Rob Loscalzo of Tritec contacted the Friends of the Carnegie Library today to inform us the Carnegie Library move Scheduled for Midnight July 24th into 25th will be postponed. All activities for this event, including the gathering at Roast Coffee that night, will be postponed as well.
Mr. Loscalzo reported to me that a snag in negotiations with the Village and the owners of a property on West Avenue adjacent the Village Sewer Treatment Plant that was essential in utilizing for the move has caused the delay. The tentative rescheduled move date is August 8th. We will provide more details as they become confirmed.
This delay may actually be a net positive since Mr. Loscalzo also informs me County Legislator Rob Calarco is working quickly to secure a temporary agreement that will allow the Carnegie Library to be moved directly to the County property on West Ave and Main Street that will ultimately be the buildings final home.
The Friends of the Carnegie Library still plan to hold a gathering event the night of the move. Again, more details will follow soon.
To reconfirm: The Carnegie Library WILL NOT be moving July 24th. Still, this historic building is still being saved and moved soon and this delay should not be considered a set back at all.
All good things are worth the wait. Please stay tuned.
Tritec for its part said it would pay for one and only one move. I believe you predicted that. Now since the building is being moved to the site where it will hope to be sited permanently a second "move" is not going to be as complex or as expensive. That second move, a relocation on site is due most likely to the fact that testing is not done yet for any hazardous underground materials. Plus the issue of a basement is not decided yet either. Tritec made it clear it was paying for a concrete slab but said that if the village did want a basement that it could do that work but for a price not specified last night. In addition the Mayor said that associated costs for the relocation of the building are now estimated to be in the range of one hundred thousand dollars. Insurance for the building, which Tritec is donating for nothing once the building reaches the site in August, overtime for the day of the move, all sorts of other expenses related to moving a one hundred year old historic building. He made it quite clear the village does not have a long range plan to keep paying and he said that the process of finding an end user to take the building would be accelerated to reduce costs.
My next question would then be, why are they only revealing now that they are agreeing to pay for only one move? For people that are lauded by your group for being so wonderfully cooperative and so "open and honest," they sure are selective with their release of information. When the Village first announced they would move it to a "holding facility" and then to the final destination, did they know that Tritec would only pay for one move? If so, how did they plan to finance the 2nd move? Was this ever even discussed by the trustees? If not, like I said....it was very naive for them to believe that Tritec would finance both moves. Somehow I don't think that naivety is at play here. At least not where the Mayor and Tritec are concerned.
It should also be known that Tritec was only contractually committed to one move as per the original agreement. Tritec has delivered on everything they agreed to do with respect to the Carnegie Library. A second move only became needed because the Village couldn't come up with a final location in a timely manner. The delay allowed the County more time to finalize a temporary agreement. I repeat that bot Tritec and the Village have been open and honest with all there communications with the Friends of the Carnegie Library and I know Mr. Bogack would concur with me on this.
My question is why did you think Tritec was FINANCING both moves when that was not their intention?
Why do you believe it was not Tritec's intention to make a second move? We could go back and forth, I doubt we will change each others mind. But we should both be glad a second large move is not necessary. Sorry you are annoyed I am thankful for the Village and Tritec having this building saved...this was the only reason I got invoved with this issue to begin with. We are all entittled to our opinions, this includes repeating our opinions if we want.
While the contract does specify that Tritec would pay for one move the Friends executive board was told that negotiations were in progress to get Tritec do do more. It would seem those negotiations did not succeed. But who knows maybe Tritec will change its mind over the next few months. It would be a good move on Tritec's part for it as a good corporate neighbor to pay for a second move, even the basement. I don't think we are talking about huge sums for them. It would also put Tritec squarlely in the role of saving the day by helping to make sure that this historic building really got the start it needs to be a viable office space for a future end user. It is the cost of good will to them, I believe that may even be a tax deductible business expense. I always like to believe the best so I am still hoping that before the dust settles a better outcome is still possible. There is still time to make that happen and I think that there are people out there who are going to try and make that happen to the best extent that they can.
pay for a second move....they aren't so open and honest after all! And why can't they pay all moving costs in total with that one million dollar grant they got from NY state?
Crook and Tri-tec. Here comes the slums
I think what may get lost in all this is what was originally proposed for this building. When Tritec first proposed their Four Corners development they stated they would move the Carnegie Library and gift the building to the Village. This will make the Village the owners of the building. In fact it was the possible costs of owning this building that made the Mayor and some of the Trustees question if saving this building was the best thing to do. When these questions arised back in Novemeber is when myself, Mr Bogack and few dozen others formed the Friends of the Carnegie Library to make sure all efforts to save it were followed through. Now it will be saved, given to the Village as promised, and those same costs for the Village to own it still exist. This is why the Mayor also stated he wants to transfer ownership of the building by September so therer would be no more cost to the Village. Just speaking for myself, I am glad the Mayor is now willing to lay out some funds until a suitable new owner can be found and this important part of our History will be saved.
"In addition the Mayor said that associated costs for the relocation of the building are now estimated to be in the range of one hundred thousand dollars "overtime for the day of the move, all sorts of other expenses related to moving a one hundred year old historic building"
"The Mayor indicated that the village bill just for move related expenses, insurance, overtime, and a host of other related expenses could amount to 100,000."
Once the building is placed on the site on Aug 9th the Village becomes owners of the building, Tritec has agreed to cover costs associated with a foundation for the building, all other costs associated with the Library will be the responsiblity of the owner of the building. As Mr. Bogack stated, there is still room for negotiations and we remain hopefull the Village can get Tritec to do more. But as of right now all attention is on the move. While the the moving company feels confident the move will go well there are no guarantees it will. Ceratinly if something drastic happens to the building during the move everything changes. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed and enoy the site of this building on the move when it happens.
Hope you come down and watch the move, would be great to meet you in person.
not.