POLL: Does Southeast Need Another Big-Box Store?

Rebecca Rabinowitz September 6, 2012 at 11:31 am

Brewster, Southeast, Putnam County does need tax revenue but NOT at the expense of our quality of life; clean air, hills covered in trees, meadows, creeks, good schools, and SMALL TOWN feel. We can have all that and tax revenue if our legislature got smart and encouraged local economic growth with a consideration for our needs as well as corporate businesses that create high end jobs. We want attractive architecture not ugly giant box stores and generic ugly motels. We deserve better.

babypotato September 6, 2012 at 01:32 pm

the Gulf station at Brewster Hill Deli is supposed to be re-opening soon

Bill Liljeroos September 7, 2012 at 10:42 am

I guess none of you NEED A JOB

Jeffrey S. Chiara September 7, 2012 at 04:59 pm

Ah I see here you once again refer to Katonah, North Salem, Cold Springs. Ever think you should have moved there instead to avoid the SPRAWLING? Just saying....LOL ROFL....HAHAHAHAHAHA
CHEERS M8.......HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA.....

Joice September 8, 2012 at 11:30 pm

I bet you the medium age range of the people commenting above is over 65 years of old "retired people"! That live on fixed income! This why this town will always be the way it is and why property value will never match that of Westchester or Danbury! Close minded non educated people that are still living in the old age!

r. September 10, 2012 at 12:38 pm

Joice - I can assure you that I am well under 65, under 45! I've been living here well before your bronx ass moved here and we're here because we dont want this area to turn into the Bronx or Yonkers! If you want Southeast to match where you're from I suggest you move back. Oh, and by the way I have a Masters. What do you have? We dont want to match Westchester and if you do some reasearch you dont know what you're talking about with Danbury. Their schools stink. So before you go slamming Putnam, maybe you should get educated and close your mouth. We dont need your loud mouth here. We were here first and its becasue of your nasty tone that you dont fit around here. So move back, there are plenty of big boxes elsewhere.

r. September 10, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Its the bronx and yonkers coming here and now trying to change it. We like our town the way it is!

Ashley Tarr (Editor) September 10, 2012 at 12:59 pm

Hi everyone. Thanks for the passionate thoughts here. It's really a great discussion. Please remember to keep your remarks civil, because if your comments violate Patch's Terms of Use (http://southeast.patch.com/terms - they prohibit abusive and obscene language), they may be removed.

Ann Fanizzi September 11, 2012 at 05:04 pm

Haven't had time to read the DEIS and want to learn more about Crossroads 312 or just meet and greet neighbors, come to the community meeting Tues, Sept. 11th at the American Legion Hall at 7:30 PM. Meet and greet Semantha, Ann and Laura in person.

r. September 11, 2012 at 05:12 pm

Right Ashley - I think Joice's comment violates the term of use so you need to remove her comment slamming Putnam residents.

Ashley Tarr (Editor) September 11, 2012 at 05:40 pm

Thanks for the input. I'll continue to monitor the discussion, and I hope that my initial comment suffices as a reminder (to everyone) to keep the discussion civil.

Rachel September 11, 2012 at 05:55 pm

The term you are looking for is "median age" not "medium age". Being a college educated 41 year old resident I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your conclusions about the demographic responding to the Crossroads 312 Project. I can honestly say that I very rarely shop outside of Putnam County, there is simply no need as we have everything we need right here. I again ask why people keep saying that they NEED to go elsewhere to shop, I just don't understand. Not only are there numerous independent businesses but also the commercial monsters - Kmart, Kohls, Marshalls, Home Depot, Rite Aid, CVS. What else could you possibly need?

r. September 11, 2012 at 05:59 pm

I think if someone violates the term of use you should remove their comment. Am i getting this wrong or is this not in the terms you posted? Joice's comments were at the very least inflammatory and i request you remove them. Southeast residents dont need that.

r. September 11, 2012 at 06:01 pm

I agree Rachel.
Well you can take Joice out of the "city" but you cant take the city out of her. Those of us long time residents like our peaceful town...peaceful.

