Zoning myopia: Staten Island to lose an environmental jewel

[catherine]

I don't live on Staten Island, but I've been watching and petitioning against the developments that have taken place with regards to Mount Manresa, a Jesuit retreat compound that closed down last June. Developers are going to turn the property into 250 townhouses.

Apparently they are not saving any of the natural beauty of the place, nor the beautiful buildings that are there now.

Here's the Save Mt Manresa website. http://savemountmanresa.org/mount-manresa-facts-2/

I hate how crass decisions by zoning boards can be.. This property could have been a wonderful open space and park for the residents of Staten Island, and now only the developers will profit. Reminds me of how if it weren't for Jackie Kennedy, we might have lost Grand Central Station a couple of decades back.

My son told me a story about how when cities were emerging in this country, most planners planned them around community and shared space--like Central Park in the middle of Manhattan. Newark, NJ town planners, on the other hand, decided the land was too valuable and they wanted the revenue for it, so that city was planned with no community space. Look what happened to Newark. Urban planning with the people in mind is so important.

So depressing. I feel bad for the residents of Staten Island.

[early morning]

That is really sad. It looks like such a lovely place. I am getting to the point that I am anti-development! It's all about the money. In the Ohio county where I work, the fair board has just signed a deal with a developer to sell the lovely agricultural fairgrounds in the city, so that the "valuable' real estate can be "developed" for the benefit of the developers... the area loses a venue that has held circuses, antique shows, car shows, and all sorts of other outside events, not to mention the fair itself. It also houses a lot of pacers and trotters, and quite a few residents stop in off and on to watch the horses being exercised. It is a nice place to take a walk, or just sit and see grass and trees, instead of concrete and buildings. The fairgrounds buildings are old and lovely, especially the round one -but the NEW ones, in an outlying town, will be mostly pole barns, clad in metal, with no soul or heart in them for many years, if ever. When I grew up, the highlight of the summer was fair week, and it was that way for both of my kids, too (we're all 4-H alums, lol) I'm with you, catherine - very depressing.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/gallery/news/local/montgomery-county-fairgrounds/gCGk8/#4279686

[catherine]

Wow, that's a shame about your fairgrounds, early morning. We are so unlike our European friends. In Italy they built around the rubble of an old building and "repurpose" it--thank God they're not like us--the Coliseum would have been replaced with 1000 apartments, all with stainless steel appliances and granite counters.

[pinkytoe]

no soul or heart in them
This kind of "development" is going on everywhere wherever the economy is thriving. So short-sighted and sad to lose the last of these magical places.

[iris lily]

That's looks like a beautiful, peaceful oasis in that area, so sad it is going. :( It's not only the old buildings there which I would love (although frankly, they look undistinguished) but it's likely that the entire complex and how the buildings fit within the spaces make it unique.

Developers always want to do the cheapest project and that 'most always means razing the old buildings. Why wouldn't they want to maximize their profit, we all do but still it is unfortunate that they won't be using existing buildings and space to make super duper high end residential spaces.

My "flyover" and "red" state has the highest use of tax credits by a factor of--2 or 3?--for the sole purpose of renovating old buildings. That's my definition of "progressive." .Yes this is one area where I like tax dollars to go (well, actually, they aren't collected in the first place.) Renovating old buildings is very pricey, the average joe doesn't understand that. Providing tax credtis of 25% at the state level and another 25% at the federal level is the difference between saving or demolishing a building. The requirements for preservation of the building are rigorous but doable, if one pays attention.

[CathyA]

I see this kind of absolute stupidity and short-sightedness all the time. Is it because of the first europeans that came over, who somehow passed on their genes to so many people here that are aggressive and think only in terms of greed?
I don't know where the hell it came from, but I HATE IT.
I see so many people who just regurgitate the phrase "growth and development" as the ONLY way to go........yet they have the shortest foresight and don't even think about any of the consequences.......to the people already in the area, to the water, the air, the earth, and everything else.
Is it because the business people/developers/zoning boards, etc., are the aggressive ones, and the quiet ones don't object because it's not in their nature to donate so much of their life's energy to fighting every wrong that happens these days????

Now look what you've done..........my blood pressure is up. ;)

[iris lily]

I see this kind of absolute stupidity and short-sightedness all the time. Is it because of the first europeans that came over, who somehow passed on their genes to so many people here that are aggressive and think only in terms of greed?
I don't know where the hell it came from, but I HATE IT.
I see so many people who just regurgitate the phrase "growth and development" as the ONLY way to go........yet they have the shortest foresight and don't even think about any of the consequences.......to the people already in the area, to the water, the air, the earth, and everything else.
Is it because the business people/developers/zoning boards, etc., are the aggressive ones, and the quiet ones don't object because it's not in their nature to donate so much of their life's energy to fighting every wrong that happens these days????

Now look what you've done..........my blood pressure is up. ;)

For one thing, additional tax revenue is constantly needed for the growing bills the city incurs for the increased services the citizens expect. That tax base has to come form somewhere. I would imagine that this place in the OP's post was tax exempt.

[catherine]

I would imagine that this place in the OP's post was tax exempt.

Good point--as a religious institution, I'm sure it was.

But, still, maybe keeping it open space for the public would have been in the best interest of the public. They aren't losing anything in a way because they never got tax revenue for it.

I live in an area of NJ that up until 40-50 years ago was all farmland. Despite the incredible growth, my town, and the town "across the road" are investing quite significantly in open space.. preserving farmlands, etc. that otherwise would go to developers.

Even so, I used to be able to tell what month it was by the cornfields, and now there are no more cornfields.

So much for the Garden State... but at least we're trying.

[Teacher Terry]

That is really sad:|(. It is so much better to preserve the space.

[CathyA]

All the new businesses that are attracted to our county (to replace farmland) get at least 10 years of tax abatement.
It just seems like the city is chasing it's tail all the time. It get busier, more crowded, etc., and there's really no improvement in quality of life.
And most of the people who start working in these places aren't even from this county.

As far as the Staten Island situation, can't people just throw a fit..............or doesn't anyone living around there matter?
I sure would like the U.S. to start valuing more than profit.

[catherine]

As far as the Staten Island situation, can't people just throw a fit..............or doesn't anyone living around there matter?
I sure would like the U.S. to start valuing more than profit.

There is a very committed group of people trying to save it, but the case has already exhausted its appeals. I don't know how large the Save Mount Manresa group is, but they have been protesting outside of it for months now. Apparently, they have some support from NYC Mayor DiBlasio (who was just elected in November), but I think it's a case of too little too late.

Some people blame the Catholic Church for selling out, and others are pointing fingers at the politicians who accepted money from the developer, but the fate seems to be sealed. In three months all those buildings will be demolished.