New Haven Independent

posted by: Outta-order on October 18, 2007  12:21pm

Common sense prevailed. Otherwise the taxpayer would have had to fund the acquisition and the ongoing operation.

posted by: robn on October 18, 2007  1:18pm

Common sense prevailed because roller rinks are dangerous. Have you ever tried to roller skate around a curve and right in the middle of your turn, the jackass DJ turns on the disco-globe? Its carnage I tell you.

posted by: cedarhillresident on October 18, 2007  1:19pm

I so get what Greenwood wants, but the city did make the right choose at this time in a budget and revenue crisis. I am sure it was a hard one to make because Greenwoods views are very correct. So I am sorry Ms. Greenwood and I hope that some other space for these plans come up.

And I would like to congrate’s Something Sweet.

posted by: concrenedwestvilleres on October 18, 2007  3:02pm

This was a well-thought decision.  I hope that the owners of the bakery will use this opportunity to help provide employment opportunities to some of the disadvantaged of New Haven.  Maybe they could possibly look to begin a high-school internship program to help kids learn the bakery trade in an after-school or cooperative environment.

As for the roller rink, it is a good idea but there would be issues beyond financing to resolve.  How would the kids get to and from the roller rink.  Bus service is limited on many routes so it would be difficult at Long Wharf without some accommodation by the local transit authorities.  Another issue would be preventing “neighborhood” gangs from coming to the rink and claiming it as their territory and keeping many kids from the rink.  The need for added security would have to be addressed.  I think an entertainment complex for kids to keep them off the street is a great idea, but it should be located in a more central area to allow greater access by the children of New Haven.

Finally, Kudos to Chrissy Bonanno and her desire to help both sides.  I am excited that New Haven has someone who appears to work tirelessly for the better of New Haven and not just for a political agenda.  She is also willing to communicate with the public on sites like this site.  I hope she keeps it up—if she does this city can move forward.

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on October 18, 2007  4:37pm

Again The Voice Of The People Are Sold Out By
Politricks. If You Think That This Bakery Will Bring In Revenue Outta-Order, Robin Cedarhillresident And Concrenedwestvilleres Take A Look At This Website http://WWW.Chelseapiers.com This Entertainment Complex Brings In Millons Of Dollars
A Year!! And The Montesanos According to their proposal Will Pay 100,000 For the Property People
Wake Up and Smell The Mackrel And Look For A Hot Tub!!! So Yes The Montesanos Are Going To Benefit
Alright They Will Be Eating The Cake And New Haven Will Be Left With The Crumbs!!!

posted by: concrenedwestvilleres on October 18, 2007  9:45pm

Chelsea Piers is different than anything that could be put in New Haven and different from what was proposed.  Chelsea Piers is in NYC and has become a part of the tourist scene there.  Much of what it offers you can’t find in the surrounding area (rock climbing, etc.).  To think a roller rink for New Haven kids would be similar to what they have at Chelsea Piers is comparing apples and oranges.

I would have liked to see an internship program and hiring from the poorer areas of town incorporated into accepting the proposal. New Jobs won’t be useful if they hire from Branford and Milford.

There is alot of work to do in New Haven.  This is only a beginning.

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on October 19, 2007  7:53am

Concrenedwestvilleres
My Point Is Just What You Said Tourist And That Is How The Money Is Made, Long Wharf Can Hold A Entertainment Complex Like Chelsepiers. But Do To Poltricks The Powers That Be Do Not Want This. Look How Much Money Six Flags Brings In And Has Complexs Across The Country. Like I Said The Montesanos Will Be Eating Cake And New Haven Will
Eat Crumbs!!

posted by: robn on October 19, 2007  9:28am

threefifth,

Chelsea Piers is a really exciting project, but New Haven lacks the critical mass to support such a venture. We would need to attract half of the state population to match Manhattens population which is much more dense…plus theres only so many places that you can do large scale entrtainment in Manhatten whereas in CT theres open space and potential competition everywhere.

Big ideas are cool, but i have no problem with New Haven making slow incremental changes, supporting small to medium sized businesses to provide local jobs. That being said…anybody checked lately how many local jobs (promised by Ikea) have materialized?

posted by: pedro on October 19, 2007  5:13pm

Threefifths, I don’t think that Ms. Greenwood was prepared to offer more than the $100,000 that the Montesanos were paying. They are also going to spend close to $1 Million cleaning up the asbestos and building their warehouse.

No one here is denying that a roller rink/entertainment complex is not a fantastic idea, but in that specific location, I don’t think it was a good fit.

With any luck the city will help her find an ideal location in the city for her vision and it will soon be on it’s way to success!

