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By James Connolly
The Adirondack Park Agency was established to be a regional land-use agency for the 6-million acres within the Adirondack Park. Just as important were environmental protections for wetlands and administration of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. From the very beginning of the Park Agency, it was appropriate for the headquarters to be located in Ray Brook next to its sister agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation. The two agencies, working together, administer many overlapping and complimentary regulations. Areas where the two agencies overlap and require consultation and coordination include APA classification of newly acquired State land, mining and mine land reclamation projects, wetlands regulations, shoreline stabilization projects, pesticide use & control of aquatic vegetation and regulation of Wild, Scenic & Recreational River corridors within the Park.
It has therefore always been assumed that APA & DEC were ideally located in Ray Brook. That is, until now. The Agency’s current Executive Director, Barbara Rice, has promoted the concept of a Village location as being “transformational”. At best, the amount of State money involved would provide limited benefit to the Village and a great deal of funding for the contractors and other construction-related activities. Her past role as a Village Trustee and local business owner may have led her to believe in overstating the case for a Village location, however, it also raises potential conflict of interest concerns given the lack of transparency in limiting analysis to only two locations. Isn’t it about time that the State Ethics Committee weighed-in with an opinion?
It is also a major mistake to think that the term “Smart Growth” can be applied to a proposal when the Village is facing other critical needs. It is not the responsibility of the Park Agency to preserve historic buildings. Nor is it the responsibility of the Agency to create economic development. Other agencies are better suited for these roles. Why would or should the Agency leave Ray Brook when their current offices are located in a land use area designated for “Administrative Use” under the Adirondack Park Land Use & Development Plan? To relocate to a Hamlet or Village robs the community of the potential for creating new structures serving much more important needs and involving real economic potential. This is especially true in Saranac Lake where the median home cost is estimated at $350,000 (see Camoin Associates study). What is more than evident is that the Village should be spending on affordable housing projects given the limitations in an already crowded Village. Instead, the Village continues to pursue expensive funding & construction of new State office buildings. If there is any logic to this approach, I fail to see it. It seems more like delusionary thinking about what makes growth possible, especially as young people leave the area.
The Town of Harrietstown was asked by the Village to support the project as well as North Elba. Harrietstown was less than enthusiastic and voted on a resolution that only endorsed it subject to the condition that no new construction be approved and limited to reuse of the Paul Smiths College Power & Light Building. They also expressed concern that public parking would be limited to weekends only. You can only applaud the Board from asking some intelligent questions & limiting their endorsement prior to passing the resolution. Here is one of the many comments by the Harrietstown Board:
“At the same time, I do struggle,” Mallach added. “I struggle with how the village has handled the situation. I think we haven’t gotten the communication that I wish we would have had in terms of what’s happening, or the impact of it, or allowing for public input. The other thing I struggle with is: What are the plans for the people that are in that building? You’ve got county services that people are able to walk to — which is critical — from DeChantel (Apartments), from Lake Street, from the high rise. … I haven’t been presented with a plan. There isn’t a plan, in terms of what’s going to happen.” Harrietsown Supervisor, Jordanna Mallach
Another very peculiar part of this proposal is the apparent conflict of interest involving Barbara Rice, a native of Saranac Lake and former trustee. Paul Maroun, the outgoing mayor of Tupper Lake was correct to point out that there was no evaluation of other communities in the Park before this proposal surfaced. Wouldn’t you think that other communities would be given the benefit of suggesting vacant State facilities in Moriah or Gabriels or an underutilized facility in Tupper Lake as Paul suggested. Apparently, that was never considered by anyone prior to randomly choosing Saranac Lake. On top of that, the proposal calls for a long-term rental agreement by APA for a new building as well as the Power & Light building. Has anyone asked the question “Why should the Agency start paying rent when the State Office Campus provides a location where no rent is needed?” This “magical thinking’ is a complete mystery to me.
