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Attleboro downtown plan takes new hit
Top Headlines With the ARA already reeling from the loss of Automatic Machine Co., an official from NeedleTech Products said Tuesday his company has declined to extend its purchase-and-sale agreement with the ARA for a 6-acre parcel in the park under construction off County and Tiffany streets. Company President Ronald Routhier said he's concerned his parcel won't be ready soon enough to meet the firm's deadline to be in a new building. Routhier said the park is "still an option," but time is running out. An extension of the purchase and sale agreement would be the fourth and could prevent the company from acting on other opportunities, he said. "We need to make sure all of our options are open right now," Routhier said. He said the company is actively looking for a new location, but has not committed to any. "We have a need, so we're searching," said Routhier, whose firm employs about 150 people and is growing, fueling the need for a new facility. NeedleTech operates out of two buildings. It owns a small building on John Williams Street and rents space on West Street. NeedleTech's decision comes on the heels one made public two weeks ago by Automatic to cancel its plans to build in the park. Automatic aims instead to move to an existing building in a Taunton industrial park. A time crunch and soaring development costs forced Automatic to pull out, owner John Holden III said. ARA Chairman Benton Keene said the dead deal is bad news for the cash-poor agency that was depending on money from land sales to boost its operating budget this year. "If we can't use money from land sales, we can't proceed with our plan to get people in there," he said. ARA Executive Director Michael Milanoski said the decision was "a disappointment." The lost money is crucial, he said. "If we don't come up with additional revenue, we can't sustain the IBP project," Milanoski said. While the ARA has money to build roads and other infrastructure, it does not have money to supervise the projects. A lack of administrative funds will eventually stop the work, he said. The ARA has always struggled to find money to run its office, but this year the city declined to fund it from the federal Community Development Block Grant as it has in the past, adding to the problem. Mayor Kevin Dumas said the city would provide $75,000 to $125,000, but the source and timetable have not been determined. In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has questioned $1.2 million in ARA spending of the grant money and could require repayment of some or all of it. HUD would require the city to pay the money, but the city could seek reimbursement from the ARA.
Post Your Comments ricknkim wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:48 AM: " Instead of Jose21's advice to move, why not do something about these problems? Start a show on the local cable TV channel to discuss the issue and bring the issue to a wider audience to put pressure on the board, the mayor, etc. Volunteer in some capacity, attend meetings, etc. Posting complaints on this site may be a good thing to start dialogue and get it off your chest, however, it doesn't help the problems get fixed nor does it call anyone to the carpet. " jose21 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 1:28 PM: " So move out and stop complaining. " abororesident wrote on Jul 18, 2008 4:35 PM: " I recently learned that in the 80's there was also a large "redevelopment" of the downtown area... it cost a lot of money, and was very political as well. Just 28 years later look at what it's gotten the city... a real crappy looking downtown.... and nothing to do on the weekends... the city is a mess... people need to get their act together and work on this... Not only do we have no industry, we'll have no residents soon with this housing market... there is no reason to live in Attleboro right now (commuter rails are in other towns) " Jessica Kosowski wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:08 AM: " " Hi, I'm Jessica Kosowski, an editor at the Sun Chronicle. While your comments are always welcome here, you can continue this discussion in a permanent forum at http://thesunchronicle.ning.com/forum Just click on Attleboro once you get there. " " jrjrg123 wrote on Jul 9, 2008 3:31 PM: " The main problem with the ARA and the politicians is they are not buisness men, they are elected or appointed and have very little experience with the buisness end of things in the real world. At most they are all novices that are playing around with other peoples cash. " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 2:38 PM: " Somebody has to resign over this . " reason wrote on Jul 9, 2008 11:52 AM: " At what point do the projects in Attleboro come up for review? Originally we started with a plan for a parking garage and retail space on Union street. Since then it has turned into a project involving buying businesses with promises to move into a new industrial park, building a condo complex and moving the DPW yard to lamb street (among other phases). Continuation of each phase relies on funding from previous phases. The original promise of administrative costs being self funded in 18 months failed. Funding for the capital costs of the projects from HUD maybe in jeopardy. Property values have changed as has competition for commercial space in our own and neighboring communities. A new road and lots are being built in the existing Attleboro Industrial park and the Jostens facility is now Vacant. The next step should be a report from an outside party reviewing the viability of these projects. Parking and better traffic flow for the train station is needed. Is there a scaled back plan available? " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 10:33 AM: " who is ready for an override ??? We'll need to come up with any potential HUD monies they City owes and going after the ARA for it is like trying to build on ledge! It ain't gonna happen folks. I hope the Mayor is as well read on the blogs as Councilor Allard. " realist wrote on Jul 9, 2008 10:18 AM: " This has gone beyond the usual smug comments and I told you so(s). Unless the ARA has some solid prospects, and I mean contracts in hand, for the new park, they should all resign and let the organization start fresh with new leadership. How many other vultures do you think are waiting to snap up potential Industrial Park tenants? North Attleborough has openings in their Industrial Park. " Forward Observer wrote on Jul 9, 2008 10:02 AM: " Yet another glaring failure of the Dumas Administration. I think a recall may be in order. " ricknkim wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:49 AM: " I'm a patient man and understand the need for persistence and to overcome