The demolition of the Weathervane began today. It should take 3 or 4
days to complete the demolition and site clean up. That building stood
for almost 75 years but has been vacant the last 8. This Town Board
was adamant that the building had to be taken
down but we got a great response from the property owners, who agreed
that it was an important first step in revitalizing Columbia Turnpike.
It's going to take a lot of cooperation between the public and private
sector to make things happen and today showed
the promise and possibility of getting that done.
Today was noteworthy for several other reasons. It marks the END
of the decline of Columbia Turnpike. It is the opening salvo in a major
code enforcement push on 9&20. And it lays the groundwork for a
Rapid Action Plan that will provide significant incentives
for redevelopment on that corridor. This Town Board has made code
enforcement and the revitalization of 9&20 very high priorities.
Today is only the beginning.
Great job Jack, but I don't believe that it marks the END of Columbia Turnpike's decline. What stands out much more is the building on the corner of Corliss Avenue and Columbia Turnpike. Closer to the highway with broken windows and flailing vapor barrier, it sits much more as an eye sore. Have a good guess who owns that property. Good luck with that one!
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget the abandoned Chis DeFruscio burnt out building on our western boarder, standing like a decayed sentinel watching over the SUNY Tech Park and Regeneron.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Joe Cherubinio is on the town payroll, nothing will be done with this eyesore.
I see no action on DeFruscio's unsafe building on Columbia Turnpike. I expected better from JTT. Guess it's still the same old, same old.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, Anony.... As i understand it, he's already been to court, and was granted a continuance.
DeleteDear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteA "continuance". The fire happened almost 10 years ago
I'd guess that it wasn't until the current administration came in that any "move" on the matter was made. You might want to take up the delay with the previous administrations.
DeleteI guess I could take it up with Cousin Joe Cherubino. After all JTT just re upped him for another 6 month post retirement gig in the building dept.
ReplyDeleteI guess we'll see who does their job.
DeletePersonalities aside, the public is owed an expanaation based on the facts. JTT are responsible for supervising Cherubino and overseeing his job getting done. Enough is enough with that eyesore. Tear it down and send DeFruscio the bill. He knows how it works. He has been on the other side of thee kinds of deals with his buddy Cristo on many occasions.
ReplyDeleteIf that is the approach you expect our town government to take, then a comprehensive list should be assembled to identify every structure in the town that should be demolished. Targeting this particular property is an unfair act of selective enforcement.
DeleteClinton Heights, Prospect Heights, and Hampton Manor all have uninhabitable dwellings along with many other areas within our town, all neighboring someone.
Our Town Supervisor should hire an independent specialist to assist in this monumental task so as to identify and irradiate this blight that looms over our town we call home.
First of Cherubino is retiring and JTT have been in office just going on 6 months. Our town is an absolute disaster, thank God they're not following suit and just taking action over specific names but instead are looking at the bigger picture to correct all of our town problems. Not just those that were caused by specific families. If you think targeting one specific house because of the owner should be their top priority, then you don't seem to grasp the condition our overall town is in.
ReplyDeleteI've attempted to post a few other hpuses that are in serious violations of either our zoning law or building code, but they don't seem to get published because they're not owned by the Harts or Defruscio. It's time to move on from just these families so you can see there are other violators as well and they should all be noted and required to follow the law.
10:17 and 11:43, I agree with you regarding the need for a comprehensive code enforcement program. But in the case of the fire damaged DeFruscio property there have been several complaints filed, including at least two public presentations at Town Board Meetings by a concerned neighbor. Despite that, nothing has been resolved.
DeleteJTT just rehired Joe Cherubino as a code enforcemnt consultant for the next six months at taxpayers expense. How does that help? Cherubino has had 34 years to enforce the building codes. Why does JTT think he will do any better over the next six months?
DeleteNot taking at least some sort of action on the DeFruscio property has been an unfair act of selective NON-enforcement from the East Greenbush Building Department. This wink and a nod, lack of code enforcement, for friends and family from the Building Inspector needs to end.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it's not just the DeFruscio property. It's a large list of inaction by the Building Inspector. Look at the corner of Corliss Avenue and Columbia Tpke, Cooper Avenue and the Four Door Duplex on Thompson Hill. All of them were allowed by the Building Inspector. How many more of these are there?
ReplyDeleteFor heaven's sake. Let's put this into perspective. Chris DeFruscio has been allowed to continue to have a run down, burnt out, unsafe and unsightly three story building, located on our town's main thoroughfare for several years without any consequences at all. Complaints have been made and ignored by both the building department and the town board. How is this allowed to happen? Simply put, Chris DeFruscio is a scofflaw. I don't know if Chris' building needs to be torn down or not, but clearly something should have been done years ago. Incredibly, Chris seems to accept no personal responsibility to clean up his mess himself. He is not a good neighbor and should not be encouraged to continue his unneighborly behavior.
ReplyDeleteThe owners of the old Weathervane finally stood up and did the right thing by taking down their own eyesore at their own expense. What about you, Chris??
Obviously JJT feel the building inspector is doing a good job. They rehired him after the Superviser through him a retirement party at the Albany Yaght Club. Invitations were sent right from the Supervisor's office paid for by the taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteNo taxpayer dollars were involved in the Cherubino party. I understand that Jack made comments and turned the mike over to McCabe, introducing him as Joe's Supervisor.
DeleteI understand that the Building Code is being revised by the Board in order to put some teeth in it.