This proposal gets more ridiculous as additional details are provided. It is time for the Village to stop chasing the gold at the end of Barbara Rice’s rainbow and to get realistic about supporting projects that would truly benefit the community. It is also time for Barbara Rice to realize that the Adirondack Park Agency is a regional planning & environmental agency and definitely not an economic development agency, especially for her home town.
Moving the APA offices seven miles does nothing for the long-term benefit of the community, especially when many APA employees already live locally and when housing for newcomers is unaffordable. It simply uses valuable space which is better used for more pressing needs and which the Agency land use plan recognized a very long time ago – in fact, just about 50 years ago when the Land Use & Development Plan recognized that Hamlets should be a place where people live while nearby areas outside of Hamlet were suitable for other development. The Village is simply running out of space for non-essential growth especially when the Agency was meant to be in Ray Brook with other State agencies. Let us hope that more astute minds develop a more rational plan before the State decides to waste a large amount of taxpayers’ money with little to no benefit for the community.
James Connolly was Deputy Director Adirondack Park Agency (2002-2012) and NYSDEC Region 5 Lake Champlain Coordinator (1984-2002)
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The proposal calls for increased parking, including accommodating cars of some fifty employees, plus the public. Considering that cars come from three directions at that location, and that the bridge and its stop light limits traffic flow, adding fifty-plus cars every day will create a gridlock nightmare. At the beginning and end of the day, it might take an hour to fill or empty the parking lot. It is hard to imagine a farmer’s market coinciding with a weekend workday at the APA. Building a car-intensive office facility on the residential side of the river is, quite simply, insane.
Building the Waterfront Lodge was going to create a traffic nightmare and destroy the town too. It didn’t. Seems like this is at least worth considering, why does everyone around here freak out on any new business proposal?
Folks should take a look at an overhead shot of this area of Saranac Lake around 1915 when the town and Lake Flower were really developed. Riverside Park wasn’t even there, it was a major hotel.
Building the 10 or 11 story high rise right across the corner with many more occupants than this project was supposed to be a disaster too. It’s fine.
I am looking at overhead shots of the Village in 1915 and I do not see many cars. It’s fair to say that traffic jams were in the future.
In 2023, I wonder if fifty tenants in the high rise come and go each day by car. I do not know.
Has anyone conducted a summer traffic study in that three-way intersection?
Assuming that for some reason – as yet undisclosed – the APA must move out of Ray Brook, there is no compelling reason to move the APA to the Paul Smith’s location, and many compelling reasons not to.
Just up the highway, the NYS Armory is 21,000 square feet, sits on thirty acres of land, has plenty of parking, appears to be in good shape, appears to be vacant, and it is already owned by the State.
The only compelling reason not seems to be the traffic issue you mention, if they can determine that it won’t be a problem, I would say the reasons for doing it are quite compelling.
Locate a fairly thriving office building to DT Saranac Lake.
Boost for local businesses, like I said in another comment folks can walk to numerous places for lunch in town.
Folks might even choose to move to Saranac Lake if it’s more convenient and could even just walk to work. I assume some are here already. I think the ED lives on Lower Saranac – she could take a boat!
Create a few good construction jobs for the project. Insist that it be a local builder.
Other than the traffic, what do you see as the downsides?
Well a downside to some is that if the ED took a boat to work that would cause unwanted noise. And any other issue they have with boats.
I may have overlooked it, but I don’t recall reading what will then happen to the existing building in Ray Brook? Are there plans for that place to become home to something else so it will not become a vacant, rotting eye sore? Tearing it down?
I am unclear on what the future vision is then for Ray Brook once the APA makes their move? Does anyone know?
In other articles they have reported that their current building is not something that it makes sense to save or renovate.
An office building full of pretty well paid state workers seems like a good boost for DT Saranac Lake. They don’t even need to drive to go out to lunch there are a bunch of places within walking distance – a nice park across the street to have a picnic. I think it could be a good project. Some of them probably can walk to work. Maybe some will move to SL. There are currently 3 open positions including two good ones.
