Village of Williamsville Government

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by left wing
Skip Cerio is a developer. He will come up with something that benefits Skip Cerio.

Left wing, we haven't agreed on much in the past but in this case I fear you are 100% correct. Worse, I have a feeling the village trustees don't quite realize what they are dealing with.

Cerio, I understand, is supposed to come back with a plan (that doesn't include condos) at the beginning of the year.

The next payment on the mill is due in....March, I think.

Under the best of circumstances, I don't know where the village will come up with independent revenue to make that payment -- and, in this case, if they don't take whatever Cerio offers they are up a big, big creek. They'd have to start over, I suspect.

And, let's face it, they didn't get much of a response to their informal request for proposals to begin with.

Like I said, they need help -- but from whom, I don't know.

[left wing]

They should be issuing a formal Request for Proposals - and NOW. An informal request doesn't carry the same weight.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by left wing
They should be issuing a formal Request for Proposals - and NOW. An informal request doesn't carry the same weight.

I agree. But they've already granted Cerio some kind of status that means they have to wait and see what he comes up with before talking with other developers.

[Dvoakley]

Traffic in the village is at a predictable time. It's busy during the commuter hours. I believe the reason is the traffic flow is really quite good - although quite heavy - during those busy hours. And that is the crux of the problem; even at the busiest of time you can get from the thruway off ramp to Youngs road in a reasonable time. I don't think the village wants this commuter traffic. It has no economic benefit to them. To me the logical solution is to slow down the traffic. The long proposed median on Main would reduce the through traffic. If properly design, it would add an ambiance that the village has lacked for some time. Then the village can concentrate on restoring the individual buildings to their original charm. I refer you to the city of Corning NY as an example of what can be done. That are actually bus shopping trips to Corning. Corning also has another big draw - the Museum of Glass. Williamsville has a potential jewel in the old mill. It needs development money. We don't need more condos in the village. Develop the mill as a tourist attraction. That's not something that cab be done on the cheap. It would take some serious money to develop the mill into a tourist attraction. It also takes some imagination. The village should enlist volunteers who can offer some original ideas for the mill. At the same time the must beware of those with a set agenda.
To some up: the village can solve its traffic problems by slowing it down not speeding it up. Development of a regional attraction, ie the mill, will attract visitors who will contribute to economic well being of Williamsville.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by Dvoakley
Traffic in the village is at a predictable time. It's busy during the commuter hours. I believe the reason is the traffic flow is really quite good - although quite heavy - during those busy hours. And that is the crux of the problem; even at the busiest of time you can get from the thruway off ramp to Youngs road in a reasonable time. I don't think the village wants this commuter traffic. It has no economic benefit to them. To me the logical solution is to slow down the traffic. The long proposed median on Main would reduce the through traffic. If properly design, it would add an ambiance that the village has lacked for some time. Then the village can concentrate on restoring the individual buildings to their original charm. I refer you to the city of Corning NY as an example of what can be done. That are actually bus shopping trips to Corning. Corning also has another big draw - the Museum of Glass. Williamsville has a potential jewel in the old mill. It needs development money. We don't need more condos in the village. Develop the mill as a tourist attraction. That's not something that cab be done on the cheap. It would take some serious money to develop the mill into a tourist attraction. It also takes some imagination. The village should enlist volunteers who can offer some original ideas for the mill. At the same time the must beware of those with a set agenda.
To some up: the village can solve its traffic problems by slowing it down not speeding it up. Development of a regional attraction, ie the mill, will attract visitors who will contribute to economic well being of Williamsville.

I agree completely. The village trustees started out by asking residents etc. to suggest uses, and I remember there were a lot of good ideas. But then they put out this informal request for proposals,which took forever and didn't draw much interest. And then gave this Cerio guy some kind of special status, so now they can't do anything until he comes up with his proposal in Jan.

There are tons of non-profit groups out there that are trying to help bring back old-fashioned downtowns and put communities together with funding.

Somehow, I don't the village ever sought any of them out.....

[Pauldo]

The village of Williamsville has had a history of coverups over the past 20 years. Many involved the Department of Public Works and the former Village administrator's office.

In addition, outside of former mayors Sheffer and Piazza, you had a history of inept mayors which continues right to this day.