Mayor Miner appoints members of Stadium Task Force

[KellySyracuse]

From the city facebook page

City of Syracuse - Office of the Mayor
Miner Appoints Members of Stadium Task Force
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Mayor Stephanie A. Miner today announced the members of a new task force to study a proposed sports arena in the City of Syracuse. The task force was originally announced last Thursday in Mayor Miner’s 2014 State of the City address.

“Any project concerning Syracuse University athletics is bound to generate interest and conversation in our community,” said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner. “When we approach such a major possibility for development, we need to do so methodically to ensure the right choices are made for this once in a generation decision.”

This task force will study the impact any proposed new stadium would have on nearby neighborhoods, municipal infrastructure, and economic development. Members of the task force will include community stakeholders, experts in urban planning and economic development, and public officials (or their designees).

The task force members and their designees are as follows:

• Benjamin Walsh (Chair), Deputy Commissioner, City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development
• Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor, New York State (Designee)
• Hon. Joanne M. Mahoney, County Executive, Onondaga County (Designee)
• Kent D. Syverud, Chancellor & President, Syracuse University (Designee)
• Dr. Gregory Eastwood, Interim President, Upstate Medical University
• Housing Visions Unlimited (Designee: Karen Jones, neighborhood resident)
• Kenyon Craig, President, Housing Visions Unlimited
• George Curry, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, SUNY ESF
• Carolyn Evans-Dean, Community Activist
• Robert Haley, Director, CNY Chapter, American Institute of Architects
• Pastor Daren Jaime, People’s AME Zion Church
• Julius Lawrence, Community Activist
• Rebecca Livengood, Member, City of Syracuse Planning Commission
• Joseph O’Hara, Executive Director, PEACE, Inc.
• CenterState CEO (Designee: Allen Naples, CNY Regional President, M&T Bank)
• David Mankiewicz, East Genesee Street Regents Association / University Hill Corporation
• Robert Doucette, Partner, Paramount Realty Group
• Hon. John A. DeFrancisco, New York State Senate
• Hon. David J. Valesky, New York State Senate
• Hon. William B. Magnarelli, New York State Assembly
• Hon. Samuel D. Roberts, New York State Assembly (Designee: Bobby Gaulden, neighborhood resident)
• Hon. Linda Ervin, Onondaga County Legislature
• Hon. Helen Hudson, Majority Leader, Syracuse Common Council (Designee: Hon. Pamela Hunter, Syracuse Common Council)
• Hon. Chad Ryan, Syracuse Common Council

 

[GoSU96]

One banker, one realtor, an architect and a million pols and community activists.

No expert in project financing, no contractor, no one representing the skilled trades.

Bunch of bunk.

 

[Orangello]

I doubt they will be able to agree on who sits where at the first meeting.

 

[TexanMark]

One banker, one realtor, an architect and a million pols and community activists.

No expert in project financing, no contractor, no one representing the skilled trades.

Bunch of bunk.

Exactly...this will be horrible and will play out in the media.

You need about 7-11 folks and several experts on call.

 

[Scooch]

Things like this task force is why people hate government.

 

[Noexcuse]

Things like this task force is why people hate government.

Next up, The Feasibility Study. Let's put discussion on this on hold until 2020.

 

[TexanMark]

Things like this task force is why people hate government.

I'm expecting no concensus, DeFrancisco slowing everything down and a call that 20% of the construction workers have to be hired locally from underrepresented groups and sexual orientations and paid prevailing wage.

 

[Noexcuse]

I'm expecting no concensus, DeFrancisco slowing everything down and a call that 20% of the construction workers have to be hired from underrepresented groups and s e x ual orientations and paid prevailing wage.

I took a look at that list and said to myself what kind of joke is this? Will they even focus on the job at hand? I can see this being nothing more than a self serving platform for each reps interests.

 

[supp]

One banker, one realtor, an architect and a million pols and community activists.

No expert in project financing, no contractor, no one representing the skilled trades.

Bunch of bunk.