Oh! Thanks, Paul.
Does that mean they will be spending $$ to remove it so it does not remain a vacant building, left to rot?
I would imagine, but I have no idea. A little compost? Smokey Bear is right next door, he could torch it?
The APA definitely considered Ray Brook prior to Barb Rice becoming APA Chair. There is no good reason to leave Ray Brook other than a misguided belief that building an expensive office building in Saranac Lake will be good for the Village apparently due to the fact that the Village would gain additional rental revenue. The parking lot next to the Power & Light Building will not be open to the public except on weekends. In no way will this move provide an economic boom for the community. The APA moving from Ray Brook will not increase sales of anything in the Village. This is just another State boondoggle supported by Barbara Rice and her cronies. It is beyond ridiculous. Jim
I heartily concur with the opinions expressed in this article. The APA belongs on the state “camous” in Ray Brook!!!
Rice’s proposal for moving the APA headquarters is line with the current trend of the Adirondack Pro-development Agency…🙄
My biggest concern isn’t the traffic, but increasing the size of a parking lot immediately adjacent to the river. Think runoff mitigation of salt, oil, gasoline, chemicals, and storm water runoff. Can the APA comply with their own water quality standards?
Maybe we should suggest an indoor parking garage? Just add a floor. The issues you mention almost go away, or ar probably better mitigated than what is there now.
The APA doesn’t set standards – they enforce standards set by a law enacted by the legislators that we vote for.
I am sure and environmental quality review would be required. It is not like they just design and build anything wherever they want. All this would be taken into consideration. There are higher standards here since it requires multiple state, town, village, permits. People need to slow down..
As with most everything else about the APA, this really isn’t about the building. Its about how a highly visible public agency with an important mission does business. Its about process and how the APA understands its role in the region.
Building on that, I disagree with some of what is said above. Effective planning requires a comprehensive perspective. APA does need to consider the economy, the traffic impacts of decisions (I once lived just up the hill from the proposed site, walked past there nearly every day, and have my own thoughts, but if the Village is not requiring a professional traffic study and APA is not volunteering one, something is wrong), housing availability, etc. You cannot make wise land use decisions about anything significant without a comprehensive perspective.
Nor can you make wise land use decisions without an inclusive process. If a new building is needed (I am not going to weigh in on that, and neither should anyone else who doesn’t have to work in it) then you advertise for a site, communities and developers respond, and you evaluate the proposals. And you especially do not narrow the decision without such a process when the consequence is that public perception of an an already embattled agency will be further damaged by questions about conflicts of interest (to be clear, I’m not saying that there’s a legally actionable conflict here, there probably isn’t, but it is the appearance of fairness that matters in these cases, regardless of the precise application of the law).
What this is about is professionalism v. politics. They both have their role, but you don’t make it political until you have gone through a professionally guided process of understanding the situtation and the possibilities. Ms. Rice has presumably been through municipal bid processes. She should know this. As should agency counsel and professional staff.
If the VIllage wants a new tenant (and when considering whether that is wise, I do agree strongly with the walking access to social services argument stated above), it should advertise the site and see who bids. APA presumably could. Alternatively, if APA needs a new building, it should draft up criteria, advertise, and see what is proposed where. This is the routine way that public agencies go about it.
If for, example, there was a need for a new post office in Saranace Lake, the USPS would take proposals in a process in which every landowner could participate. That is the only transparerent, fair way to do this. If such a process is not required by NY law (and required of both the Village and the agency) then NY’s reputation for what I will charitably call “personal politics” is apparantly merited.
I have been involved in some NYS projects, I am sure they have a bid process that they need to follow, same for any state funded project. This isn’t just the ED’s pet project as it is portrayed in many of these “comment” articles.
There will undoubtedly be some process, but the fact that they already have a rendering of the building in place at their preferred site without public review (did I miss it, no this is the APA) suggests that it is not the process they should be following.
