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ImageDear Editor:

For many years, the Riverside Plaza has languished with high vacancy and insufficient cash flow. Simultaneously, Cortland County has been considering and reviewing relocation options for a variety of public service departments that are desperately in need of additional space. Individually these two items are problems; together they result in solutions.

Since we originally acquired and redeveloped the Riverside Plaza in the mid 1980’s we have sought every innovative approach to addressing the needs of the plaza. We have provided road access and easements for the proposed Riverwalk and have assisted with plans for the Cornell transportation Initiative. We have met with mayors and legislators to gain insight and offer suggestions. 

We have been proposing re-development of much of the vacant Riverside Plaza space for use by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the County Health and Medical Departments, and many other public service uses. We have sent dozens of marketing initiatives and redevelopment proposals to everyone we could think of. Most recently, we have sent redevelopment options to each of the County Legislators, Aldermen, and select County officials; we have received little or no response! Legislative Chairwoman Marilyn Brown repeatedly ignores our phone calls.

Now it seems, instead of pursuing the alternatives we have suggested that would revitalize Riverside Plaza, accommodate the public’s needs and ensure the payment of property taxes, there is a plan to acquire and remove nearly $1million in private property from the tax rolls for the same uses we have identified. To add insult to injury, the Cortland County Empire Zone committee recently voted to rescind the New York State credits the plaza was receiving that helped the plaza to survive through the very difficult past few years.

Our ownership group has continued to fund this ailing plaza for years and is committed to resurrecting the plaza to a place of pride and prominence in the Cortland community. The government leadership has the ability to make this happen and benefit the entire community. The residents of Cortland should be asking; why isn’t the government pursuing this opportunity?

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Cipolla
Bella Vista Group
Bowmansville, New York


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