Schumer slams Ren Square
From the D&C political blog:
Sen. Charles Schumer is announcing today that he will only give a one-year extender for $19 million in federal funding for Renaissance Square — “unless local leaders make significant progress in jumpstarting the long-delayed project.”
Schumer said the $19 million is part of $25 million he helped secure for the project. But the $19 million is to expire this fall because it has gone unused.
Schumer said in a press advisory that Rochester “cannot afford another fast ferry debacle.”
Are there any good arguments for Renaissance Square?
The project has always seemed so fundamentally absurd– an unnecessary performing arts center situated over an underground bus station– that I’m having a hard time seeing the other side.
Can someone help me here?
If not, why is Schumer giving it an extension? Why aren’t we working to kill this beast and using the money, for instance, to fund research centers at UR, RIT, Syracuse, SUNY-Buffalo, or somewhere else that will generate new companies employing high-wage residents doing good work?
it creates a new building on a crumbling city block. brings people downtown for events or school. it keeps buses from lining up on main street. there are benefits but the secrecy keeps some of that hidden. is it the best project ever? certainly not. but investing in our urban core always has some positive aspects. do those aspects outweigh the cost? that is the 19 million dollar question.
I agree that if done properly, it could be a big success.
Personally, I don’t see how it works at all without the performing arts component though. And that seems to be gone. So I don’t see how the project is worth pursuing at this point.
Actually is it the $200 million dollar question isn’t it. $19 million is only a small piece.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I see this as no different. Now we have a year deadline. Big deal. Kill the project now - replace it with something else.
Does anyone think that there will not be a sudden rush to finish? Short cuts will be made to ensure a date is achieved all enroute to satisfying so artifical April 2009 Deadline?
There are advantages to the new construction downtown - I agree. But the same folks who have been attempting to implement this project over the past several years are now expected to close the deal in a year?
Put this project out of our misery now. Come up with something else. Geez - we paid an architect $3 million dollars for plans we can’t/won’t use.
May as well build this project at the corner of Keystone and Stooges.
It’s also worth noting that if it’s such a great project, then why do Maggie and Co. have to hide all the details from everyone. If it’s such a brilliant idea, wouldn’t they want everyone to see just how brilliant it is?
It reminds me of the Iraq war: no plan, no explanation of funding, just a simple plea to “trust us.”
excellent point.
i agree that it is probably a bad project if it is shrouded in secrecy and can’t get private funding. as bobby kennedy might say, not too many innocent men plead the fifth. i just think that any construction project has some merit if for nothing else then for the construction jobs.
Dennis - come on. So, after we build it for all the construction jobs then we can tear it down supporting the demolition jobs. It will be cheaper if we just pay off the construction workers directly.
“Some” merit simply isn’t good enough here. Either there is clearly identified value, a plan and clear path to success via focused implementation. or there is not.
There is not ardent support here for RenSquare. Maggie and company blew that opportunity building community support when Main and Clinton LDC was behind closed doors.
Like I said earlier, RenSquare’s address is at the corner of Keystone and Stooges.