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on October 19, 2007  6:30pm

Robn
Look At New London Which Next Year Will Have Cruise Ships Comming In, How About Mystic. Long Wharf Can Hold A Entertainment complex Like Chelsepiers Or Even Small, As You Said Look At Ikea From What I heard The Only Good Thing About Is You Can Go In And Get A Good Lunch.

posted by: Outta-order on October 19, 2007  8:28pm

3/5ths,
It is clear that you are now functioning on mackerel overdose!

posted by: Chip Croft on October 19, 2007  9:10pm

Once again the kids in the inner city of New Haven lose! They have told the Board of Aldermen time after time that they need after school and weekend activities to stay out of trouble. The kids I know in the Dixwell area have to go to Wallingford to skate and they are desperate for a rink in New Haven. They are not able to or can’t afford to get to Wallingford.  A well managed, secure rink in neutral territory can and should be developed as soon as possible to - once again - give the kids a way to burn off their energy and prevent teen gun violence and thus minimize the need for legislation for the memorials around town. The kids should be put first - way ahead of a bakery! Wake up Aldermen didn’t you hear the cry of the kids at all those open hearings you had for them!!

posted by: Ralph Ferrucci on October 19, 2007  10:00pm

As a former roller skate guard at Roller Haven in North Haven for almost 10 years, I thought the skating rink was a great idea. we used to have buses from New Haven schools al the time.

this is a great idea to keep kids off of the streets. Unfortunately we went with a bakery. There is no provisions that requires the bakery to hire New Haven residents.

The skating rink not only would keep new haveners off of the streets, both young and old, it would also have brought people into town.

This is a loss to New Haven. I just hope Ms. Greenwood does not give up on her dream.
Ralph Ferrucci.

posted by: Noelle on October 20, 2007  7:24am

While it didn’t work out on this particular property on Long Wharf, the roller rink is a great idea.  I teach in the New Haven Public Schools, and kids are always talking about roller skating.  They go up to Waterbury for open skates, and organize parties up there as well.  Skating is appealing to New Haven’s kids from kindergarten past high school. I hope Ms Greenwood continues to pursue this idea.

posted by: East Rock resident on October 22, 2007  12:34pm

Ralph-

This kind of absurd, non-sensical thought is why i will not be voting for you in Novemebr.  You really think a woman with a dream of opening a non-profit rollerskating rink, when she has no experience and no capital, a failing business plan and no means of success (her own business plan showed her losing 8million a year) was a bettter option that a bakery which employess scores of New Haven residents? You have really become a punchline.  time to call it over.  Stop embarrassing yourself.

posted by: Isee Greenwood on October 22, 2007  3:20pm

I am so sorry you feel that way. First the all it is not a non-profit business. Secondly,you recieve incorret information about the financial piece of my project. Thirdly,we vote for people who claims they have the same interested. However, when they become an official everything changes.Our youth is getting shot up,lock up,beat up,and being drug up ranging from ages 9 through 24 Also, statistacis show that 50% of the youth that were arrested were first time offenders.In addition, the pregnancy rate has increased. Futhermore, my eight grade student got shot in the eye with a gun as a result she lost her eye and innocent by stander.New Haven Board of Education says “Kids First” and 0 Tolerence Thank you Mr.Ralph Ferrucci for your support If you have futher comments please email me directly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

posted by: robn on October 22, 2007  6:20pm

Ralph,

I just can’t consider voting for you unless you absolutely promise that you weren’t the guy who turned on the disco globe…causing dizzying roller skate carnage every time.

posted by: WEBbloger 1 on October 22, 2007  9:52pm

I’m sorry Ms. Greenwood, your proposal never saw the light of day. The Fusco group has three properties in the Long wharf terminal and the deal was sealed long before the hearing. It was gruel for Chrissy Bonnano to lead you on. At the same time you should know that people are not endeared to your project by comments such as those below…

“Our youth is getting shot up,lock up,beat up,and being drug up ranging from ages 9 through 24 Also, statistacis show that 50% of the youth that were arrested were first time offenders.In addition, the pregnancy rate has increased. Futhermore, my eight grade student got shot in the eye with a gun as a result she lost her eye”

The fact is, it becomes very difficult for people to get excited about a good idea when that idea is being sold based on the above statistics.

Roller rinks have a short term life span and many in the past experienced teenage clashes resulting in closures. Nevertheless, we should continue to find organized recreational opportunities for kids in New Haven.

posted by: concrenedwestvilleres on October 23, 2007  9:42am

As to some of the recent comments, there are positives and negatives to both sides.  First, I don’t think Ms. Greenwood was led on by Chrissy Bonnano. When a RFP goes out anyone can submit a bid, but the job of the Economic Development Department is to recommend the best proposal when the deal as a whole is taken into account.  In the end, the bakery appeared to have the best financing and viable plan for the site.  The point is that more jobs will be brought to New Haven and as a result more income will come in.  That said, the Aldermen should have conditioned the sale on employement standards for the new jobs and possibly an internship program for members of the communities that Ms. Greenwood is targeting.

As for the comments about the statistics, they are sad and it is a horrible indictment on our culture.  However, I don’t see how a roller rink will significantly reduce the violence.  I would be concerned that the roller rink would become a turf war in the long-haul.  How do we know that the gangs and trouble-makers won’t try to make a roller rink their territory and what would the cost of security be for such a rink especially with a major retailer in the area?

I would like to see a roller rink or entertainment complex in New Haven, but it needs to be in an area that is easily accessible until late hours by public transportation or other modes of transportation.  It needs to be setup to provide a high level of security so that it would be a safe place for everyone who comes. It would require hours that would discourage truancy and encourage studying (i.e. so that kids won’t neglect school and homework).

I encourage Ms. Greenwood to keep trying to find a site and work with the city to find the site that would work well for all parties involved.