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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire - West Hill Fire Station Site 1987TO: John Gutenberger FROM: Noel Desch RE: West Hill Fire Station Site DATE: May 11, 1987 I met with David Stewart and John Mageroni this morning to clarify the issue of the acreage we requested for the Odd Fellows site. I expressed the following points: (1) The calculated gross acreage we have requested is 2.9 acres not not 3.4. (2) The gross acreage includes a 60 foot right-of-way along the north line and one along the west line. These right-of-ways take up almost one acre to leave a net of 2.0 acres. They concede that the longer one on the north edge of the site is critical to where it is, to line up with the right-of-way already reserved on the other side of Tr mmansburg Road. In other words, whatever the site is used for, by whomever, it will have to go there, and it is effective to use it for our driveway. I indicated that the westerly future right-of-way is less certain as to location and could be left as their property but they should remember if they come to the Town with a plan to develop the remaining acreage that it will have to include a road somewhere west of our site. John wants us to move the parking to the north side of the site next to where we show the building and shrink the site even further. I said we couldn't go beyond the removal of the 60 foot westerly right-of-way without boxing ourselves and the architect too severly. They apparently have fears we will eventually put the Training Center on this site. I told them I thought it would be easy enough for us to give then a letter in which we would.sign off on any future use of the site as the Central Training Center. I pointed out that it isn't big enough anyway. David believes we may have to buy the acreage above 1.5. That personally is fine with me but the acreage we buy should not include the calculated amount for right-of-ways that will benefit them in the future. Therefore, as I see it we might have to buy 1/2 acre. 2 They asked why we need 25 parking spaces. I told them that both the South and West Hill sites have this much parking and that it is predicted on our being successful in getting 16 bunkers plus operational staff. I believe what I told then will go a long way toward solving their internal difficulties. We should proceed with the site we have approved in our workings with the architects. ND/js cc: Susan Beeners Ed Olmstead .JOMN C. BARNEY PETER G. GROSSMAN NausoN E. ROT14 DAVID A. Dusow RICHARD P. RUSWICK BARNEY, GROSSMAN, ROTH & DUBOW ATTORNEYS AT LAW 315 NORTH TIOGA STREET P. O. BOX 6556 ITHACA. NEW YORK 14851-6556 AREA CODE 607 Mr. Noel Desch Town of Ithaca 126 East Seneca Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Noel: September 14, 1987 PHONE 273-6841 �@�a� SEP 17 I98T Lei j J TOWN GF ITHACA Enclosed is a copy of a letter received from Shirley Egan. Is the Town witling to take title to this property with an automatic reverter to the University if it is used for any purposes other than a fire station? I did not see that limitation in the Burness letter. When you have had a chance to review this perhaps we can talk about it. With best regards. Very my yours, i t i JCB:bl Enc. CORNELL UNIVERSITY Office of the University Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation September 9, 1987 Ralph Nash, Ithaca City City Hall Ithaca, New Esq. Attorney York 14850 Wohn;, C:^_Barney,.. Esq. '`i'thaca,Town Attorney BARNEY, GROSSMAN, ROTH & DUBOW 315 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607 255.5124 Edmund Ezra Day Hall Ithaca, NY 14853.2801 RE: Conveyance of'Land for Proposed West Hill Fire Station Dear Ralph and John: As you have both probably heard, the University is proposing to convey some land on Route 96 for a West Hill Fire Station site. For your reference I am enclosing a copy of John Burness' September 4, 1987 letter to Mayor Gutenberger with a copy to Supervisor Desch. I want to add the rest of the details. As you both know, the University conveys by Covenant Against Grantor's Act Deed only. We will also require the restriction in the deed to the effect that it must be used for the purposes of a fire station to be built within a certain amount of time, and failing to be built or ceasing to be so used, that the land shall revert to the University. As for the time to allow for building, I believe the University is open to your suggestion as to the expected time frame. There may be other considerations and details to add to this, but I have not yet had the chance to meet with my client about them. It is not clear to me which 'municipality will be taking title. John Burness' letter refers to the Town of Ithaca yet the announcement was made to the City of Ithaca, but I am sure that that is something we can work out when the time comes. In the meantime, if one of you would let me know what you would like the timetable to be, I can start planning for the mechanics of the transfer. (;orneU University September 4; 1987 Vice President for University Relations Mayor John C. Gutenberger City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Dear -John: 309 Day Hall Ithaca, NY 14863-2801 607/255-9029 You will recall that when Cornell agreed last November to increase its voluntary contribution to support the local fire service this year by 50 percent to $106,020, I indicated to you that we also would investigate the possibility of providing land ,for a proposed West Hill fire station. I am pleased to report that'Dean Jack Clark of the School of Hotel Administration has agreed to reassign a two -acre tract of land designated for use by the Hotel School to the University, which will convey it to the Town of Ithaca for a new fire station on West Hill to help ensure continued improvements in local fire protection for all members of the community.