I would like to inform the Bradford Area Landlords that a meeting will be held on October 17, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at the Masonic Center on South Ave. in Bradford. Some of the topics to be discussed are the Newbury Commons housing project and the gross business privilage tax. We will also discuss any other issues that might be presented.

There was an article in todays Era concerning this. It sounds like there is some friction between Mr. Riel and Mr. Connelly. My guess is that a lot of the general public will be in attendance along with landlords, and at least a couple of "double agents". Will there be an effort to control this meeting or its press?

I just read the article and I feel I must defend our mayor and our city council.

First the taxes. The mayor said that the developer will be paying an equivelent to more than the tax rate each year. He claims that it will be an ever growing number if I read the story right. I'm sure he and the city council knows that might just be empty rhetoric, and a worthless claim if it's not put in writing in a contract and I'm sure they fully intend to do that. So if this developer really wants to forgo paying taxes to pay us MORE, so be it! THAT is a good deal for Bradford ... but be sure to get it guarrenteed in a contract! Make sure you make it fool proof. A big win for Bradford!

Next, "they" claim the tennents will be working families! THAT is really good news! It won't be yet another section 8 housing project adding to the downfall of Bradford! THAT too is a big win for Bradford, but again guys (mayor and city council) make sure you get THAT in writing in an iron clad contract- no section 8 or welfare residents! Make it so a welfare receipient can't even set foot in the new project! Maybe even prevent them from walking past it! LOL! This town needs better housing for good, decent, clean, hard working families ...."Build it and they will come" ... we can only dream!

The mayor and city council only have our best interests in mind .... but just make sure everyting is in writing! Pay more than the going tax rate, and working families only in the rental units! A win, win!

It seems to me Connelly has no complaints about the taxes and the occupants of the project if those two things are addressed in city council and are put into an iron clad contract, but I can't help but wonder why the developer would choose to pay us "more than taxes", at an ever increasing rate each and every year forever? Sounds fishy to me.

BUT where Connelly might have a point is that there are only so many hard working, clean, decent families in town that need to rent housing. That is why the "decent" landlords might have a legitimate concern. There are plenty of scummers who want to rent and then destroy the rentals, but not so many decent renters. This new development, if it's true they will rent only to decent families, is competing directly with the rest of Bradfords small number of decent landlords. THAT is the problem there.

This new development will be taking business away from existing landlords who have been struggling in Bradford for years. It seems a bit unfair. It could actually help cause some decent landlords to become slumlords if they have to lower their standards to fill their vacancies. How can the mayor and city council address that?

Can the mayor and city council add yet another clause and insist that the new developer only rent to people outside the area who are new to Bradford? One more sensible clause in addition to them paying more than the going tax rate and only renting to working class families?

Kudos to the mayor and city council for sticking to their guns and getting a better deal for Bradford! But please try to address the problem of potentially competing with local resident landlords for the same tenants. Solve that one and you will be heroes in everyone's book!

The outfit that is sponsoring this housing project is a non-profit that is tax-exempt by Federal Law. A payment in lieu of taxes??? Those of you who have a stake in this outcome should look into the companies operations as their Federal Filings are subject to Public Scrutiny to maintain their tax-exempt status.

Is the landlord meeting open to concerned citizens who are not landlords?

Sooo... todays Era article says that this outfit is already in process of aquiring properties in the Bank, State, North Center and Howard street neighborhood. Sounds like a pretty "done deal" to me. Just waiting for a fast track rubber stamp from the mayor and city council. You can bet if this private development company wants to make a payment "in lieu of taxes" its going to be significantly less that what they would normally be paying. As a lifelong resident, if i decide to rent my property, can i negotiate a deal with the city "in lieu of taxes"? If not then why can an outsider do it? How much city held or city related property is already tax free, especially related to OECD deals? What is the percentage of tax free property in Bradford city? Whatever the percentage the development company doesnt pay will fall directly onto the backs of US, the already overtaxed city property owners, effectively raising our taxes even more. As Mr. Connelly says, once they have tax exempt status, its all over but the crying. According to todays Era, its only in the proposed stage. If council still has to vote on it why then are they already buying property? Sounds like this meeting is happening none too soon.

I believe the meeting is open to the public since the public are the ones who will continue to cary the lions share of the taxes where Local, County and School Taxes will not be paid by this non-profit therefore the Taxpayer will pay more.

......Well it WAS called "the landlord meeting".

How about "Angry Citizens and Landlords meeting"?

I recall years ago when I moved here, The High Rise was for elderly people, not anymore.
Now this is purely a rumour I heard and I have not looked into it all, if anyone knows about this fill me in.
OECD is obligated to rebuild one house or residential dwelling for every X number of houses torn down, the rumour is they have fallen so far behind that they are pushing this deal to satisfy their "quota".
I like that saying "If you build it they will come". This will be for the working class people in Bradford, it is the above average employment opportunities, low crime rate and booming economy that will put us in the 10 best cities to live and this development with be filled in no time.

Mike, see my post titled "Something doesnt add up" Maybe now it does. Mr Connelly held a very professional meeting, and there were many good points made there tonight. This rumor would have been a major bombshell though.

So what really happened Wednesday night? The Era article today didn't give many details. Is it truly a done deal?

My question is, if the company proposing NewBury Commons is non-profit, how do they benefit from this development? They're not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.