diversity . . . . however, the time has come for a purging of the ARA. Someone needs to be held accountable for the numerous missteps and true leadership must emerge to right the ship. Please drop a line to the mayor's office and demand it - believe it or not, they are at our service. mayor@cityofattleboro.us Phone 508-223-2222 ext. 3221 " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:32 AM: " If the HUD report came back and the city owes the Feds say 500k is that enough to pry the director loose from his throne? " doug wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:07 AM: " attlebrockton, The engineering firms who do the studies earn their income from those who hire them. Need I say more? What kind of report are you looking for sir and how much taxpayer money do you have to pay for it??? " doug wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:02 AM: " There is cause for cencern about the ability of our city officials to do something about this outrageous development. It isn't that the existing problems with the ARA project at Ide's Hill were not seen and voiced to our city officials. Many of us who are very frustrated by these forseeable problems we now face need to turn our attention to the question....do we have the right people in our city government. They can only put up with this for so long before the tide turns against them. Judging from some of the blogs here ...that time has arrived. From this point on it's not Mr. Milanowski's problem as much as it is those who put up with it but continue to do nothing about it. " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 8:59 AM: " Is there an engineering study on Ides hill at the ARA ? " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 8:35 AM: " The trigger man could end up the hero . A search for a new director could take a year which would allow everyone to reset their thinking and the present ARA members could use the fall guy excuse .It is perfect politics. " DANDYDON wrote on Jul 9, 2008 8:13 AM: " THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN DEVELOPING IN THIS CITY. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A CRUMBLING OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. THE ARA NEEDS LEADERSHIP FROM ????.IT'S TIME TO PUT ASIDE THE POLITICAL POWER GAMES AND BEGIN TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND IT'S TAX PAYERS. JUST MAYBE WITH THE RAISES JUST HANDED OUT TO CITY OFFICIALS, WE MIGHT LURE A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE COME NEXT YEAR .THIS TIME SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING , AND WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER CANDIDATE WHO WALKS ARM AND ARM WITH THE COUNCIL. LET'S GO BACK TO THE CHECK AND BALANCE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. " doug wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:56 AM: " There comes a time when the writing on the wall becomes unavoidable to see. Mr. Miloanowski should be moved on.. If there is one thing the ARA leadership must admit to is it's responsibility to police itself. Chairman Keene has been around long enough to know what to do. Beating a dead horse in the face of a loosing battle is senseless. The ARA must be measured against the expectations set forth by those who are responsible for bringing it into existence.The inefectiveness of the ARA coupled with a down economy, rising costs of construction and the simple fact that carving a building site out of solid rock is much more expensive than moving some dirt around is really a no brainer. Good leadership is badly needed in this situation. Our city leaders have a plateful and in the best interest of our city need to take action here. It's becoming obvious that HUD by not funding the ARA project is far ahead of our city leaders....What a pity! " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:52 AM: " i'm wondering the downtown renewal..how do you think thats going to go? I realize alot of the ARA's financing is based on just moving money around. sell Auto & Needle land ,move the money to buy other things or just to keep the project moving .i know a guy like that once it took him 20 years to build his house ! " Harry Hindsight wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:51 AM: " Attlebrockton, here are the easy ones: dog park, skate park, public gardens or a location for local food pantries to raise their own vegetables. An industrial park with no industry is just a collection of roads to nowhere. " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:50 AM: " "Ides Hill" the whisper said ,build it and they won't come. " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:27 AM: " this is just a latelst is a line of failures for the ARA ...I would encourage every city resident to take a ride up to the park and look at what it has done to that neighborhood.The fact that the ledge discourages potential tennants is a problem that is not to go away. The City should find a way to convert that into something that is useful now before you end up with a road to nowhere!!!! " socal1 wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:19 AM: " There is now a legitimate concern regarding the Redevelopment plan as well as the ARA. And it is quite understandable that people will express their concerns. I just hope that anyone who does express it here will also take the time and express it to the Mayor and Council either in writing, email, phone call or better yet, attend a Tuesday night council meeting and express yourselves in person. This situation does appear to have the potential to end up badly for the City. " Harry Hindsight wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:15 AM: " Depending how the city council handles these things, wouldn't you think that they would be up in arms about spending city money on failing project(s)? They may not have all the needed information to make a definitive decision on the practices of the ARA, and the they may not want to air their concerns in the paper, I just hope that the city council has the ability to reel in this spending. Remember, these projects get approval from the city council first, they are the voice of the people, before it goes to the Mayor to be signed or rejected. One is the check and balance of the other, any blame or compliment is to be divided equally. " attlebrockton wrote on Jul 9, 2008 6:17 AM: " do we all get it now? Automatic out ,Needletech out ,HUD report is in and it appears the writer is telling us expect to pay back money to the Feds ! When will the Mayor & Council figure out a way to pressure the ARA to can this guy!! How much more bad news & mis management do you need for 107K plus benefits a yr! Christ this guy is going to get a city pension. SAD & shameful. " or
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