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DIR Return to: Perinton/Fairport Canal Community Discussion
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#Post#: 1465--------------------------------------------------
More Perinton Rumors and Fake News!
DIR By: Michael Caswell
Date: May 3, 2021, 3:19 am
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I just heard some disturbing news being spread by two of the
original members of the STCC, that Facebook group trying to stop
Canal Embankment repair.
Apparently, these two people stopped a local Erie Canal
neighbor, who was cleaning up The Oxbow Trail, and told him he
was wasting his time. He was rather puzzled by this, since most
people are very happy with the way The Oxbow Trail & Park looks
these days, with a clear path and access to the waterfront.
Their "story" was that The New York Power Authority (or NYPA)
was going to sell this piece of land running adjacent to Minerva
Deland School sports fields and it was going to be developed
into high rise condominiums.
If you look at this strip of land, you have to ask yourself how
that feat could be accomplished, which is the first clue that
this is just more 'fake news'.
The strip of land is about 600 yards long and about 15 yards
wide, stretching along the canal waterfront. It is hardly wide
enough to accommodate a road, let alone a building. It also has
a large hill behind it, with all run-off rain water passing
through the property, on it's way to empty into the canal.
Then consider how one would access this road-trail with
vehicles.
There is no NYSCC/NYPA land ownership at the MAIN entrance to
the Oxbow from Erie Crescent.
The current driveway/road leading to the Oxbow Park & Trail
area, is actually a right of way that involves THREE privately
owned properties that are adjacent, and use that trail for entry
into their properties.
Just beyond the entrance the foot bridge that used to span a
drain culvert washed out years ago and the Canal Corporation
vehicles cannot get access to that property themselves.
At the far end of the Oxbow Trail, there is Old Post Rd Circle,
which has a footpath leading UNDER a power line owned by RG & E.
Only smaller size vehicles, like garden tractors, could get
access from this end.
[size=12pt]So! One has to ask, what developer (in his right
mind) would want to build condos, or anything else, on a piece
of land that has restricted access, no road and is very narrow.
It defies common sense logic.
What these two ladies seem to be doing, is just trying to spread
fear and disinformation once again,
Their group has been against The Oxbow Cleanup project from the
beginning, citing a myriad of phantom problems like cars parking
in the streets, unruly parties, kids hanging out to all hours,
etc. etc.
None of which has happened to date.
And the land owners, NYPA, have stated no plans to sell this
strip of land. It is also listed on the NY Parks and Trails maps
as under their jurisdiction, part of Adopt a Trail.
Itīs more sour grapes folks, and quite typical from a group like
the Stop the Canal Clear-Cut, who have spread lies and fake news
since their conception on Facebook. They are wrong about The
Oxbow, just as they have been wrong about leaving overgrown
trees on a dangerous earthen embankment dams along the Canal.
Will these folks ever accept the truth?
My guess is no, not as long as they can spread the complete
opposite without fear of being corrected by the community around
them
#Post#: 1466--------------------------------------------------
Re: More Perinton Rumors and Fake News!
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 3, 2021, 8:50 am
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Amazing, yet expected. What's very puzzling and something for
all to think over is this statement:
"Apparently, these two people stopped a local Erie Canal
neighbor, who was cleaning up The Oxbow Trail, and told him he
was wasting his time. He was rather puzzled by this, since most
people are very happy with the way The Oxbow Trail & Park looks
these days, with a clear path and access to the waterfront."
Can anyone explain why these two people would criticize someone
else's work trying to IMPROVE their own community?
Just because these two wouldn't consider lifting a finger to
help cleanup a local park or trail themselves, nothing gives
them the right to be critical of others who are trying to make
their community just a little bit better.
It's not their time being spent volunteering, to help their
community by taking a part in the Oxbow Rehabilitation.
It's not their sweat being shed, to create a nice trail for
local Perinton & Fairport residents to enjoy.
And it's not even their place to tell someone how they should be
spending their time, wasted or not.
So what would incite people to be like this, to even think their
opinion matters, when they show no interest to help in the
community effort?
One Word... Facebook.
And one group on Facebook... Stop the Canal Clear-cut.
Not to mention the failure of an entire community to decide if
they support canal safety & improvement or if they support
stupidity, and a movement to keep the canal an overgrown danger,
ready to fail at any moment.
Mike, I commend you and your neighbors, for their effort to
clear this NYS Parks & Trail trail site. Sadly I also think
there comes a time when you have to accept that community
support is hard to achieve and even tougher when "community
'leadership" by the local government is all but absent.
Ask yourself a question:
How much backing have you and your neighbors had from the
Perinton or Fairport's local government bodies? Seems like local
breweries get more support, from the Fairport Village website,
than a community effort to provide a canalside park, along one
of the most unique features on the Erie Canal, the old Oxbow
Loop.
