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Attleboro Redevelopment Authority to move from second floor to basement to reduce costs
Top Headlines But that view will be gone soon, when the operation gets moved to the basement of the Kai Shang Registry of Deeds Building next to city hall. The move is the result of a plan by Mayor Kevin Dumas to cut costs and improve communication between the ARA and his administration. Dumas told city councilors this week the ARA will take over space now occupied by the city's inspection department, which in turn will move upstairs to an unused part of the registry's first floor. The change is part of a three-point plan announced by Dumas last week to help the cash-strapped ARA save money and get its financial problems with the new industrial business park under control. Currently, the ARA pays $18,000 a year rent for its Bronson digs, which include picture windows and hardwood floors. The ARA could be in its subterranean, bunker-like offices with barred windows by the end of October if all goes as planned, Dumas said. Dumas said the inspection office has outgrown the basement space and needs more room, which is available on the first floor. Both areas will be cleaned up and painted, but the first floor also will need electrical and plumbing work and the installation of telephone lines, Dumas said. Dumas asked the city council to appropriate $25,000 for the work. The money will come from the sale of city property account, which accumulates cash when the city sells land or other property. The money can only be used for maintenance of city property. In a related matter, the mayor said he has a commitment from two people to serve on a special five-member panel that will be charged with examining the finances of the industrial business park. Dumas said he won't release the names until the panel is filled, and it's ready to begin work.
Post Your Comments ricknkim wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:50 AM: " Sorry Bear, I simply disagree about the islands not working. I think they work well and am unable to understand how they "intrude traffic flow" - or impede is what I think you were saying. " bear wrote on Aug 24, 2008 9:25 AM: " You didn't read what I wrote Mike. I said before Dumas even voted, not before he was eligible to vote. Dumas NEVER voted before he voted in the election that me ran for Mayor. RicknKim, the islands don't work because they intrude into the traffic flow. ow the traffic flow (based upon these islands) is out of whack. The ones at the arch is a perfect example, it cuts off the flow of traffic exiting in both directions. Also, why do you nedd a sidewalk on the inside portion of the arch?? It makes no use of common sense at all. BTW, traffic studies were what put the "workable" flow in place. " kim allard wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:40 PM: " THE CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM WITH THE ARA...EVERYONE SHOULD ATTEND. " mike wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:44 PM: " To Bear: "...William C. Caselden of Great Bridge Properties recognized the development potential when he first visited the site in 2003..." MHP News, November 6, 2006. Just found this article on the web. You say "The deal with GBP was already in place before Dumas ever voted in an election - take it to the bank." Hmmm, let's do the math. I think Dumas was 27 when he was first elected and you say the deal was in place 10 years prior to Dumas being able to vote which would be around 19 years from Dumas first being in office. So what you are saying is that Great Bridge Properties (GBP) have owned Bliss School since 1984 but they didn't step foot on the site until 2003 according to the article??? Seems strange so I checked the tax records. GBP bought the property in 2005 well after Dumas first took office. I am taking this to the bank and cashing out. You lose, Bear! " hope for attleboro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:36 PM: " does anyone know when the new pizza place near city hall is going to open? " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:32 PM: " An additional point on the islands - not sure if anyone is familiar with Stoughton's downtown but there too was debate about new configurations, islands, etc. Not too many years ago the traffic pattern was God-awful. A professional EXPENSIVE study was convened and the reccomendations proposed several changes to be made. People were up in arms about how bad it was and some took it quite personally that the town had the audacity to enact such chane. Ride through it now and it is head and shoulders better in both terms of flow and appearance (in my opinion only of course, Bear!). " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:29 PM: " grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr , rubes " hope for attleboro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:27 PM: " angry bloggers.... " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:06 PM: " Bear - you're taking questions asked of you and making them personal and it shows in your responses. No need to get defensive. You say the islands don't work, I say they do so who's valid and who isn't in such a subjective statement? As for the term "b*tching", you take things much too literal my friend. As Attlborobrockton points out, the real issue of merrit here is the oversight of the ARA and the desperate need for results and accountability. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:56 PM: " Hope it has nothing to do with relaxing and repainting. These islands are a hinderance to one's driving through the center. It already doesn't look fine, and won't work. That's not complaining, it's stating the obvious. No.1 I'm all for change when it's done right ;P No.2 Let me pat you on the back so you don't break your arm from patting yourself for having one of the "few open minds" around here. My mind is most assuredly open, because someone doesn't think your way they are closed minded? Hmmmm, that's an interesting way to look at other peoples' ideas. How's this for positive - I'm positive that you or one of your "open minded" friends here will attempt to take me to task for stating the obvious yet again. " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:46 PM: " you forgot the cliche about a mind being like a parachute ...yada yada yada ......Bottom line the city is getting screwed by the ARA's mismanagement ,streetscape won't change that. The Mayor needs to force the director out & start over. repave the ARa if you will. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:45 PM: " Mike, I know my facts , don't be worrying about me toughguy. The front stairs were "blocked off" because the first floor was not in use. Only the election office was using it to store voting booths and they used the loading dock in the rear for access. The deal with GBP was already in place before Dumas ever voted in an election - take it to the bank. They might not have "walked in the door" before he took office, but the deal was done. You think he deserves credit for it, I don't think so. BCC wasn't in the city before it went to County Street, are you sure about your facts? I think you ought to double check them Mike. Of course it was up to a superintendent because they are responsible for every building that belongs to the school department and what happens in them, period. I don't need to check my facts because I know them as facts. " hope for attleboro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:43 PM: " everyone needs to relax about the islands. i'm sure once the roads are repaved and the lines are re-drawn in the appropriate spot, it will all work just fine and look great. 2 things are very obvious in these blogs - 1. people don't like change regardless of what it is and 2. people LOVE to complain. There are only a few of us with an open mind and positive outlook. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:30 PM: " I'm not sure how you got that the Public Works guys were "b*tching" about doing their job, I certainly never said that. All I said was that they feel they should be doing "other things" because they know what needs to be getting done. What is a valid reason to you for someone not liking this project? Most people I talk to see what is happening and don't like it. I will state again, these islands that they are putting in don't work. They don't work now and they aren't even done yet. They should be ripped out. They impede the flow of traffic NOT guide it. Is that valid enough for you? " mike wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:01 PM: " Bear, the old post office was most definitely deteriorating. The ceiling was falling in front water damage and neglect. Judy Robbins (when she was mayor) had the front steps blocked off so you could even go through the front door. Also, Great Bridge Properties, who purchased and renovated the Bliss School, did not even step foot on that property until after Dumas was in office. Lastly, BCC was not in the city until after Dumas took office and it was quoted in this paper that Dumas was the one with the idea to put them in the former high school. It was not up to a superintendant. s5mt9It is irresponsible not to check your facts before you make these statements, bear. Oh, and I think the streetscape project is essential to the downtown. I can't think of a more important project that the public works department could be assisting. " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:49 PM: " The building owners downtown are responsible for the way their places look ,but also with the tennants in them. The low income factor has to be considered hee. Can anyhow name one residential street that runs into downtown without a low income section 8 apt building on it? Thats what killed Wede. night market ,the crowd, You know where the small town feeling is in Attleboro its in SA. " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:45 PM: " Of course it isn't a cure all, not sure anyone on these boards have ever said such a thing. What has been said is that it is a piece of a bigger puzzle. Think project management for a second - one tiny step may not seem very important initially but that tiny step could take down a skyscraper if neglected. As for public works - do you honestly believe any one of them would say "Gee, this is great, we had nothing else to do and were bored" . . . Whether it be a laborer in the PWD, a dishwasher at Bliss or a city executive, most everyone will b*tch when additional work is put before them. Human nature we'll call it. If there was a specific project critical to the public's welfare being neglected for work to be done on streetscape then I'd agree with you but I am quite confident this is not the case and is only a typical b*tch session found in any workshop, office, etc. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:28 PM: " I don't believe that this streetscape project is the cure all to people feeling good about their downtown. It will take much more in a commitment from the actual land owners. The Public Works guys have told me first hand that there are other projects that could be getting done instead of this. Oh I certainy understand using that them saves money on the project, I'm just saying that their time could be better spent. I won't be specific as to not put any laborer in jeopardy with the powers that be, sorry. " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:26 PM: " North Attleboro's downtown has come a long way with serious work and vision, it didn't happen by chance. This is what is trying to be accomplished in Attleboro but I think people's attention span is much too short and their expectation for immediate gratification too common. I still can't understand an objection to the downtown streetscape, at least nobody has made a valid one yet. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:21 PM: " No axe to grind here, just stating one guys opinion. I'll answer Hope and RicknKim at once. No my house is actually very well maintained, although my wife has this list of things that I never seem to get to the end of. The fact that the center of the city looks the way it does falls heavily on the people that actually own these properties. These store fronts are vacant because the people that own them refuse to put money into the buildings and want a STUPID amount of money for rents. I believe that some of them having been waiting for an urban renewal program to come along to get more than what they could possiblt get for on the open market. Add to this that the Attleboro Chamber of Commerce is a mere shell of what it once was with the likes of Bud Ward and Gerry Keane running it. Then compare the Downtown Attleboro Associates with the same organization in North Attleboro. It can be said that the coming of the mall killed the Attleboro center. Yet those local organizations in North Attleboro worked hard and didn't allow it to happen to them, the same can't be said for Attleboro. " SoxFan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:20 PM: " I think the mayor has done some good things and he was dealt a cr*ppy hand by Judy's playing fast and loose with the numbers. To overcome that alone has to get him a tip of the hat. If you look closely at most of the complaints that I have posted here, they are aimed mainly at the lack of oversight. If I had no faith whatsoever in city hall I would not want to give them more power. I think the cardboard recycle drop-off is a good idea. I wonder whatever became of his plan to study wind power at the dump site? I can like the team and still not like all the players to continue this morning's analogy. " hope for attleboro wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:51 PM: " bear - you think the streetscape project is not necessary? you must be the type of person that lets their front yard go unkept and leaves broken down cars on the lawn. it's important for the city to look nice. a lot of making a city appealing to buyers is the look and perception. thats just the way things are now. " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:50 PM: " Bear, you sound like someone who has an axe to grind. Cool - this makes for some good posts. So here goes one (not cool though): Yes Bear, you are the only one who thinks the streetscape project is a waste of money (well, maybe not but . . . .) Why do you think it's a waste? If you were a business owner thinking of taking a gamble on opening your doors in the downtown, would you open up in a place that looks like it has been totally neglected year after year? Do you propose leaving it as is and continue the theme of urban blight? Just trying to understand your objection to a project that will hopefully lead to residents not being ashamed of their downtown. You allude to public works guys having other pressing duties to attend to - please be specific, what is it that they are neglecting in order to work on this project part of their fully compensated time? " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:45 PM: " also I agree the director has a good thing going ,even from the new bunker he is still cleaning up financially. " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:44 PM: " Bear, is that why i'mgetting hung up in the center .I'm not a fan of pretty much any council member but at least Ms. allard reads these [posts & reacts here .Even if she is mostly slient or goes along with the Mayor on almost everything she still mentioned the 25th meeting on the ARA . " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:36 PM: " So much material to cover. First the ARA director Milanowski left the city as Economic Director so he could make more money with the ARA, yet still do basically the same job. But this way he was not under the thumb of the mayor. Since the ARA gets a nice slice of cash from the city (block grant funds)we are paying this guys salary to do less than when he actually worked FOR the city! Someone mentioned Kim Allard and being held accountable in the same thought. Isn't that an oxymoron? Am I the only one that thinks the streetscape project is a waste of time and money? These islands that they are putting in will not work. They are already causing traffic flow problems and it hasn't even snowed yet! Not to mention that our Public Works guys have far more important things to do. " bear wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:27 PM: " Finally we have a guy named Mike that thinks Dumas has done oh so much for Attleboro, I beg to differ.The old post office was vacant not deteriorating. The downstairs was being used. Dumas had nothing to do with the former Bliss school being done, nothing. This had been in the works for 10 years before Dumas ever voted in an election. The first two companies defaulted on the purchase and the third was on board before he ever took office. The fact that BCC wasn't using the old high school was a lack of foresight on the previous few school superintendants. " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:19 PM: " Mike - I may not agree with all things the Mayor does, but I do agree with you in that he has made solid accomplishments for the community. I just wish he and the council had a better handle on the ARA and their lack of results/accountability. I think some grumblings on here are because of people's disdain for his alternative lifestyle. " mike wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:19 PM: " To all who keep blaming the Mayor: Don't forget it is this mayor who brought the registry of deeds to the building and had them pay to build it out. Before Dumas, this building was vacant and deteriorating. Trust me, I was upstairs in it and it was deplorable. If you are going to be fair you should also thank him for what he has done. Come to think of it, Bliss School up the street was vacant and deteriorating too. Oh, and the former high school was too. The list goes on and on. Face it, this mayor has done so much in so little time I think people are just looking to be antagonistic for whatever personal reasons they may have? Freudian maybe as Joehall mentioned earlier... " khmass wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:16 PM: " Socal1 and Atticus..The basement of the annex isn't used for storage of chairs. It is used for meetings on a frequent basis, especially by the Auxillary Police, as well as overlow when the 2 meeting rooms in City Hall (the Council Chamber and the room sectioned off the Council Chamber) are in use. There is actually not all that many large spaces in City Hall to meet if the main room is used. Unfortunately, there is also no sound system or air conditioning in that area which is not very pleasant when you need to be there for a public meeting. " Forward Observer wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:56 AM: " The bitter irony here is that the heavily funded business organization whose purpose is to bring businesses to downtown cannot afford the