I want to make it clear that I do not reject their idea just because of their inability to follow fundamental rules of how the public’s business is to be done. It is a good idea to explore for some of the reasons listed in other comments. It also has the potential liabilities listed above. We don’t know how it all balances out because the agency is not sharing info and analysis (we have to assume they’ve analyzed) inviting folks into the process. And maybe Lake Placid, Tupper, E-Town or someplace else offer possibilities? Maybe it could go on the PSC Campus and help stabilize that fragile, but important Adirondack institution? Then employees would have a cafeteria, a gym, and a library, as well being able to interact with faculty and the AWI. How about that?
Wht we are dealing with here is nonprofessional conduct by a supposedly professional agency charged with safeguarding an amazing landscape.Someone who has the resources should start asking for public accountability.
Relocating the APA to Paul Smith’s is an uplifting suggestion.
Lee – I would love to know what other state agencies in New York give the public any level of input on where they locate their offices? The answer is: they don’t. Can you think of any instance where DEC, NYSERDA, the new solar state agency ORES, the New York State Police or any other state agency opens up the site selection process to the public for review and comment? That’s ridiculous. The APA is one of the most underfunded agencies in the state and the one time in 50 years the state finally invests in them, the members of the NIMBY public cry out that they al should have their hands in the cookie jar. That’s just not how siting state agency offices works. You all already had your say by electing officials to represent you who in turn earmarked the funds for this new HQ.
No one wants to drive all the way out to Gabriels. There’s nothing there for anyone to do or anywhere for people to shop. When the majority of agency employees live in, around or east of Saranac Lake, no one will want to drive there, or to Tupper Lake.
Lastly, it is a very tired and pathetic argument for people to accuse the ED of “wanting a shorter commute”. So she will have to drive 1 mile instead of 3 to get to the new office. You all really uncovered the smoking gun with this one!
I haven’t had a scolding like that since MS. Pennington caught me reading a book (heaven forbid!) instead of filling out another of the interminable 5th Grade worksheets, And this one is no more accurate.
Did I say I opposed the downtown SL site? I said the site had advantages and disadvantages. Did I accuse Ms Rice of wanting a shorter commute? I said there probably wasn’t a conflict of interest. If you think lumping every comment you’ve read or heard into a response to someone who said none of that is ok that’s not my problem.
I clearly began what I said with the statement that this is not about the building. A good site selection process might put it right there. We don’t know. But we should.
While government agencies sometimes build, it is a common practice for their offices – local, state, federal – to be located in space that is leased through a competitive public proposal process. And unless the Village intends to transfer ownership to the State, that is what would happen here, just apparently without the competition that our system of government generally uses to help ensure a fair process. But even if this never happened before in NY, it doesn’t change what I am saying because it is proposed now.
And what i am saying, to say it perhaps more clearly, is that the APA (I don’t let the VIllage off the hook, but this comment is about the agency) regulates land development. If it is going to engage in development on its own behalf (through the proxy of the Village counts) it has to set the bar as high as it reasonably can. That includes public review of a professional site selection process that is followed by public review of site and building designs that set the standard we would all like to see followed by all major projects in the region.
30 million dollars could go a long way to protecting the park vs giving them a shiny new office. If their existing building in disrepair it shows they will not take care of a new building. The whole thing stinks of miss management and grift.
There will undoubtedly be some process, but the fact that they already have a rendering of the building in place at their preferred site without public review (did I miss it, no this is the APA) suggests that it is not the process they should be following.
I want to make it clear that I do not reject their idea just because of their inability to follow fundamental rules of how the public’s business is to be done. It is a good idea to explore for some of the reasons listed in other comments. It also has the potential liabilities listed above. We don’t know how it all balances out because the agency is not sharing info and analysis (we have to assume they’ve analyzed) inviting folks into the process. And maybe Lake Placid, Tupper, E-Town or someplace else offer possibilities? Maybe it could go on the PSC Campus and help stabilize that fragile, but important Adirondack institution? Then employees would have a cafeteria, a gym, and a library, as well being able to interact with faculty and the AWI. How about that?
