GPA Minutes Jan. 27, 2013
34 Members & 2 Guests in attendance
Barb Wager announced that the Executive Committee had made a decision that they would invite guest speakers relevant to the GPA.
Roz Goldman introduced the guest speaker: George Gotcsik, whom she had met 3 years ago. Mr. Gotcsik is from Community Business Advantage. He consults to businesses, management, and communities and was instrumental to the redevelopment and revitalization of the South Wedge.
George Gotcsik’s presentation was very informative:
George’s background is in Finance with helping to start businesses. He worked at the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) at SUNY Geneseo. George made the point that redevelopment is complex. It involves businesses, landlords, City personnel, Economic Development, etc. It is important to stay with start-ups for 3-5 years after the initial start. Good planning in the beginning and good, regular follow-up is important. Organizational planning is critical and it takes 3-5 years to get through the process.
How it grows:
· Phase I: Have a problem or a situation and want to do something about it. Survey the neighborhood to get everyone’s input.
· Phase II: Start looking with a good plan
· Phase III: Move to Real Estate. Recruit a developer.
In the South Wedge, there was 1 Executive Director and 1 volunteer so an extensive committee is not necessary. A survey of the entire neighborhood was conducted. What was learned from the survey was that the major issues for the neighborhood were housing vacancies, absentee landlords, and safety. There were 35% storefront vacancies at the time. As first steps the neighborhood needed to come up with a logo and a tag line which the South Wedge did via submissions from the neighborhood (“Savor Our Flavor”).
To ensure success:
-have proactive and aggressive committee that follows through on tasks
-business planning assistance right in the neighborhood
-stay with the business in the initial years
There was a question from audience regarding financing: Is there an arm that’s funded to buy property in the neighborhood? George suggested that buying a home in the neighborhood, rehabbing it, and then selling it to first time homebuyers is a means to gain money that can be used for financing.
Question from the audience: What’s the age profile for the population of the South Wedge? George didn’t know for certain but he stated that he knows it’s getting younger.
George commented that the GPA neighborhood has restaurants, culture which puts us ahead of where the South Wedge was when it decided on redevelopment. He stated that we would need to organize, which is hard to do. We could get assistance from the SBDC at either Geneseo or Brockport. He suggested a strategy: that the GPA change its By-Laws to define a wider territory to effect change on surrounding streets.
Barb Wager announced that:
· Robin and Margaret Bjorgan have returned to the neighborhood
· Sandy & Suzanne Mayer have moved into Windsor Gate
· Students have been mugged in our neighborhood; culprits not caught, but there are suspects
· The meeting with the Police Chief is scheduled for Feb. 6th at 6 pm; GPA members are welcome to attend
· The large truck traffic on Windsor St. is much better
· Sandy Shapiro did the GPA’s taxes
Jim Martin informed about the City Planning meeting with Marcia Berry that he attended. At the meeting he learned that the Building and Zoning Committees will transition to new members in 2014. There is an expectation that a GPA member will be on the Zoning Committee. There was a suggestion to work with the Rochester Regional Design Center. Roz Goldman and Suzanne Mayer are connected to the Center and will keep us informed. Tom Fink said that we need to have increased restrictions. Ed Saphar asked what the process is for talking through issues. We need clarity as a group. Suzanne Mayer stated that the City wants neighborhoods working together and being more proactive. A suggestion was made to set up a committee. Suzanne Mayer indicated she would be interested.
A question was raised regarding the remaining sidewalk repairs. John Goldman explained that the repairs had been planned originally to be done in two stages. The first stage is complete and the plan is to finish, however, the money got reallocated. A member pointed out that many of the bricks are unsafe.
Jim Martin also reported on a meeting that he and John Lovenheim attended with Erica Fee & Justin Vigdor. For this year’s Fringe Festival there will be a spiegeltent set up in Lot F. At the meeting John Lovenheim requested that the generators be pointed to Chestnut St. vs. Symphony Terrace. A question was asked if Jim & John were told what time the activities at the tent would be stopping. Although not certain, Jim felt the action would be ending around 11 pm.
GPA Book Club:
Nancy Martin announced that the GPA Book Club will be meeting on Monday, January 28th at 7 pm at the Martin’s home. The book discussion is on The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. The next meeting is on February 25th at 7 pm at the Stewards home (15 Selden St.). The book under discussion is Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.
Banner Committee:
Doug Steward announced that the committee met. Roz Goldman has explored student involvement. The next meeting will be determined soon.
Jim Martin showed us the property map of the neighborhood that he & Barb Wager developed. Members asked if the map can be scanned and emailed to the membership. Jim agreed to do this.
Mary Steward told the members that both the March and May after-meeting receptions are still open. If anyone would like to host either of these meetings let her know.
Next meeting: Feb. 24th at 4 pm.
Quote of the meeting: “Are you the same Tom Anderson I had a mad crush on in 7th grade?”
