I had the pleasure of being invited to attend a meeting concerning the soon to be Sunoco gas station and mini mart and it was an enlightening experience. I recall a comment on another post concerning Raj that wasn't too positive but I found him to be very accomidating, friendly and open to suggestions on how to help beautify the location! I can say the exact opposite about Mr. Rodgers but he definitely lived up to my expectations!
There seem to be quite a few hurdles to cross before the final product will be what we all envision but I'm glad that the new owner of the gas station is working with the WWNP and residents to come up with a location that will be green, friendly and best of all no longer the eyesore it has been for the past 2 years.
Mr. Patel is hopeful that the gas station will be up in runinng before the spring. I'm not sure how accurate that is but I am excited about all the trees, plants, benches, murals and lighting that are proposed for the site! I'm glad that there are some business owners out there that want to work with the residents instead of against them! And it will be great to have the convenience store back so close to home!
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It has been a whole year since you brought this to the Canton meetings as a problem to be solved. Thank you for staying the course, Nikkita. It will make a big difference to see that cleaned up...let alone greened up. Please keep posting as to how it is progressing with the owners, the city and neighborhood support.
Funny...a month after the planning commission approved this project nothing had been done. The owners said they were in a hurry to get started, which is why we let them proceed without a final DEP plan...but it could have just been typical paperwork delays that were preventing progress.
In any event, it just so happened that I drove by the site the day of our next meeting and noticed the hole hadn't been filled in yet. I waited until the end of our meeting to question under "other business" what ever happened to our condition of approval...we said the hole needed to be filled asap whether the tank was ready to go in or not because people had been looking at the mess for so long.
What I thought would be a quick five minute explanation turned into about a forty minute debate (escalating into a near blow-up between one commissioner and the planning department) over why nothing had happened. I almost felt sorry that I bought it up but it was also one of those amusing kind of situations - like when you get your brother or sister in
trouble with your parents and then sneak away to laugh about it.
We decided to handle it unoffically through a casual coversation with the owner. The hole was filled a week later.
DRL
Thanks Cathy!
I remember Raj saying that he was in a hurry to get started too! when I asked him about how long, he said two weeks.
I think he may be under estimating when the opening will happen too.. I'm assuming it won't look "finished" until probably the summer!
Just as an FYI folks,In case anyone is interested or cares the owner Raj is also the owner of several Dunkin Donuts in the area. The only reason I know this is because my ex husband and his brothers had the contracts to build them.After living through the experiences of watching them work on the projects and getting to know the owner I would have to say that he is primarily interested in the bottom line.Nikkita you are correct the project probably will not be finished until summer, I would venture to say that they are probably waiting for grant funding to complete the project hence there are monies available for tank removal etc.
I too,have been watching the place with interest to see just exactly how it will progress. Dennis, I am sorry but I had to laugh at your comparison to the "family unit" it was so appropo...Typical government dysfunction at it's finest. But as they say the squeaky wheel gets the most grease. Nikkita, Kudos for not giving up I for one will become more actively involved as I now have the time since I am no longer in a Slumlord situation. Although my former Slumlord will not give up and is continuing with Civil Litigation,but I am saying"Come on Buddy, you violated my civil rights and now you want to go around in the Courts??So in Sandy's world it's time for "Raj" to make the donuts and Slumlords beware, I am coming for ya! LOL
Nikkita thanks for your tenacity and Dennis for your subtle and effective approach.
PR leveraging can go a long way with an eyesore linked to corporate image. I pitched such an approach well over a year ago but it was followed up on. Perhaps at this point it might expedite the finished project?
Thanks Nikkita, for seeing this through. I know that you and Julie both put a lot of time and energy into this! It is going to look so much better--I can't wait.
So projected for the Spring are two major bits of progress, the GettyMart-turned-Sunoco-station, and the advent of the new street sweeping program that the mayor has promised. These are two tangible improvements that are really going to give neighborhood morale a boost. If the renovations proposed for Dutchtown Park happen, that will be an added spot for optimism. I know that residents and Lafayette students already planted a lot of new bulbs this fall, so that will be pretty to see in the Spring.
On top of that there are some rehabbing projects by the City that are supposed to start by next Spring on Ferry and Pine Streets, so that will be a nice change that people can see with their own eyes as well.
Change comes slowly, but it does come, if we keep the faith and take action where and when needed.
Looks like it's going to be a nice Spring...!
I have seen a lot of improvements to our neighborhood and some of the best are the little things. People need to understand that the little things like cleaning your gutters yourself are important. It's great that the mayor is going to give ue city-wide street sweeping but it isn't the city's responsibility --- its yours and mine. I like what's happening in the WW.
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