Wht we are dealing with here is nonprofessional conduct by a supposedly professional agency charged with safeguarding an amazing landscape.Someone who has the resources should start asking for public accountability.
All of you post jumpers should go back to the master plan developed in the late sixties, Ray Brook is the capital of the Adirondacks..
LP,SL,TL and all small towns will be desolved, the plan is to wipe the face of man out of the Adirondacks.the big money sold to state keeping sweet deals, that locals have to pick up taxes on.
The so called environmentalist have done more damage than good.
Why did my water turn orange?
Iron oxide all of a sudden after 60 years really? Salts good for the environment? Don’t eat to much it will kill you, Better talk to your Dr I’m sure he’s wrong but not environmentalist..
Where did the barn sallows go?
Wheres the leaches in the raquette River, we ues salt to get them off us…were did the fresh water mussels go? Piles of shells every were are gone now..
That’s what I notice living on the river, this years flood stage, I watch all the free campers garbage float down the wild and scenic river, tons of dead trees and debrie,
Where’s this Go?
Doing nothing to save the environment is destroying it.
Why do the people leave,? I lived out west 400 acres land and 6000 square foot house totally taxes 1200 a year.
250 acres of land up here 20,000 a year land and school taxes…
Do you know your public school taxes are higher per student than private schools rates, only about three times in Adriondacks
Yes I will be leaving the area again.
You people up here are insane and are intentionally destroying what were beautiful areas, you target the elderly and disabled, taking away fishing areas, hunting areas, recreation areas, if you can’t walk or paddle or bike its off limits.
Horse that made this whole country are banned from walking on state land, a rail way? Really? Oldest legal form of transportation, nope gonna destroy the environment, your food comes from their waist decomposition, yes you vegetarians are eating animal shit. Nasty nope fertilizer sounds better and safer for environment..
The Environment need it to keep PH neutral.
DEC Lymed lakes to plant fish…they grow, in the right PH, our grass needs the right PH…
Our forest here are stagnant. DEC mismanagement , they manage the Fisher tax base .
Thank you environmentalist…..fossil fuels, molten core in center of earth, surrounded by explosive fuel, makes a big bang and we are the next meteor shower, and your worried about polluting alkaline forest and waters.
I checked the PH in the river why it’s over 8??
Why are all the trees dieing on the banks?
Why can’t Tupper Lake get safe Drinking Water? Spent millions on trails, walk ways, we watch all the pollutants from villages and towns run directly into or rivers and lakes, two billion geese up here pooping in the water, a million tourist reliving them selves in the woods and on every stream, on all rock mountains…were that go?
And we’re worried about moving the APA building..
..anit ever gonna happen APA master plan is the Yellowstone foot print..the few damn rich people are slowing it down
Censorship really?
All of you post jumpers should go back to the master plan developed in the late sixties, Ray Brook is the capital of the Adirondacks..
LP,SL,TL and all small towns will be desolved, the plan is to wipe the face of man out of the Adirondacks.the big money sold to state keeping sweet deals, that locals have to pick up taxes on.
The so called environmentalist have done more damage than good.
Why did my water turn orange?
Iron oxide all of a sudden after 60 years really? Salts good for the environment? Don’t eat to much it will kill you, Better talk to your Dr I’m sure he’s wrong but not environmentalist..
Where did the barn sallows go?
Wheres the leaches in the raquette River, we ues salt to get them off us…were did the fresh water mussels go? Piles of shells every were are gone now..
That’s what I notice living on the river, this years flood stage, I watch all the free campers garbage float down the wild and scenic river, tons of dead trees and debrie,
Where’s this Go?
Doing nothing to save the environment is destroying it.