People love to jump to conclusions. Are they looking to figure out the design or the financing of the stadium? This task force's remit is an impact study as it clearly says. What will be the impact of a new stadium be on city infrastructure, the near East side, the economic health of the city? That's it. You form a task force to get at answers that are not available or forthcoming at the moment. It's designed to put Syverud, Mahoney, and Cuomo in a room and tell community stakeholders what exactly it is that they're planning (if anything).

 

[mountaincuse]

One banker, one realtor, an architect and a million pols and community activists.

No expert in project financing, no contractor, no one representing the skilled trades.

Bunch of bunk.

Bob Ducette is a developer, he is an expert in financing for sure.

Not building anything yet so no real need for skill trades or a contractor to be involved.

 

[KellySyracuse]

David Mankiewicz, CenterState CEO
Senior Vice President, Director of Infrastructure & Urban Initiatives
President, University Hill Corporation

and

Robert Doucette, developer and brainchild of Armory Square revitalization

I recall a PS letter to the editor from Mankiewicz in support of the stadium. Doucette is all about revitalization and with the Brennan Motor Car building right near Kennedy Square I can see where he would have a big interest in developing that part of the city. These are two good guys, hopefully they'll outweigh the deadbeats on this list.

 

[GoSU96]

Exactly...this will be horrible and will play out in the media.

You need about 7-11 folks and several experts on call.

She shouldn't be allowed to hijack this thing. The city isn't being asked to be part of the funding structure, she needs to focus on making sure any costs that the city might incur are covered, any disruption or change in traffic patterns, and she has a part in any property tax deals.

Financially this is a State and County deal, she needs to stay in her swim lane.

 

[Noexcuse]

She shouldn't be allowed to hijack this thing. The city isn't being asked to be part of the funding structure, she needs to focus on making sure any costs that the city might incur are covered, any disruption or change in traffic patterns, and she has a part in any property tax deals.

Financially this is a State and County deal, she needs to stay in her swim lane.

Thinking about it this may be her "out clause". There are enough forward thinkers there, including the initiators, to keep this rolling while giving "the community" an opportunity to voice its concerns.

 

[GoSU96]

Bob Ducette is a developer, he is an expert in financing for sure.

Not building anything yet so no real need for skill trades or a contractor to be involved.

No disrespect to Mr Doucette but there is huge difference between remodeling some buildings and turning them into condo's and putting together a half billion dollar infrastructure deal.

 

[GoSU96]

People love to jump to conclusions. Are they looking to figure out the design or the financing of the stadium? This task force's remit is an impact study as it clearly says. What will be the impact of a new stadium be on city infrastructure, the near East side, the economic health of the city? That's it. You form a task force to get at answers that are not available or forthcoming at the moment. It's designed to put Syverud, Mahoney, and Cuomo in a room and tell community stakeholders what exactly it is that they're planning (if anything).

Then have the common council hold a hearing, that's what they are there for. You don't need this boondoggle.

 

[mountaincuse]

No disrespect to Mr Doucette but there is huge difference between remodeling some buildings and turning them into condo's and putting together a half billion dollar infrastructure deal.

He ain't paying for it himself, it's all financing.

 

[oldpinepoint]

No disrespect to Mr Doucette but there is huge difference between remodeling some buildings and turning them into condo's and putting together a half billion dollar infrastructure deal.

Mr Doucette's expertise will be the mixed use surrounding the proposed stadium. IMO the stadium part is the easiest, it's the surrounding development which will be more difficult

 

[KellySyracuse]

Mr Doucette's expertise will be the mixed use surrounding the proposed stadium. IMO the stadium part is the easiest, it's the surrounding development which will be more difficult

Brennan Motor Car Building, needs a ton of work and some of it might not be worth saving. Would be a great place to re-purpose into apartments, restaurants, & pubs. It's on the corner of Townsend St. & E. Water St., a half a mile from the proposed stadium site.

 

[oldpinepoint]

Brennan Motor Car Building, needs a ton of work and some of it might not be worth saving. Would be a great place to re-purpose into apartments, restaurants, & pubs. It's on the corner of Townsend St. & E. Water St., a half a mile from the proposed stadium site.

