Widewaters/Columbia County


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Letters to Editors and other Commentary subsequent to Widewaters' application for financial assistance from the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)


David Colby
President, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
Register Star
April 29, 2008

To the editor:

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the Columbia County IDA providing tax incentives to the Widewaters Greenport Commons project. On behalf of the 850 members of the Chamber, we ask that you do not to grant Widewaters their request for tax relief that is currently under your review.

...more


John J. Faso
Manatt Phelps & Phillips
, LLP, Albany
Register Star, Independent
April 26, 2008

I wish to correct a statement in my recent letter to the editor concerning the application of my client, Widewaters Development, for certain assistance from the Columbia County IDA.

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Lee Gould
Hudson
Register Star
April 24, 2008

John J. Faso's statements in his My View letter to the Register-Star last week are misleading beginning with the headline: "Widewaters not seeking tax breaks."

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Elizabeth Nyland
Greenport
Register Star
April 19, 2008

Two years ago the Widewaters company came from Syracuse to Greenport proposing a huge shopping center that would produce a lot of money because it was going to offer shopping experiences not possible here, and through that it would put a lot of coins in our coffers via increases in property tax and sales tax revenue.

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Nina Sklansky
Catskill
Register Star
April 18, 2008

As the IDA ponders whether or not to grant a PILOT and other tax abatements to the Widewaters Corporation, I offer up the following.

During the imbroglio over the proposed megamall in my town of Greenport, much was made of the fear (planted by certain Planning and Town Board members) that people would be fleeing across the river in droves to shop at the new Catskill Commons mall.

I wondered,  “for what?” After all, we already had a Wal-Mart. 

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John J. Faso
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Albany

Register Star
April 17, 2008

Recent news articles and letters to the editor have discussed the application of Widewaters development to the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) for certain assistance in conjunction with its Greenport Commons project on Fairview Avenue. As attorney for the applicant I wish to clarify a number of points raised by some.

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Charles Hallenbeck
Greenport

Register Star

April 5, 2008


Having won its public relations campaign less than a year ago, the Widewater Monster Mall folks are returning to local authorities, hat in hand, singing a very different tune. Is anyone surprised? Those of us who opposed the original effort to saddle our community with an unsupportable development project are not. Those who bought the arguments of the developers last year must be at least deeply disappointed, perhaps dismayed.

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Edward F. Nabozny
Greenport
Register Star
April 5, 2008

Seems to me something's not quite right with Widewaters. According to a recent article in the Register Star, the big news wasn't who's coming to the mall, but who's not coming. Seven stores have backed out! This is not surprising given the economic state of the country, which could have been seen at least eighteen months ago if economic news and trends were closely watched. What is surprising is that Widewaters will seek major concessions from the taxpayers of Columbia County and the town of Greenport.

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