purchase price of the building ($1.9, includes furniture), the estimated costs to renovate the building to serve its intended purpose being recently deemed prohibitive, revenues lost and costs to maintain the building does not set well with many residents; especially considering the building is only being used by the police department’s detective squad and for storing equipment and materials.
Resident speaks on 2003 purchase
Resident Henry Gull told the writer that the facts in the case of the purchase of the Colecraft building by Supervisor Giza disturb him and others in a profound way.
“The perception of impropriety is pervasive throughout this blatant attack on the pocketbooks of all of Lancaster citizens. This reprehensible rape of the public treasury has not and will not go unnoticed. The cavalier attitude of the Town Board in this case needs to be exposed.
I was personally treated to an outright subversion of the truth by Supervisor Giza, while on a tour of the building at 3949 Walden Avenue accompanied by approximately 30 people.”
“I asked Supervisor Giza if he had ever heard the name Robert Benzel. His stammering reply was, and I quote, "I think he was a truck driver for Colecraft Manufacturing." In fact Robert Benzel was at the time president of the Colecraft Company.
He alone reported to the Canadian owner of the company. In addition, Benzel sat on the Lancaster Industrial Development Agency (LIDA), as its CEO. His desk was at the left of Giza, the chairman.”
“Call it what you will, perfidy or deceitfulness, but plainly said it was a lie. What effect this will have in the future of "3949" can only be interpreted by the people of Lancaster who, in fact, will have to pay for the obvious mistakes of Giza & company.
"I stand behind these words on my oath,” declared Gull.
Initial sales discussions
In October of 2007, Supervisor Robert Giza was asked as to the status of the Colecraft building. Giza answered that the detectives are already there. “And you have a lot of storage there. The board is determining whether we should go in there and remodel it and we have a grant from Empire State Development (ESD) for $350,000.”
In the ESD correspondence it was stated that the town’s intent was to spend $5.85 million for renovation.
At the 2-09-08 Town Board meeting, resident Dan Beutler again inquired on the status of the Colecraft building. “I heard rumors that you are interested in selling it. Are you selling it?”
Supervisor Robert Giza responded: “I’ll be honest with you. I had one party interested in purchasing it. I wasn’t against it.”
Giza went on to say that there is some property available on Pavement Road, up in front by the Psyche Center to build a police station. “When Former Police Chief Fowler was in office, he didn’t think it was big enough to put a police station in.”
“Current Police Chief Gary Stoldt, one of his Captain’s and I looked at it and we think we could build a nice police station there and use the current police building for storage, which is a couple feet away from there.”
Discussion then ensued on the process that would have to be followed to sell the building – formally advertising the sale and putting it up for bid, like the library sale.
Several months before, then sitting Justice Timothy Dwan appeared at a board work session and suggested the board sell the Colecraft building and build a new policy facility.
Today
At a recent board meeting resident Dan Beutler again inquired on the status of the sale and what process would be followed to sell it. “There has been board consensus and talk about putting up this up on the market. This has been delayed for so long and maybe you should not put all your eggs in one basket (Harper Industrial) and put the building up for sale.
Sometimes you have to take a little bit of a hit when you put it up on the market, but it would put it back on the tax rolls. Let’s do it!”
Giza cautioned that there were a lot of materials stored in the building and that a home would have to be found for them and also for the detectives. “It’s not like it’s not being utilized at all,” said Giza.
Giza added that they had not had time to have the building appraised. “It’s not an easy fix. If the board decides to sell it, finds a place to store the materials, then we’ll get an appraiser that will tell us what its worth.”
Comment
Are you as confused as I am? In April we are told there is room to build a police facility on Pavement Road and that the current police building could be used for storage. What’s with the “we have a lot of stuff stored here” excuse?
In April we were told by the Supervisor that there were interested parties in purchasing or leasing the Colecraft building. Since then other parties have shown interest.
And yet there has been no attempt to deem the property surplus, get an appraisal for sale worth, advertise the sale of the building and receive bids.
Why are we dragging our feet on selling this property when:
• It has been decided that the renovation of the Walden Avenue Colecraft building is cost prohibitive;
• Its use is only for storage and housing the police department’s detective squad;
• The town is losing approximately $51,000 per year because the property is not on the tax roll;
• The town is spending $60,000 per year in paying interest on a $1.9 million loan;
• Building operating and maintenance costs are in the tens of thousands of dollars;
• The building is located a distance away from the Pavement Road main police building and courts;
• The police department deserves better.
Would sure like to hear the opinions of the candidates running for the councilman seat on this matter!
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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