I don't think that property is structurally sound and needs to be ripped down

 

[chakka3421]

David Mankiewicz, CenterState CEO
Senior Vice President, Director of Infrastructure & Urban Initiatives
President, University Hill Corporation

and

Robert Doucette, developer and brainchild of Armory Square revitalization

I recall a PS letter to the editor from Mankiewicz in support of the stadium. Doucette is all about revitalization and with the Brennan Motor Car building right near Kennedy Square I can see where he would have a big interest in developing that part of the city. These are two good guys, hopefully they'll outweigh the deadbeats on this list.

What you dopes don't know is that most of the work is going to be done by this guy - he led the Pike Block renovations and many others. He also is an employee or closely affiliated with CenterState CEO. Ben Walsh has plenty of experience with big revitalization projects from the city of Syracuse perspective. Alan Naples from M&T is the most well connected banker in CNY and can raise a lot of money - I am sure he will lobby M&T bank for naming rights and corresponding private funding from M&T and others.

I could go on with the other players you people know nothing about but many are well connected behind the scenes representing different constituencies to actually make this happen. Mayor Miner did right with this group (I did not vote for her either).

You shouldn't comment about stuff you know nothing about on how things work behind the scenes where the support needs to come from first.

 

[KellySyracuse]

What you dopes don't know is that most of the work is going to be done by this guy - he led the Pike Block renovations and many others. He also is an employee or closely affiliated with CenterState CEO. Ben Walsh has plenty of experience with big revitalization projects from the city of Syracuse perspective. Alan Naples from M&T is the most well connected banker in CNY and can raise a lot of money - I am sure he will lobby M&T bank for naming rights and corresponding private funding from M&T and others.

I could go on with the other players you people know nothing about but many are well connected behind the scenes representing different constituencies to actually make this happen. Mayor Miner did right with this group (I did not vote for her either).

You shouldn't comment about stuff you know nothing about on how things work behind the scenes where the support needs to come from first.

Which is why I called those two guys out and actually Mankiewicz is the SVP of Centerstate CEO as pointed out in my comment. Glad to read your input but not sure why you've got to go with the snark. Damn

 

[TexanMark]

What I called it out for: The group is too large.

Keep it to 7-11 experts. One or two of them can be local special interest types.

 

[GoSU96]

What you dopes don't know is that most of the work is going to be done by this guy - he led the Pike Block renovations and many others. He also is an employee or closely affiliated with CenterState CEO. Ben Walsh has plenty of experience with big revitalization projects from the city of Syracuse perspective. Alan Naples from M&T is the most well connected banker in CNY and can raise a lot of money - I am sure he will lobby M&T bank for naming rights and corresponding private funding from M&T and others.

I could go on with the other players you people know nothing about but many are well connected behind the scenes representing different constituencies to actually make this happen. Mayor Miner did right with this group (I did not vote for her either).

You shouldn't comment about stuff you know nothing about on how things work behind the scenes where the support needs to come from first.

The comments wasn't about the business people, it was the ratio of them vs pols and community activists.

 

[shandeezy7]

No disrespect to Mr Doucette but there is huge difference between remodeling some buildings and turning them into condo's and putting together a half billion dollar infrastructure deal.

He basically completely redeveloped Armory Square into what it is today, including constructing the center armory mixed use project. He's redeveloped almost half of downtown Syracuse. That's not some minor condo redevelopment. He's also an adjunct at SU and Le Moyne in urban studies and real estate development and a mentor for the Syracuse Student Sandbox. I think he has the sufficient level of expertise to provide input to this project.

 

[CuseOnly]

I would like to add a few more to the list:

The Reverend Jesse Jackson - Community activist
Hon. Judge Judith Sheindlin - TV Celebrity and she has some dough
Donald Trump - Real Estate Developer with great hair
William J Fitzpatrick - He is great in front of a camera
Sam Waterston - He plays a prosecutor on TV

...and anybody else that can possibly slow this project down, feel free to add your own.