rent. " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:35 AM: " ifthe ara were acoountable to anyone wouldn't this all be over by now? Kim allard has mentioned on numerous occasions they are powerless against them .The best the Mayor can do is put them in the basement. " ricknkim wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:54 AM: " Hey SoxFan - you do know Manny is with LA now right???? I'm hoping some of these points/questions will be raised next Monday evening. I'd like to ask the same question as SoxFan, to whom is the ARA truly held accountable by? " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:50 AM: " We knew the Bronson building was splashy " SoxFan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:00 AM: " joehall, there a few differences: I like the sox but cannot stand certain players (Manny, Clay, Julio and then some). I can show my displeasure by not buying tickets if management does not continually strive to get better. Taking your analogy further: the ARA is the equivilant of MLB saying you have to put Bucholz, Gagne and Wasdin on your team and you have to play them. You cannot sit them if they do not perform. Oh, and by the way, the players are going to run up charges against the team's expense account which will result in an increase in ticket prices. The city needs an ARA type board which it has authority over. " socal1 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:44 AM: " Atticus-on reading this article, I too wondered why the buidling department needed more room when 1/2 of the basement space appears to be used for the storage of chairs. " Atticus wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:08 AM: " "Dumas said the inspection office has outgrown the basement space and needs more room," I am an infrequent visitor to the inspectional office in the basement of the Registry of Deeds. But, I have noticed that 1/2 of the space appears unoccuppied. That space has a scattering of chairs and I assume is used for occaissional meetings. Surely we have "meeting rooms" for that. Sounds like an "excuse", rather than a "reason", to me. Brings to mind a question about the Registry of Deeds. The question is "Why?". It occupies a great deal of space, but has no records older than 1979. The records from 1979 can only be accessed from computer files. This makes it useless for serious research. The computer portion could be eliminated by offfering free on-line access. The Registry can accept "filings", but minimal space is required for that. I suspect this was another "bail out plan" for a disused building at taxpayer's expense, without significantly effecting local taxpayers. " joehall wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:06 AM: " To SoxFan - I assume from your name that you didn't abandon the BoSox during their troubling times. So have a little faith in Attleboro. We are all frustrated with the ARA, but their has to be a reasonable solution. I believe the Mayor's plan deserves a try. So try looking at the glass as half-full (as you said in your blog - Freudian slip?). " SoxFan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:50 AM: " half-empty " SoxFan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:50 AM: " joehall: I read the article. Lesson one in small town politics: deflect. If the inspection department outgrew their offices they could have been moved on their own. It has been posted in this space many times that the city really has no oversight with regard to the ARA. Why would bringing them in-house change that? If it seems as though I am negative and seeing the glass as half-full, I am, regarding the ARA. I love Attleboro and thought the streetscape plans were going in the right direction. I believed in the concept of the business park. I relied on people who have access to more information than I do to do the right thing. If I come off as negative it is because I have lost faith in the people in power. Deval Patrick needs to overhaul the ARA if the city cannot do it on its own. " doug wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:43 AM: " There is some justice after all!!! " joehall wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:30 AM: " To SoxFan and Atticus - You may want to re-read the article more carefully, and apply a little common sense. Consider the following: "Dumas said the inspection office has outgrown the basement space and needs more room, which is available on the first floor. Both areas will be cleaned up and painted, but the first floor [i.e., the inspection office] also will need electrical and plumbing work and the installation of telephone lines." So, which do you think will take most of the $25k? (a) the "clean up and painting" of the basement [for the ARA]... or (b) the "electrical and plumbing work and the installation of telephone lines" in the new inspection office, which needs the additional space anyway? If you chose (a), you may want to read the article again. " SoxFan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:54 AM: " Why am I not surprised that this "mayoral hand slap" will cost money? " Atticus wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:18 AM: " This sounds like "Give them bread and circuses" I suppose the mayor must also "be seen" as "doing something". Considering the depth of the ARA's financial problems, the $18,000 rental savings are as nothing. Particularly when it comes at a cost to the taxpayer's of $25,000. That the money may come from a fund accumulated from land sales (ironic that) is meaningless, it is still the taxpayer's money. Although ARA staff may feel some castigation from this re-location, I have a beter idea. Try assigning a little "personal repsonsibility", suggest that they pay some of the accumulated debt from their personal incomes. That would make them understand the life of "real developers". As guidance for this, the mayor and others, might read the first few chapters of "A Man in Full". That is Tom Wolfe's book about a real estate developer who fails, and the treatment he receives from his bankers. " attlebrockton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:02 AM: " "The ARA could be in its subterranean, bunker-like offices with barred windows" an appropiate location given the lawsuits and bad news they keep getting bombed by. 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