Date:    January 14, 2008

Place:         Old City Hall               
Project:       City of Bradford Master Plan
Client:         City of Bradford
Time:          12:00 pm - 1:00 pm        
MCF No.:    44506002

Attendees:

Dan Casamento, Downtown Building Owner
John Peterson, City of Bradford Clerk
Sara Andrews, City of Bradford OECD
Jeff Andrews, City of Bradford OECD
Debbie Huston, City of Bradford OECD
Albert Filoni, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Ken Lee, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Amy Maceyko, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.

Purpose:    To discuss Veteran’s Square and possible uses for the buildings around it.

Items Discussed:

1. Mr. Filoni began by discussing the goals and the purpose of the master plan.  Studies in the past have focused on specific challenges instead of being a comprehensive plan for the whole Tuna Valley.  The goal of this process is to develop a series of actionable strategies that all three municipalities can endorse and to engage residents in the process so they will work together to improve the community after the planning process is over.  The planning team is meeting with as many groups as possible to understand the myriad of issues that affect all three municipalities and determine the best group of strategies for improving the quality of life in Bradford.  One of the major foci of all three municipalities is downtown Bradford and how to make it a more vibrant and inviting place for the benefit of the whole region.

2. Mr. Andrews brought a lot and block map of the block behind Veteran’s square to facilitate discussion.

3. Dr. Casamento owns the properties numbered 103106 and 103107.  The building on lot 107 has apartments above and an eye care office on the first floor.  The building doesn’t have an elevator.  The proximity to the square is less desirable because it can be noisy at night, but all of the available apartments are occupied.  The rest are being renovated.  Lot 106 is parking for his building.

4. Dr. Casamento wouldn’t discount a proposed plan just because it cuts off access to his parking lot, but he would want the parking for his users to be taken into account.  He would be willing to sell the lot back to the city.  He already leases some spaces in that lot to the city for their apartments at 9 Main Street.  Given the location, it is difficult to keep non-residents from using the lot despite the signage.

5. The empty space on the upper floors of the Italian club is a problem.  It's a nice building that isn't being utilized and the bar can be a nuisance.  The OECD will try to get a meeting with the owner and the planning team.

6. While looking at the lot map, Mr. Filoni commented that maybe one rectangular parking lot could be created behind the Main Street buildings to organize the parking better and make it easier to navigate and maintain.  103202 and 103203 are both in the way, but that might be a worthwhile sacrifice to make to improve this block.  103114 and 103115 is parking area owned by the University.  Better organized parking here would help the development on E. Corydon and Congress Streets as well.

7. 103201 is not needed for parking, but it is an unattractive piece of this block.  The owner is getting older and might be interested in selling.

8. Dr. Casamento is interested in doing whatever is best for the whole area.  He would be willing to consider a parking change or being a part of the “elevator core” idea which would create a shared circulation space with a fire stair and elevator for buildings at 103107-103110.  He doesn’t know about the plans of the new owner of 103108, but he thinks the owner of 103109-110 would be amenable to the idea.  The planning team will try to meet with both of these owners.  Mr. Filoni commented that a new building could be built on 103106 with an elevator core to serve these buildings or the structure could be built at the back of the four buildings adjacent to the parking.

9. There seems to have been a reduction in the number of people hanging out in the square because of the no smoking ordinance now in place for public parks.

10. Dr. Casamento doesn't know that the lack of an elevator has prevented him from renting his apartments, but it is certainly a nice amenity.  He also doesn't know the condition of the upper floors in the neighboring buildings, but he does know that it would be difficult to sell 107 for what it is worth today.  The apartment rents are $450-$600 per month plus utilities and the renters are under 50.  One is a current adult UPB student.  He hasn’t tried hard to attract students because of their need for a place for only 9 months, but he would rent to them with a 1-year lease.  He also has another 5,000 sf on the first floor that could be an apartment.

11. Dr. Casamento commented that he also thinks the city needs more restaurants.  The current options are too limited.  He also said that he has found the city to be very accommodating during his renovation processes.

With no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned. The foregoing constitutes the major items accepted by the attendees.  If there are any additions or corrections to these minutes, please notify the Architect.


Respectfully submitted,

MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.

Amy P. Maceyko, AIA, LEED AP