PAETEC to come to Midtown plaza with state help
Yesterday, we told you that Spitzter would announce plans for state help with Midtown plaza. Here’s details (from the D&C):
As soon as fall 2011, the largely vacant Midtown Plaza will be gone, replaced by the new world headquarters for one of the area’s fastest growing companies.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced this morning that telecommunications firm PATEC Communications will put up a high-rise where Midtown is now.
“Ten or 20 years from now, this city will be a mini-version of Boston or Dallas or one of the towns attracting our younger people away,†PAETEC CEO Arunas Chesonis said.
“But we all have to pitch in to do it.â€
Chesonis said the building will cost anywhere from $40 million to $100 million.
Spitzer said the state will spend up to $50 million to demolish the Midtown complex and ready it for PAETEC to build there.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can comment on the significance of this.
Update: James Lawrence has some cautionary words that strike me as wise.
A war has broken out between Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Spitzer in the aftermath of Troopergate. It could easily slow down plans for redeveloping the Midtown property.
Bruno could drag his feet in approving state money for the demolition. Before he even starts thinking of such a move, members of this region’s delegation to Albany need to get busy. That’s especially so for Republican Senators Joe Robach, Jim Alesi, George Maziarz and MikeNozzolio. They need to make it clear to fellow Republicans that Spitzer’s project makes sense for Rochester and the region. While it’s expected that state lawmakers will have questions and concerns, it’s critical that in the end they find a way to make the project work.
You just have to ask yourself when was the last time you saw a construction crane in the Rochester skyline. Its significant!
that is huge. and to add on to that, it won’t be our usual half ass fix things up to look nice (ahem war memorial). this will be brand new and will look and feel as such. i would hope that the whole project will give some optimism and hope to our famously negative residents.
Bruno could try to stall this, but I think it would be a really ill-advised move. Jobs and healthy redevelopment are bipartisan issues. Pretty much everyone wants both, especially in our area.
There aren’t too many bastions left for the Republican Party in NYS. I don’t see how it would help the Repubs to throw a wrench into a major upstate development project(s). From my perspective, the only reason they’ve been able to attract as much support as they have over the years in our region is because of their faux-platform on taxes and jobs. I think many people in our area now realize (especially after Maggie’s fiasco) that the Republican Party is full of hot air on the tax issue. If the Repubs oppose redevelopment and jobs, they’ve pretty much nixed their proffered reason for existing.
There are issues that can be stalled on, and then there are issues where you fall on your sword if you make the wrong move. I would urge Bruno to choose wisely.
Cheers to Paetec! This is what Paychex should have done 20 to 25 years ago (?)- at the corner of North Main and Clinton. I’ll never forgive Tom Golisano for saying “Who needs downtown Rochester?” and building his world headquarters in a cornfield in Penfield. He can never give enough money away to make up for the damage he caused this community by not putting his headquarters downtown.
That’s the truth.
The significance of this is TREMENDOUS. When is the last time the State of New York actually pitched in with words of HOPE, let alone dollars to see the potential our community has, and makes a willing effort to make it a reality. The number of jobs anticipated is over 1000 - this will definitely help to get some of the displaced workers here impacted by downsizing back to work, and this is just the preliminary growth. The potential for even greater expansion is real. Paychex did it - Paetec can too. The fact that the expansion is downtown is even more significant. Jobs = prosperity. Expansion and building = committment and improvement. The 40 to 100 million being invested is PAETEC’s own money - showing their dedication to the future as well. This is a win/win for every person who wiped a tear when the Kodak buildings were imploded. This is actual GROWTH - and HOPE. No amount of money can buy that for a community!
As far as Bruno - this is one thorn that needs to be taught a serious lesson. He, through his control of the Senate has blocked the appointments of over 85 department heads that Spitzer wants to put in place in his administration. Right now he’s running on the original Pataki appointments! Talk about cocky!
Hopefully this November the message will be sent from the town levels, to the county and to the state that the practice of monopolization and politics that deter from the good and the will of the people will no longer be tolerated. That way, in the next election when the State Senate seats are up for election - the power they are yielding today as a sword, will be taken away and replaced with a butter knife.
Bruno is too accustomed to having his way in Albany after all those years he got the free ride from Pataki and Company. It’s time to remind them all that they work for the PEOPLE who ELECT them - not their own selfish interests.
Viva November! Viva Paetec! Thank You Eliot Spitzer!
“He, through his control of the Senate has blocked the appointments of over 85 department heads that Spitzer wants to put in place in his administration.”
Fortunately, this will change by the end of January, whether Bruno likes it or not. Spitzer can make a bunch of recess appointments during the only state-mandated legislative vacation of the year. Bruno will be able to bang his gavel as much as he wants, but he won’t be able to open session each day for five minutes like he did during the summer break.
This is truly amazing for the city of Rochester. While I didn’t live here when Midtown was a popular spot and I understand many will be sad to see it go, one has to realize it’s been pretty much dead for at least 14 year (my time in the area).
A company bringing 600 people with good jobs right into the heart of the city is so huge.
Huuuuuge, Rochester. It’s huge.
Way to go Itchy
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well I don’t wish to see Rochester as a’mini’ Bostor or Dallas. It is just fine as the city / area it is. Something needs to be done with Midtown, as someone who rode the monorail and spent many days downtown and at Midtown growing up it is so sad to see it now. I bought my first album at Record Theater, remember the McCurdy’s and Sibleys restaurants wtih affection.
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