8/19/2010

Unhappy Santa

Posted by Anonymous

The Buffalo News and LUSJ reported that Parada is pitching the Santa House to the Town of Lockport after feeling negative vibes in the city. The Buffalo News goes into more detail.

Santa Claus may move from the city to the Town of Lockport after deciding city officials were naughty and the town was nice.
The planned Santa Claus House, which was unanimously approved by the city’s Common Council two weeks ago, may be relocated to Day Road Park in the town.
Christopher Parada, executive director of the Historic Palace Theatre and a professional Santa, made the request at Wednesday’s Town Board work session.
He said the city had turned down his building permit, a statement that was categorically denied by Mayor Michael W. Tucker and Chief Building Inspector Jason Dool....
Some people are thin skinned. A discussion about ideas is just that. People need to undestand that vetting an idea does not mean someone is against it. We need to get past our initial human reaction to become defensive, pick up our ball and go home.
It also probably helps if you get the proper permits before starting your work:
...Dool said he sent Parada an e-mail last Thursday telling him he could have a building permit. “The only problem I had was handicapped access, but we could have worked that out,” Dool said.

“He seemed unsure,” Parada said. “It just has a negative feeling in the city. I don’t know why.”

“No negative vibes from me. I thought it was a really cool thing,” Tucker said.

But Chapman said he heard Tucker wanted Parada to move.

“He poured the pad on a Saturday without a permit,” Chapman said.... ”
The Santa House near the ice skating pad would a pretty sight in the winter. I feel it is a unique project that would add to the park although for only a small portion of the year.

14 comments:

LockportGal said...

Now what is going to happen to that pad they already poured?

Black Phillip said...

As it was unauthorized, I think someone will need to pay to have it removed.

Also, what private company pours a concrete pad on public lands w/o making sure that they have the proper permits? I think that there could be bigger issues if someone pressed this.

Anonymous said...

More companies than you think. A portion of the cases before the zoning board are people saying they, nor the contractor knew they needed a permit for the structures they just put up.

Maybe someone can make an Easter Bunny house on it?

Anonymous said...

I was told it was done by volunteers at Parada's request.

Black Phillip said...

MJ... True, but it's not on public land...

Anon 5:44... That makes a bit more sense, but depending on the class of labor, I think I would be surprised if the pad was up to code.

Anonymous said...

"City of Lockport Rejects Santa"
not a good headline in a city already going downhill......

Black Phillip said...

Ok... how about "City of Lockport stops unauthorized half-baked idea"? Or, "City of Lockport decides against setting a dangerous precedence"? How about "Local theater owner decides to go ahead with pet project without authorization"? I think these are much more descriptive headlines than the one that you proposed.

Also, I'm not sure what hill we are going down, nor how someone performing unauthorized construction on public lands is an indication of if Lockport is going up or down a hill.

B.L.G. of Lockport said...

I thought this was going to be a nice touch for the Christmas season...it would be nice to walk down to the House with the letters for Santa....but the city blows it again....it would be nice for once if politics did not get in the way......of something good...

Black Phillip said...

B.L.G.... So, how did politics get in the way? Also, are in agreement that we should hand over public lands to private groups for their pet projects?

Anonymous said...

That's my point throughout these comments. Santa did not give any exact reasons. The city council approved it 6-0. How did the city blow it? By requiring he get a building permit?

B.L.G.Lockport said...

No matter what...this would have been good for the city..sometimes rocketboy...it's better to let private interests get things done because...the public a.k.a (cities)..get in the way...example Buffalo and the casino....buffalo and the Peace Bridge...Buffalo and the Zoo...lets' do more impact studies???..to see if traffic is messed up???..but no one ever says' Boo....when a new sub division is carved into prime land...and how when that sub division is completed how that will impact traffic etc...no the ansewer it is the developers dropping the cash in the politicions hands at $1000 a plate...at election time....let the little guy slips every once and a while because that's how thing's will get done....and sometimes MJ....you just have to let things slide for the greater good...if the city gave a 6-0 O.K.....then why was the project moved when the foundation was already laid????...was it because MJ...that the people in office do not like the private interests involved....and said no after the fact....The real truth is in the Christmas lights.. that will be shining on Day Road....

Black Phillip said...

BLG....

It's your opinion that it would be good for Lockport.
If it was a truly "private interest" it would be done on private land.

And I'm not sure what the rest you wrote has to do with anything that we are discussing here, and I firmly believe that if you think that developers can get everything done that they want to, you are seeing things through your own filter. There's nothing I can do about that.

Anonymous said...

Let's list some of the other "get dones":
1) Main Place Mall
2) Convention Center
3) Urban Renewal demo's with nothing in their place for decades
4) Kensington (Rt. 33)eating up Humbolt Pkwy
5) Rt 198 cutting through Delaware Park
6) DT Pedestrian Mall
etc..etc...

As for the BLG list:
-What has the indian casino done for NF and why should Buffalo be pining for one? Maybe if they were gov't owned like in NF ON but alas, they are not. A scam for another NYS money grab.
-Peace bridge: It's still moving traffic just fine. The big issue is the plaza. Why should they allow the demo of half a historic neighborhood and watefront property to allow trucks to drive thru Buffalo on their way to somewhere else faster?
-Zoo: how would it have been better moved and who would have paid for it?

People always argue over new subdivisions. Some how they feel they have right to the land next to their subdivision that is not developed yet or to the public roads around them.

As for your question: Why was it moved after the OK and foundation was laid? Only Santa knows and he's not telling. The articles leave the taste of hurt feelings based off of heresay.

Black Phillip said...

At the risk of derailing this further, I don't think the casino should be gov't ran, but I don't believe that it should only exist due to loopholes like it does now. Although gov't ran is a bad idea, it is still better than selling land to a 'sovereign nation' through the abuse of eminent domain.

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