Remember Perrysburg?
Was tipped off to the following article that appeared in the Buffalo News last week by a new fixBuffalo reader.
And today I received the following letter from Peggy Watkins, Perrysburg resident:
__________________________________________________________________________Was tipped off to the following article that appeared in the Buffalo News last week by a new fixBuffalo reader.
Buffalo’s plan to sell property it owns in Perrysburg to a logging company has been voided by a state appellate court.The 649-acre site, once home to Buffalo’s tuberculosis hospital, has been the focus of a three-year dispute. Preservationists have battled plans by Buffalo and the state to allow Trathen Land Co. to acquire the former J.N. Adam Developmental Center.
Trathen has promised to manage the woodlands “responsibly” through sustainable logging. read the rest...
The “friends of JN Adam” have claimed a court victory in stopping of the sale of the JN Adam property in Perrysburg. Who is this victory for? The residents of Perrysburg? The residents of the City of Buffalo? The taxpayers of the State of New York?The on line petition of the “friends” has 113 valid signatures. 8 of these signatures are from residents of Perrysburg and the surrounding communities. Several are from out of state, most are from Buffalo or Depew or Amherst. read the rest...
I first visited Perrysburg in January 2005 and quickly became interested in various issues surrounding what I've previously described as municipal malfeasance. Bottom line still - we can't even take care of our own backyard, I mean since this debacle down in Perrysburg began, Buffalo got a Control Board and vast areas of the City's east side have continued to burn out of control. Why are we so arrogantly inserting ourselves in the life of a community 40 miles to the south? We can't get things right a mile from Elmwood...so why are we trying so hard down in Perrysburg, NY - 40 Miles away?
Road tripping soon, for updated pics. Meanwhile here's January 2005 flickr slide show.
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6 comments:
Methinks thou doth protest too much. Why should a blogger, focused on the East Side, worry so much about this sale? I believe there is more to your position than meets the eye. Perhaps an old ax to grind?
Why should the city sell a piece of property appraised at over four million dollars for the measly amount offered (a mere drop in the bucket of our financial needs)? Why should we sell it at all? Once it's gone it's gone. All the talk about selective cutting doesn't mean shit to a tree.
Number of larger issues. Primary one is that of intelligent 'focus' on issues here in Buffalo, not Perrysburg. Second, people in Perrysburg are best informed and know what to do in their township.
The buildings are falling apart and the figure you site in some appraisal - like when was that done? - is so far from the reality of the existing situation. These buildings are quickly becoming liabilities, not assets, if they're not already.
The place wouldn't be 'gone', it would simply become part of the tax base in Perrysburg.
Like your metaphor mix-up 'old ax' and trees, nice!
Dear Fix,
Have you checked out the value of standing old growth timber? Do you know what the value of a veneer log is? Do you have any idea what the Japaneese and Chineese are willing to pay for American lumber. The State of New York "gives" away too many old growth cutting permits as it is.
This property was paid for with City of Buffalo taxpayer dollars. We, the citizens of Buffalo, own it. Simply because some citizens in Perrysburg want the land turned over to a logger, doesn't mean that it is the best way to proceed.
Is "intelligent focus" like "intelligent design"? I, too, focus on issues here in Buffalo but I'm also concerned about what happens when oil companies drill in Alaska. I don't think the proposed sale of this land has altered the focus of any of the principals involved in fighting it!
It's not the place that would be gone, it's the trees!
Anon 808...
It's some people in Perrysburg, more like all but 6 or 7.
Couple points...
One, NYS has a very transparent process when it comes to liquidating surplus real property. Happens all the time. In this particular case - as far as I understand - Trathen was the only bidder.
Two, if the City of Buffalo is the real owner of this place, how come it's not up to code? Place is increasingly more derelict. In other words, why the sudden interest in the place? Place could have been appropriated by the city during the period shortly after NYS left the premises. We didn't take it over. Why's that?
I'm sure you're not suggesting that City tax revenue be used to shore the place up and turn it into a park...I mean we can't even take care of - like, 'intelligently focus' on places closer to home. Try looking at the dereliction around city schools for starters which is only a mile from elmwood, not 40 miles as is Perrysburg.
This site has historic significance as Admiral Perry chose it for the wide viewshed it offers of Lake Erie. From this spot he could commmand the War of 1812 naval efforts where the British Fleet on Lake Erie was defeated and captured by the US because of the incredible down lake site lines. Read about it here:http://www.warof1812.ca/1812events.htm
The history and location is what cannot be replicated and what is so important. Value the timber, selectively harvest, and then use the proceeds to improve, illustrate and maintain the site for this value. And, protect and preserve the watershed for Perrysburg.
Really, people should protest more, and work to enhance and protect this valuable site for the public good. Have people ever seen some of the sites out west that are preserved and maintained, like the Mormon Trail stuff? That has a lot less to do with the establishment of the United States as an entity then this site does.
Dear Fix,
FYI. Veneer logs cut from the highest quality old growth trees typically bring 1.5 to 6 times the price of grade 1 saw logs. It is my understanding that the sellers of this parcel never bothered to survey the value of the timber (standing/sawn).
I agree with US#1. Cutting for the purpose of reinvesting makes sense.
Fix, I don't understand why YOU want the city to divest itself of this property? NYS wants to "give" away old growth standing timber in Allegheny State Park. Just because it's transparent doesn't make it right.
anonymous 534/808
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