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Utica Police: Station & Public Safety Campus
We believe the following story is placed to help build support, a justification for more "hospital bulldozers"; Inside the Utica Police Department’s aging station and the pictures to take it a step further, Gallery: Inside the Utica Police Department
Cracks scrawled along the walls from the basement to the upper floors. Regular roof leaks. Little storage room for records and evidence.https://t.co/9T4Xg1CLXe
— Observer-Dispatch (@uticaOD) December 10, 2017
Newly constructed as part of Utica's $23M Gateway Historic Canal District project.
In our battle to prevent Downtown Utica from being bulldozed for a 5th hospital district, we heard the Bleecker Street Fire Station has code issues, and they wanted a new headquarters. We also heard, as the above story suggests, Utica wants a new, integrated, public safety campus - perhaps with parks department integration too? Why can't we have a very honest and open conversation? One with a complete accounting of all costs; each department's needs, wants, and desires, along with a single-page budget with ALL the numbers. Is this asking too much?
Join our conversation on Utica's Police Station on #NoHospitalDowntown and the related topics.
A common theme of this battle to save downtown has the The Ever Changing Hospital Maps. They initially maps showed the police station and city courts campus as part of the proposed hospital district. Then they didn't, and then they did.
All the while the hospital verbally stated they were not looking to take these parcels "at this time". More recently they said "their plans" didn't call for these properties, but what of other plans? The U-District, the Nexus Center? With an expanding AUD, where will everyone park? Thus we know their true intent: the police station and courts are on someone's drawing table!
June 28, 2019 - More Downtown Hospital Evidence that their project WOULD displace ALL of Utica's Police complex...
A new Utica police station may not be feasible. Hear from @MayorPalmieri after UPD Chief Williams shared possible relocation sites & the estimated cost of a new law enforcement headquarters. https://t.co/2m3peNLzlw
— Ben Dennis (@broadcastben_) June 28, 2019
Not included in the plan, all the public has seen are Changing Hospital Maps and concepts. Evidence too, nobody knows the total budget or where funds would come.
New Headlines
March 8, 2019 - In a UticaOD story titled State Review For Downtown Hospital Includes Less Parking, where it is reported...
"The Utica police maintenance garage isn't going anywhere until 2024. Plans for a downtown hospital no longer include a parking lot on Oriskany Street where the garage is located, according to the..."
December 17, 2018 - We note another unaccounted cost to their concept...
The @CityofUtica Police Department now home to a 2017 "Mohawk Valley Center Crime Analysis Center", created w/ $280,000 in NY state funding... https://t.co/yIS7j5srOu Guess taxpayers would pay to move it? To where? Are costs in the @MVHealthSystem #mvhsdowntown budget? pic.twitter.com/MUMTF5CkJ1
— #NoHospitalDowntown (@NoHospitalDwtn) December 17, 2018
March 8, 2019 - A UticaOD story titled, Chief, health system refute report about police station move, where it's reported...
"The project’s footprint does include the police maintenance garage and a parking lot used by the police department, but the police station and Utica City Court are the only structures in the neighborhood of Oriskany, Columbia and State streets and Broadway not included in the plan. Some properties across Columbia and State streets from the neighborhood also are included."
Learn more about other Parcels targeted by the proposed hospital.
Consider - What assets are they looking to integrate? Where are they today, how much square feet do they occupy, how many acres? So many questions that should be answered in the complete light of day, don't you think?
City facilities are overlooked by none other than the, Facilities Department. That web link offers, "...created in 2010 specifically to provide management and oversight of all City of Utica owned buildings. The responsibilities of this department include building maintenance, building security and any additions or alterations to these buildings. Many of the City of Utica staff falls under the umbrella of the Facilities Department such as Ifrastructure [sic], Maintenance, and the City's Parking Garages."
Contact Director of the Facilities Department by email, Michael Mahoney. By telephone at +1(315)792-0155
Below we are adding links to maps, and others details on City of Utica assets, taxpayer assets. We will use them to understand what we are told as this city "department integration" blends with the county "healthcare transformation" concept.
December 19, 2017 - The UticaOD offers an opinion in, OUR VIEW: Consolidating garage maintenance makes sense. Where they suggest...
"City officials are right to explore the possible consolidation of its public works, police, fire and parks maintenance facilities. While there are many questions to be answered and steps to be taken between here and there, beginning the discussion now for a possible consolidation makes good sense.", and...
"While there are still some kinks to work out, Palmieri said he hopes to present a plan for such a facility in the first quarter of 2018."
September 20, 2017 - Per another UticaOD story mentioning the Utica Police Station, one hears...
"The new downtown hospital campus, including the parking garage, will sit on a 25-acre parcel that includes the current Utica police maintenance garage, but not the police station or city court."
May 27, 2017 - In the news, UticaOD story titled Will hospital impact Utica police station?
April 18, 2016 - In the news, UticaOD story titled Will new hospital force Utica police to move? Where one reads...
“You just can’t take part of our campus and expect us to operate in smaller confines. It won’t work,” Williams said. “This building — which we do cherish, we love the tradition and history of it — we have outgrown it decades ago. .... With specialization, you have to create departments that you actually need, and as you modernize the police department you need these specialized units and offices in place.” and...
Williams said if the station is moved, a new one would have to be built before the old one is demolished.
July 26, 2009 - Looking back this news story titled, Revive focus on Utica’s Gateway area, one reads...
[Mayor] Julian had the right idea, tearing down eyesores and fixing up streets and sidewalks to pave the way for new development. The plaza next to the police department is one example, along with the pathway it provides to people parking for Utica College hockey games.
Utica Police Station
Utica Police Maintenance
City Court
Public Works Department
Parks Department
Fire Department Headquarters
Fire Department HQ. Also see a Google map of Utica's Firehouses
Our Poor City: What Can, What Should We Afford?
By Brett Truett
Recently in New York City I happened to walk by the police department's 19th Precinct.
Tucked tightly into a dense building-lined East 67th Street; number 153 is a beautiful 4-story brick building. It is reported to serve one of Manhattan's most densely populated residential areas, the Upper East Side. Built in 1887, a website offers, "the station house was re-designated a landmark in 1998."
Soon after this trip, a story on Utica's police station appeared in this newspaper. Online the paper offered a picture gallery. The story, pictures and their captions suggested to me that more housekeeping and organization was in order, and a poor testament for needing a new police station. Can anyone find a single building with "drop ceilings", which doesn't offer “exposed wires” when ceiling tiles are pushed aside?
Many very flimsy reasons have been offered as to why downtown Utica must be bulldozed for a hospital. Yes new buildings can be great and offer savings, but where would they be located, what are all the costs, what are the returns on investments, and who would pay?
As the downtown hospital backers move forward, look for an old building or two to be saved. Not the police station or courts, that's where a second parking garage will be revealed.
It is my belief that our police station offers many more productive years. Can’t help but wonder if the same is not true for one or more of our current hospitals.
Consider more Voices & Essays speaking out against the ruinous Downtown Utica hospital concept. Many more at #NHD RADIO and #NHD TV, as well as more Comments Against The Downtown Concept.
Please consider signing a Petition to support a new hospital at St. Luke's.
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