Jeffrey S. Chiara September 11, 2012 at 07:28 pm

Oh yes "Our" Town is so peaceful........Just curious when was the last time any of you ventured off to Lovely downtown Brewster? That is without and armed guard? LOL ROFL.....The Town/Village is a DUMP.........Lets see you can shop at gee a deli, Deli, or a deli or another deli, keep in mind all those deli have one thing in common... Bet you can't guess? LOL.... ROFL...... than you can always mix it up and go to a gas station. or wait another gas station.... or if you really get brave go to another gas station......Hey you could always take your kids to the Junk Yard and let them play there....LOL... ROFL.....Really people Come on.......Oh yeah i also am a LONG TIME resident by the way.....Lets keep getting our taxes raised and get less and less to show for it........But hey we will still have those woods and Lovely mountain sides to look at as we drive by on our piece of crap roads over grown with trees and weeds so bad that you could hardly see any of the signs or barley have enough room to get by in certain spots because they hang into the roadway.....But i guess that is not a safety issue......

Bob Dumont September 11, 2012 at 07:43 pm

when was the last time Jeffrey or r. (love people with no names) have been to downtown Brewster? Our store has been here for 5 years and we have nothing to say but positive things. As far as an armed guard. We had a film festival here labor day weekend with about 300 people - guess what - nothing but a great time and no issues. You two guys have too much venom. but guess what, if what you want is box stores - go move to New Rochelle or White Plains.

r. September 11, 2012 at 07:45 pm

Bob, are you even reading my posts? I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF BIG BOX STORES and guess what??? I grew up here but it is my business to remain a private person. As far as venom, maybe you should re-read my posts since you dont seem to be understanding my position. PS I was at the festival!

r. September 11, 2012 at 08:10 pm

I live in the outskirts and also am against big boxes bob...but please, respect my privacy and stop putting words in my mouth when you state that I am for it! I am not! So read my posts. Stop assuming.

Jeffrey S. Chiara September 11, 2012 at 08:26 pm

Hey Bob,
I would not go into that village.. It is a dump......Just what is there to go spend the day walking around and go sit at a table and read book or enjoy a cup of coffee? Really....Film festival in Brewster? Where was the screen in the lovely park with the dilapidated Gazebo, or was it at those lovely joke of so called ball fields? LOL..ROFL......HAHAHAHAHAHH......I have no venom as you call it.. just my opinions or take on things..... If that seems to tick you off than there must be some truth to how i feel. I say abolish the village board and consolidate with the Town. Maybe just maybe than the village can get cleaned up and make it respectable to where one can go with their children and walk around and feel safe......YES SAFE.....

Kevin Zawacki (Editor) September 11, 2012 at 10:18 pm

Any posts that denigrate another user -- rather than present a meaningful response, or comment on the story at hand -- will be removed.
Details here: http://southeast.patch.com/terms Questions? Shoot me an email: kevin@patch.com

Melinda Montanaro September 12, 2012 at 01:37 am

I just attended an informational meeting on Crossroads 312. If anyone is interested in continuing the conversation or learning more please visit southeastresidentsforresponsibledevelopment.com. I believe one important thing to note in this discussion is that Southeast's current zone allows for hotels, retail stores, conference centers, etc. on a scale that strikes a balance with the community; the current Crossroad 312 plan violates the code. Again, hope everyone visits the website to get more information. Both sides of the argument are welcomed and will help us all come up with a solution together. Best, Melinda

Southeaster September 25, 2012 at 11:18 pm

True, I don't need a minimum-wage, part-time job with no benefits--the kind that's offered in retail. However, I know a lot of people who would appreciate full-time, high-paying, skilled work--the kind that office parks bring, not big-bix stores.

