Sector 4 CDC and Commercial Development in the Ward

Many questions have been raised in regard to what seems like a lack of transparency from the Sector 4 CDC (Community Development Corporation). In fact, many of us have not been able to get even the most basic questions about the CDC answered. The CDC's website is here: http://www.sector4cdc.org/. Mission? "To build partnerships and collaborations between business, neighborhood and community organizations and provide the tools, talent and techniques to renew, redevelop and rebuild the five commercial corridors in Sector 4." I see no up-to-date list of board members and no contact information for them. Almost the entire site is devoted to Brooks Landing and Boulder Coffee. Is the CDC involved in other projects and if so which ones? How are board members selected? How is the CDC funded?

Please contrast this with the Southwest Planning Committee: http://www.swpc.org/. Mission? "The South Wedge Planning Committee builds community in the South Wedge, encourages a full range of housing opportunities, and promotes a diverse, historically significant, and commercially sustainable urban village. SWPC board members are listed as are committees, staff members are listed, there is contact information, and there is even and annual report! It also appears they've had numerous successes. The SWPC actually supports and uses their NING site.

The Southwest Common Council (SWCC) is the biggest mystery of all. There is one place on the internet that says the Sector 4 CDC is "under the auspices" of the SWCC.

This is ridiculous and embarassing! If the Sector 4 CDC can't manage to get information about itself to the community it serves then how on earth can it expect to accomplish it's mission?

The 19th Ward is full of different groups who say their mission is to build partnerships and collaborate to improve the neighborhood but no one talks to anyone and they are failing miserably. This is seriously the most dysfunctional mess I have ever seen!

As an example, in the short time I have lived here (7 years) there have been several "initiatives" started to "clean up Thurston Road." Not one of those initiatives involved all the players. Either residents were left out or the CDC was left out or the 19thWCA (housed on Thurston) was left out or the Thurston Village Merchants Association was left out or the NET Office was left out OR one or more of these entities decided they just didn't care enough to be involved and the remaining entities would not call the defectors out on their behavior. I'm sure it is not surprising that none of those initiatives I've mentioned have accomplished anything at all on Thurston. And they won't... until things change.

So what is it going to take?

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on October 13, 2010 at 6:40pm

The Sector4 CDC website was not functioning for the past few days but now seems to be working.
THe Board members listed on the current site are copied below - I don't know if this is CURRENT or not but it is listed under 2010 developments (there are other somewhat interesting developments listed over the course of several years)

Board Members

Hanif Abdul-Wahid.......Monroe County - Secretary
Ronald Allen ...........SWAN*
Eleanor Coleman.........SWAN*
Barbara Jones...........JP Morgan Chase Bank (retired)
Germaine Knapp..........Sojourner House*
Colleen McCarthy........University of Rochester
Dana K. Miller..........Rochester Area Comm Found - Chairperson*
Stewart Putnam..........Unity Health System*
Josanne Reaves..........Leadership Rochester - Vice Chairperson*
William Sullivan........City of Rochester (retired)*
*=Lives or Works in Sector 4
The website also lists Joan Roby-Davison as an Interim Executive Director.

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Permalink Reply by Georgia NeSmith on October 13, 2010 at 9:21pm

John Borek will be distributing names and contact information for all the board members to anyone who signed his petition or contacted him. This will be distributed by email.

There were many strategies discussed at tonight's community meeting called for anyone interested in the outcome of the CDC's vote, which will be held next Weds. It should be noted that members of the CDC board were invited, along with Lijah Wilton and the Rabbi. None of them showed up.

There are five community associations involved in the CDC, and each has a representative appointed to the agency. John said tonight that three of the associations are opposing the change in use, one is supporting, and one is in process of deciding. The latter is the 19th WCA, which will be deciding on a position this Thursday at the delegates' meeting, which is held at the Association office.

The delegates' meeting is always open to all 19thWCA members, but only delegates have a vote. However, if you attend and it is anything like other meetings I have been to, you will have an opportunity to indicate your own position.

It should be noted also that the Genesee Business Association, which is comprised of Genesee Street merchants, is opposing the change in use. The GBA does not have a vote on the CDC, but given that this change is being presented as win-win for the business community, that opposition should be given considerable weight. Other merchants on the street do not see this as a positive change. It would seem that the benefit will to go to Wilton, particularly in the extensive profit he will make off the sale of the building.

If you wish to be included in the distribution of information from tonight's meeting, send an email to John at

johnwborek@yahoo.com

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Permalink Reply by Georgia NeSmith on October 13, 2010 at 10:59pm

Yes, I do find it odd!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on October 14, 2010 at 2:26am

Just a question ... who elected these people to be on the CDC board? How does one get on it? I assume they are just picked and asked by whoever is running it.