Why do the people leave,? I lived out west 400 acres land and 6000 square foot house totally taxes 1200 a year.
250 acres of land up here 20,000 a year land and school taxes…
Do you know your public school taxes are higher per student than private schools rates, only about three times in Adriondacks
Yes I will be leaving the area again.
You people up here are insane and are intentionally destroying what were beautiful areas, you target the elderly and disabled, taking away fishing areas, hunting areas, recreation areas, if you can’t walk or paddle or bike its off limits.
Horse that made this whole country are banned from walking on state land, a rail way? Really? Oldest legal form of transportation, nope gonna destroy the environment, your food comes from their waist decomposition, yes you vegetarians are eating animal shit. Nasty nope fertilizer sounds better and safer for environment..
The Environment need it to keep PH neutral.
DEC Lymed lakes to plant fish…they grow, in the right PH, our grass needs the right PH…
Our forest here are stagnant. DEC mismanagement , they manage the Fisher tax base .
Thank you environmentalist…..fossil fuels, molten core in center of earth, surrounded by explosive fuel, makes a big bang and we are the next meteor shower, and your worried about polluting alkaline forest and waters.
I checked the PH in the river why it’s over 8??
Why are all the trees dieing on the banks?
Why can’t Tupper Lake get safe Drinking Water? Spent millions on trails, walk ways, we watch all the pollutants from villages and towns run directly into or rivers and lakes, two billion geese up here pooping in the water, a million tourist reliving them selves in the woods and on every stream, on all rock mountains…were that go?
And we’re worried about moving the APA building..
..anit ever gonna happen APA master plan is the Yellowstone foot print..the few damn rich people are slowing it down
All of you post jumpers should go back to the master plan developed in the late sixties, Ray Brook is the capital of the Adirondacks..
LP,SL,TL and all small towns will be desolved, the plan is to wipe the face of man out of the Adirondacks.the big money sold to state keeping sweet deals, that locals have to pick up taxes on.
The so called environmentalist have done more damage than good.
Why did my water turn orange?
Iron oxide all of a sudden after 60 years really? Salts good for the environment? Don’t eat to much it will kill you, Better talk to your Dr I’m sure he’s wrong but not environmentalist..
Where did the barn sallows go?
Wheres the leaches in the raquette River, we ues salt to get them off us…were did the fresh water mussels go? Piles of shells every were are gone now..
That’s what I notice living on the river, this years flood stage, I watch all the free campers garbage float down the wild and scenic river, tons of dead trees and debrie,
Where’s this Go?
Doing nothing to save the environment is destroying it.
Why do the people leave,? I lived out west 400 acres land and 6000 square foot house totally taxes 1200 a year.
250 acres of land up here 20,000 a year land and school taxes…
Do you know your public school taxes are higher per student than private schools rates, only about three times in Adriondacks
Yes I will be leaving the area again.
You people up here are insane and are intentionally destroying what were beautiful areas, you target the elderly and disabled, taking away fishing areas, hunting areas, recreation areas, if you can’t walk or paddle or bike its off limits.
Horse that made this whole country are banned from walking on state land, a rail way? Really? Oldest legal form of transportation, nope gonna destroy the environment, your food comes from their waist decomposition, yes you vegetarians are eating animal shit. Nasty nope fertilizer sounds better and safer for environment..
The Environment need it to keep PH neutral.
DEC Lymed lakes to plant fish…they grow, in the right PH, our grass needs the right PH…
Our forest here are stagnant. DEC mismanagement , they manage the Fisher tax base .
Thank you environmentalist…..fossil fuels, molten core in center of earth, surrounded by explosive fuel, makes a big bang and we are the next meteor shower, and your worried about polluting alkaline forest and waters.
I checked the PH in the river why it’s over 8??
Why are all the trees dieing on the banks?