Southeaster September 25, 2012 at 11:42 pm

Also adding my voice here--I'm not retired or over 65. I don't live on a fixed income, and I'm college educated.
By the way, property values aren't determined by the age, income, or educational attainment of homeowners. They're determined by quality of the school system, upkeep of the neighborhood, crime rates, and desirability of the location. A lot of factors influence whether a location is desirable. Proximity to unattractive "concrete jungle" scenery, traffic congestion, and noise pollution, as happens when strip malls take over a town, tend to decrease desirability quite a bit.

Jeffrey S. Chiara September 26, 2012 at 02:08 pm

Hey Southeaster,
Not for nothing but These Big Box Stores as you and others call them offer some good Benefits and Packages.... A lot more than your Corporate Office park places were you have buy into their packages....And also they are not only part time jobs.... Most if not all are FULL TIME.... You choose your hours you work.....Plus they offer plenty of room for advancement.........You don't see that in these Corporate Park Businesses....... But nice try anyway......

Rachel September 26, 2012 at 02:32 pm

What about the fact that our school campus is so close by? ALL of our children go to school there and the traffic is already terrible at the intersection, what will it be like with people using the back roads to avoid the traffic via 84? A few weeks ago there was an backup on 84 when I was coming home from work, crossing over on 684 you could see the cars stopped. So what happened? People were taking 22 to 312 to go around it and it was a mess. I take the back road anyway and the backup on 312 at the schools was ridiculous. The first thought I had was that this was a preview of the horror that would come. My kid goes to that school and I am certainly not willing to put him, or anyone elses kids, at risk just so some people can get a cheap deal on some cheap goods.

r. September 26, 2012 at 02:36 pm

Rachel - you're absolutley right. People commenting here either dont have kids or are transplants from the city and dont mind hours worth of traffic. I dont like outsiders soming in and trying to change what we know and love. And if they dont love it, they can move. But we have enough morons speeding around like this is Central Ave in Yonkers and we need to remember there are a lot of kids in this small town going to school and not to put them at risk for a Target store for God's sake.

Jeffrey S. Chiara September 26, 2012 at 03:06 pm

Rachel,
84 as well as 684, 22 are all Nightmares. PERIOD.... The state needs to invest serious money to revamp those roads. Most of time if not all it usually involves those ramps around exits 19, 20 , 21. Most likely it was a tractor trailer rollover....22 needs to be widened as has been talked about for years...but nothing gets done....How about Prospect Road? Why has the MTA not replaced the Bridge there? That was a road that was use to help with traffic on 6 and 312 and North Brewster Road. Why not Get on the Town Boards and Village Boards case about that? I do think our Kids Safety is at risk here. Do they play in the Roads During Recess? I have kids also so....Do they walk to school? Right away with Cheap Deal and Cheap Goods. Really????? Which one of you will be the first ones to go a get a membership? LOL... ROFL..... Looking forward to seeing you all there.... LOL ROFL....Oh The HORROR.....AGONY, AGONY.....LOL...ROFL...HAHAHAHAH...

Ashley Tarr (Editor) September 26, 2012 at 05:32 pm

As Kevin said earlier in this thread, please stick to comments of substance—ones that do not attack or belittle others. Also, please refrain from writing in capital letters, as that is often considered shouting on the internet. Civil, healthy discussion is the goal here.

r. September 26, 2012 at 06:25 pm

maybe you should pull the comments from Jeffrey Chiara and Joice since they violate the terms.

Southeaster October 6, 2012 at 06:57 pm

I don't know where you're getting your information from, but I know plenty of people who work or have worked in retail, including myself. Not one of them has or had a full-time job outside of management. Not one of them has or had a salaried job outside of management. Not one of them makes or made more than $13 an hour outside of management. Not one of them was or is able to choose their own hours. They were or are assigned hours by management. Not one of them was able to advance to management.
Management jobs in retail can pay decent wages and have good benefits packages, but the majority of jobs in retail are sales assistant or stock room jobs, which are largely part-time with no benefits. White-collar positions have higher salaries and better benefits packages across the board. But nice try anyway.