* As you know from our numerous discussions about the matter, the Hotel School deems its West Hill property to be an attractive real estate asset -that will help support future programs. In our meetings with Dean Clark, he made it clear that he shares our view that locating a new station on West Hill is an important component of City and Town efforts to improve fire protection for the area. Thus, he agreed to assign the particular two -acre site that the joint City -Town committee identified as the prime location for a new fire station. We are in the process of having an appraisal done on the parcel on the west side of route 96 north of Bundy Road; preliminary indications are that the value of the property is in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. Although the appraisal has not yet been done, we are prepared to reimburse the Hotel School and to convey the property at the earliest possible date in order to expedite design and construction plans. When Cornell made the offer to the Town and the City to substantially increase its contribution in support of improved fire protection during the protracted negotiations last summer and fall, we believed that a failure on the part of the two municipalities to reach agreement on a joint fire service operation would have serious consequences for the level of fire protection in the expanded district. The joint operating agreement between the City and the Town will provide local residents, property owners, and institutions with the level of fire service that they reasonably should expect from local government. We are especially pleased that our offer helped to narrow the gap during your negotiations. I also should mention that we continue to be optimistic about the fire department's bunker program. we are pleased that half of the current bunkers are Cornell students. They are living in local fire stations this semester and will be responding to fire calls. We expect there will be additional interest in the bunker program once renovations to the living quarters at existing fire stations are made. The fact that new fire stations will be designed to accommodate people interested in becoming bunkers also will be an incentive to students and local residents. John, I would also be remiss if i did not note that the achievement of the new joint fire service agreement was aided considerably by the quiet, substantive meetings that the local government leaders hold regularly with university officials. I think you, in particular, deserve a good deal of credit for providing leadership to establish this regular forum where common concerns between and among local leaders and university officials can be discussed rationally so that effective solutions can be developed. With best regards, Cordially, Joh� F. Burness Vice President cc: Supervisor Noel Desch Dean Jack Clark President Frank H.T. Rhodes ITS Y• I 2 41987 } BARNEY. GROSSMAN. ROTH & DUBOW i ATTORNEYS AT LAW 315 NORTH TIOGA STREET JOHN C. BARNEY DETER G. GROSSMAN NaLsoN E. Rom OAvro A. Ousow RICNARO P. RuSWiCK Ms. Shirley Egan Cornell University Day Hall Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Shirley: P. O. BOX 6556 ITHACA. NEW YORK 14851-6556 September 22, 1987 AREA CODE 607 PHONE 273.6841 This will acknowledge receipt of your letter regarding the fire station property for West Hill. Title to the fire station land itself will be taken by the Town of Ithaca. Accordingly we would appreciate your forwarding to us the appropriate documents (title abstract, proposed deed, survey, etc.) so that we can advise the Town regarding the title. I have transmitted a copy of your letter to Noel Desch to review on behalf of the Town regarding the reversionary rights you mentioned in your letter. As far as I know that is the first time reversionary rights have been mentioned to the City or the Town concerning the fire station. When Noel has had an opportunity to study the matter and consult with the other people involved either he or I will get back .to the University. In any event I am sure the matter can be worked out to everyone's satisfaction and in the interim it might be good to get the paperwork started as I know that the municipalities are anxious to move the matter along so that they can accept bids and begin construction. ThusI-look forward to receiving the documentation above as soon as possible. If there is any problem with regard to the documentation -please -give me a call. With best regards. JCB:bl cc: Mr. Noel Desch Ralph Nash, Esq. Very t my yours, l r 1 r I CITY OF ITHACA 10B EAST GREEN STREET rrHACA, Nr=W YORK -14850 OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER Mr. Robert Flumerfelt, Engineer Town of Ithaca 126 E. Seneca St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Bob: October 15, 1987 TELEPHONE. 272-1713 CODE 607 Re: Proposed West Hill Fire Station File: Govtt (.Satellite Fire Station Construction , 0) This letter is a follow-up to Susan Beeners note to me of 30 Sept. '87. At that time, she provided me with a copy of the cost estimates to bring sewer service to the site. Costs were estimated at between $37,000 and $40,000. I will assume, unless told otherwise, that this cost information is provided for informational purposes only. It is not my intention to include these costs in the project because they are not solely devoted to that project. I will assume that this project is the final impetus for your sewer extension and their related costs will appear as part of the sewer use charges, rather than as a capital cost to the project itself. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Very truly yours, 9 William J. Gray, P.E. City Engineer WJG:m cc:(W/Construction Cost Estimates) Noel Desch, Town Supervisor Edward Olmstead, Fire Chief Anthony Egner, Architect �a A t APPROXIMATE CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES FOR WEST HILL FIRE STATION SANITARY SEWER ALTERNATIVES 8" PVC SEWER $22.00 /L. F. I,400 L.F. $30,800.00 4'-0" DIA. MANHOLES $13.00 EA. 5 Manholes $6,50 0. 00 B 1,100 L.F. 5 Manholes $24,200.00 $6,500.00 SANITARY SEWER FOR VEST HILL FIRE STATION BORE UNDER PAVEMENT $200.00/L.F. TOTAL N/A $37,300.00 45 L.F. $9,000.00 $39,700.00 A: Along West side of Route 96 South to Bundy Road Sewer. B: Across Route 96 to 10" Sewer from Hospital. PEW/nf 9 /24 /87