Why can’t Tupper Lake get safe Drinking Water? Spent millions on trails, walk ways, we watch all the pollutants from villages and towns run directly into or rivers and lakes, two billion geese up here pooping in the water, a million tourist reliving them selves in the woods and on every stream, on all rock mountains…were that go?
And we’re worried about moving the APA building..
..anit ever gonna happen APA master plan is the Yellowstone foot print..the few damn rich people are slowing it down and of course NYS owns Lake Placid so they need slaves up here to run it …..
Communism at its finest by a few nut cases…
Really???? read the constitution and your Deeds did you sell your right to these people, nope their gonna take it for the good of the people….you elderly, crippled disabled go some place else, open public lands closed to you…of course if your Illegal alien you get every thing free and our laws don’t applies….
I’m a Real Adirondack Native , who’s watched the destruction of this area and worked tearing done dead towns and buried so federal government can open to the public…
Ever hear of Tahawas???? It was a great Tourist area…3 times it failed,
I thought Ted Kaczynski passed away…
I think that the APA should stay in Ray Brook. If it works, don’t fix it. Why spend the money for a project that is not needed, just wanted?
They need a new building even if they stay. That’s why they got the 30 million.
Yes, and they should use the 30 million to rebuild in Ray Brook. That is the essence of Smart Growth not to use up valuable space elsewhere when the State Campus is right there. This does smack of local prejudice through and through. The arguments for the move are meaningless. Ray Brook is only 7 miles from the middle of the village. APA reps said they did a thorough search 5-miles either side of Ray Brook. If that is the case, they would never have considered the Power & Light Building. What is Barbara Rice smoking. This proposal has been cooked to look like it was somehow done via a non-political process. If that is true, I have a bridge in Brooklyn folks might be interested in buying as well.
So, why can’t they just fix /rehab Ray Brook, for let’s say, $5 mil and then invest the rest of the $25 mil into something more worthwhile other than brick/mortar? Seems to me like such a waste of $, an assumed/ exaggerated ROI for downtown Saranac Lake, and the mismanagement of funds when a new building receives more $ than the actual cause.
What about using the seemingly unused NY State Armory building just up the road?
The website states that the Armory is 21,000 square feet and sits on thirty acres of land. It has plenty of parking, is right off the main road, appears to be solid and in good shape, appears to be vacant, and it is already owned by the State.
The APA proposes to build a 19,000 foot building next to the Paul Smith’s building, so the size of the Armory seems perfect.
Or, turn the Armory into affordable housing?
Or, the new emergency services facility?
Something!
Why is this premium, unused, NYS-owned facility treated as if it did not exist? Too much paperwork for the Village?
Probably because it makes more sense to save a vacant state facility, would take far less $$ to revitalize, utilize an existing parking lot, and not really benefit anything or anyone else long term but for those holding the purse strings. Seems to me, from what I’ve read here, like typical $$ mismanagement and wasteful spending.
Jim – I’d love to know what state agencies anywhere else in New York State go through the public process you describe in all your screeds when selecting a location for their offices? Does NYSERDA, ORES, DOT, OMG, DOS or the state police go “to the public for their input” when they need to move their offices? No, they don’t. Why should APA be any different.
And please get off the tired line that Ms. Rice has some unethical bent here where she will gain anything personally from this. I mean, maybe you’re right, decreasing a commute from 6 miles to 3 miles is THE SMOKING GUN. you found it!!
I also can’t imagine why a state agency would ever THINK of moving within 5 miles of its current campus and not to some far off gulag in Gabriels or Moriah to place their hq. Not like the majority of employees live near saranac lake….. head scratcher there. I mean why would anyone ever think to put a state agency building in the self proclaimed “capital of the Adirondacks” and one of its largest population centers.
You of all people should know how little the state ever invests in the APA year after year. The one time the state shows interest and you and all the other people (who are retired or about to retire) and won’t even work in this new location come out of the woodwork in opposition. Give me a break.
Stay in Ray Brook and quit wasting money. You waste enough as it is.