Maybe things will change soon, once the Oxbow Embankment Dam
gets cleared with the new Canal Corporation Embankment Program
restarting in your area in the late fall of 2021. And then all
of Perinton & Fairport will come down to Oxbow Park to watch
some new amazing sunset views along the Erie Canal.
Time will tell.
#Post#: 1467--------------------------------------------------
Is it rumor and fake news or maybe just wishful thinking?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 3, 2021, 3:44 pm
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Of course in the interest of transparency in the ECNA... the
truth also has to be told.
There is actually PLENTY of room to fit a nice waterside
community at the Oxbow. It's just how you look at solving the
problem of space and accessibility.
For instance, here's a map of the Oxbow Park & Trail area,
showing the aforementioned access and space issues.
[attachimg=1]
As you can see there is a very nice triangle shaped piece of
land that could be developed into multi-storied living. With
almost 145,000 square feet of area, this is a nice 3.5 acre
piece of land to develop. The Canal Corporation is touting their
Erie Canal Pocket Neighborhood idea, which puts housing, retail
and the public into a space just about this size, with their new
Canastota project. You can read more by clicking the link.
HTML https://www.oneidadispatch.com/news/local-news/developer-selected-for-transformative-pocket-neighborhood-in-canastota/article_6b26e8fa-829d-11eb-8f25-737adf33a955.html
The Oxbow Landing Pocket Neighborhood in Fairport just needs to
have a new access road, that will be aptly named Powerline
Circle or Powerline Way, in keeping with the neighborhood road
naming. The map below shows how this development rumor could
become a reality, if the right developer just happened along.
[attachimg=2]
I guess I have to say that although it's unlikely the Oxbow
Landing Village Estates will become a reality anytime soon, it
is one of the most scenic, and most available pieces of property
the Canal Corporation & New York Power Authority own in this
area.
And they are currently looking for ways to repurpose their
existing properties and create more opportunity for public
access to the Canal System and hopefully increase use and
tourism for the surrounding communities.
Maybe this "fake news" is better defined as "wishful thinking"?
If this property was developed, the cost of a condo or townhouse
would most likely start at $500K, based on other waterfront
homes in the area. All good if you are a Town or Village looking
for more Tax Revenue to run your municipality, right?
#Post#: 1468--------------------------------------------------
Re: More Perinton Rumors and Fake News!
DIR By: Michael Caswell
Date: May 4, 2021, 8:34 am
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It'll never happen Doug.
Too many folks will
a. Protest at having a road put in their back yards.
b. Too dangerous- traffic too close to pylons.
c. Mowing and maintenance equipment problem for RG&E (I doubt
they'd want to sell the land)
#Post#: 1470--------------------------------------------------
Re: More Perinton Rumors and Fake News!
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 4, 2021, 9:44 am
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There was a whole group, on Facebook, which is centered in
Perinton & Fairport, that spent 3 years PROTESTING against
fixing Erie Canal Earthen Embankments.
They FAILED at stopping Erie Canal Embankment safety work from
happening with their Facebook protest
They FAILED in their attempt to keep trees on earthen dams from
western Monroe County to Niagara County
They FAILED to even convince their own members that what was
happening was going to be "terrible" for Erie Canal neighboring
homeowners.
Do you really think that if the local governments in Fairport &
Perinton could add MILLIONS OF DOLLARS worth of new homes to
their Tax Base they wouldn't want to push that through,
regardless of "public protest"? Seems local governments do
understand that many times "the public" doesn't actually know
what's really good for them and in their best interest for
safety, or for taxation. Like people fighting against Embankment
Safety Projects.
If you have any doubt, simply multiply the current tax rates for
your town or village by those new homes, and see just how much
more tax revenue could be generated for local government,
schools, and community improvement.
100 new residences, each worth $300K... times $10 - $12 each for
County/Town/Village Tax.
[attachimg=1]
And another $23 - $28 for School Tax income, to support teachers
salaries & capital improvement budgets.
[attachimg=2]
My rough calculation shows about $10-12K potential from each of
the housing units they can squeeze into this Oxbow property. So
getting to 100 condos or apartments or whatever... could be an
instant $1 Million into local tax coffers. What Town or Village
would balk at that? Well maybe Pittsford as they are somewhat
anal about "Village Development".
There is NO downside to this idea of the Oxbow Waterfront
Development for the Town or Village is there?
Well except maybe for those who happen to live closest to the
new development. And of course the standard reply from any NYS
Municipal Management or Government will always be the same: "If
you don't like PROGRESS in your Village or Town, you can simply
move away".
Time will tell...again it may be a rumor now, but so was the
idea of clearing Erie Canal Embankments at one time...many moons
ago.
References:
HTML https://www.monroecounty.gov/property-town-rates
HTML https://www.monroecounty.gov/property-school-rates
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