To the editor:
This letter is in response to the article about Aldi’s getting a “fair shake” at the village planning board. The first sentence refers to the project as a redevelopment proposal. This is not what I would call a redevelopment, turning a cornfield into a franchise store is a development not a redevelopment. Neither is flattening existing vintage buildings and hauling the smashed remains to a landfill.
Before choosing to settle in Cazenovia Jennifer and Carlos Gavilondo visited every outlying Syracuse region. They chose Cazenovia because of its unique charm and character, yet in the relatively short time that they’ve lived here we have witnessed a great many changes in our community which diminish that unique quality that initially drew them here.
How many future generations will drive through Cazenovia and see rows of chain stores followed by vacant buildings that used to house unique shops and decide that Cazenovia isn’t where they want to live? Because it looks like every other town. Just drive east or west on Route 20 and observe. Nearly every village has a vacant, boarded up drugstore and nearby is a brand-new stand-alone drugstore. This type of thoughtless development is a detriment to any community.
Admittedly, I am a preservationist but not just in word; I’m a preservationist in deed. I have restored several Cazenovia buildings that most thought should be torn down yet now they are assets to our community. Big box stores, however, will never be assets. A 15-minute drive at most will bring any Cazenovian to locations filled with horrible big box chain stores. Are we that lazy that we can’t drive 10 or 15 extra minutes to avoid destroying our community? How many people chose Cazenovia in order to not be near such things! I grew up in Manlius but chose Cazenovia, why, because Manlius has been destroyed by over-development.
I applaud Jennifer Gavilondo for taking a strong stand against such development. Boards consist of people from divergent points of view, which is why they are nominated. In doing so, wide ranges of points of view are represented.
I find your editorial very biased. Attacking one board member for standing up for her ideals is uncalled for. Letting this sort of development run unchecked will undoubtedly destroy the unique charm and character that Cazenovia has had since its inception. With the exception of a handful of wealthy private investors, we all lose by allowing big box chain stores to pollute our community and spoil the charm and character that makes us a unique and sought after community.
I personally want to thank both Jennifer and Carlos Gavilondo for their diligent efforts to preserve what’s left of our village. They’ve put a tremendous amount of personal time and effort into keeping Cazenovia the bucolic lovely place to live in that we all cherish. Please don’t let a few thoughtless and shortsighted people destroy out town that we know and love.
Brian T. Coughlin
Cazenovia