Respectfully submitted,
Pam DiPaola
Barb Wager announced that the Executive Committee had made a decision that they would invite guest speakers relevant to the GPA.
Roz Goldman introduced the guest speaker: George Gotcsik, whom she had met 3 years ago. Mr. Gotcsik is from Community Business Advantage. He consults to businesses, management, and communities and was instrumental to the redevelopment and revitalization of the South Wedge.
George Gotcsik’s presentation was very informative:
George’s background is in Finance with helping to start businesses. He worked at the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) at SUNY Geneseo. George made the point that redevelopment is complex. It involves businesses, landlords, City personnel, Economic Development, etc. It is important to stay with start-ups for 3-5 years after the initial start. Good planning in the beginning and good, regular follow-up is important. Organizational planning is critical and it takes 3-5 years to get through the process.
How it grows:
· Phase I: Have a problem or a situation and want to do something about it. Survey the neighborhood to get everyone’s input.
· Phase II: Start looking with a good plan
· Phase III: Move to Real Estate. Recruit a developer.
In the South Wedge, there was 1 Executive Director and 1 volunteer so an extensive committee is not necessary. A survey of the entire neighborhood was conducted. What was learned from the survey was that the major issues for the neighborhood were housing vacancies, absentee landlords, and safety. There were 35% storefront vacancies at the time. As first steps the neighborhood needed to come up with a logo and a tag line which the South Wedge did via submissions from the neighborhood (“Savor Our Flavor”).
To ensure success:
-have proactive and aggressive committee that follows through on tasks
-business planning assistance right in the neighborhood
-stay with the business in the initial years
There was a question from audience regarding financing: Is there an arm that’s funded to buy property in the neighborhood? George suggested that buying a home in the neighborhood, rehabbing it, and then selling it to first time homebuyers is a means to gain money that can be used for financing.
Question from the audience: What’s the age profile for the population of the South Wedge? George didn’t know for certain but he stated that he knows it’s getting younger.
George commented that the GPA neighborhood has restaurants, culture which puts us ahead of where the South Wedge was when it decided on redevelopment. He stated that we would need to organize, which is hard to do. We could get assistance from the SBDC at either Geneseo or Brockport. He suggested a strategy: that the GPA change its By-Laws to define a wider territory to effect change on surrounding streets.
Barb Wager announced that:
· Robin and Margaret Bjorgan have returned to the neighborhood
· Sandy & Suzanne Mayer have moved into Windsor Gate
· Students have been mugged in our neighborhood; culprits not caught, but there are suspects
· The meeting with the Police Chief is scheduled for Feb. 6th at 6 pm; GPA members are welcome to attend
· The large truck traffic on Windsor St. is much better
· Sandy Shapiro did the GPA’s taxes
Jim Martin informed about the City Planning meeting with Marcia Berry that he attended. At the meeting he learned that the Building and Zoning Committees will transition to new members in 2014. There is an expectation that a GPA member will be on the Zoning Committee. There was a suggestion to work with the Rochester Regional Design Center. Roz Goldman and Suzanne Mayer are connected to the Center and will keep us informed. Tom Fink said that we need to have increased restrictions. Ed Saphar asked what the process is for talking through issues. We need clarity as a group. Suzanne Mayer stated that the City wants neighborhoods working together and being more proactive. A suggestion was made to set up a committee. Suzanne Mayer indicated she would be interested.
A question was raised regarding the remaining sidewalk repairs. John Goldman explained that the repairs had been planned originally to be done in two stages. The first stage is complete and the plan is to finish, however, the money got reallocated. A member pointed out that many of the bricks are unsafe.
Jim Martin also reported on a meeting that he and John Lovenheim attended with Erica Fee & Justin Vigdor. For this year’s Fringe Festival there will be a spiegeltent set up in Lot F. At the meeting John Lovenheim requested that the generators be pointed to Chestnut St. vs. Symphony Terrace. A question was asked if Jim & John were told what time the activities at the tent would be stopping. Although not certain, Jim felt the action would be ending around 11 pm.
GPA Book Club:
Nancy Martin announced that the GPA Book Club will be meeting on Monday, January 28th at 7 pm at the Martin’s home. The book discussion is on The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. The next meeting is on February 25th at 7 pm at the Stewards home (15 Selden St.). The book under discussion is Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.
Banner Committee:
Doug Steward announced that the committee met. Roz Goldman has explored student involvement. The next meeting will be determined soon.
Jim Martin showed us the property map of the neighborhood that he & Barb Wager developed. Members asked if the map can be scanned and emailed to the membership. Jim agreed to do this.
Mary Steward told the members that both the March and May after-meeting receptions are still open. If anyone would like to host either of these meetings let her know.
Next meeting: Feb. 24th at 4 pm.
Quote of the meeting: “Are you the same Tom Anderson I had a mad crush on in 7th grade?”
Respectfully submitted,
Pam DiPaola