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Bench on Ellicott finally completed

By Howard B. Owens

Yesterday, we noticed this bench was completed. Looks nice, but patrons in the Pok-A-Dot are still making skeptical remarks about it, wondering what kind of riffraff it will attract.

Gabor Deutsch

I guess if anyone sits on the benches or outside of any business then they will be considered riffraff. I hope it cost Batavia alot of money to put these riffraff magnets around town ! Maybe they should enforce the vagracy laws and hassle anyone on the street and make sure they have ID and a good story why they are hanging out. I dont know if the law has changed but i believe u still have to have at least 5 bucks in ur pocket. Batavia "the best town to work or spend your money but dont hang out or be caught on the street" ! We dont like your shady socialable types round here !

May 15, 2009, 1:45pm Permalink
George Richardson

Limestone sucks up grease. I love Italian Sausage but I'm just saying, they better have a Waterblaster handy at all times. Of course, eventually Scuzz is called Patina so maybe it's not such a big deal afterall.

May 15, 2009, 8:44pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Posted by George Richardson about 45 minutes ago
Limestone sucks up grease. I love Italian Sausage but I'm just saying, they better have a Waterblaster handy at all times. Of course, eventually Scuzz is called Patina so maybe it's not such a big deal afterall.

I may be thick, or maybe I'm just reading this wrong. Please explain.

May 15, 2009, 9:30pm Permalink
Andrew Erbell

It would be logical to assume people are going to be sitting on the bench, eating greasy food from the Pok A Dot, and whatever gets spilled will stain the bench.

It also is going to be a natural draw for skaters to "grind" on.

I'm sure it will look nice for a day or two.

May 15, 2009, 11:14pm Permalink
daniel cherry

That's a really nice bench.Hey it even faces the street.Wonder how much the city spent on that?Riff raff come on what the.By the way there's a real nice park behind st Jerome s .No trees just bricks.Why doesn't the city spend the money to clean up the brick walls of the city center.Its an eyesore and a 5 million dollar shame i think.And Howard if your saying people are riff raff is that ok now?Who would qualify for it?what is riff raff?And saying what george said is ok too grease.I t could be innuendo and is.I don't get it i only wrote the truth and it got removed in the past.

May 16, 2009, 7:27am Permalink
Bea McManis

Dan, I wondered about the innuendo as well, maybe just a tad thin skinned.
But, to be fair, the 'riff raff' comment came from the patrons of the restaurant and not from Harold. This is the quote: "...but patrons in the Pok-A-Dot are still making skeptical remarks about it, wondering what kind of riffraff it will attract".

May 16, 2009, 7:33am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I live right down the road from that bench. The foot traffic in front of my house if very high, I think that bench will get a lot of use and that corner needed something to make it look better. If 63 looked as pretty as main street I would be happy. (mostly because my property value would increase)

May 16, 2009, 7:50am Permalink
Bea McManis

Ellicot St. would be the perfect location for Batavia's version of Philadelphia's Two Street (and many others that designated a section of their town as the "place to be", ie: Corn Hill in Rochester or Allentown in Buffalo).
The traffic generated on route 63 would be a perfect place to attract those traveling through and entice them to stop, eat, and do a little shopping too.
Sidewalk cafes; specialty shops within walking distance of each other; good parking; and most of all attractive curb appeal would be wonderful.
Your property value would skyrocket.

May 16, 2009, 8:04am Permalink
daniel cherry

Bea.didn't they already spend the money on parks with no trees?It
would be nice to have more culture here.But i don't think the public wants it.And even if they did they have no say what the money is spent on.

May 16, 2009, 9:19am Permalink
Karen Miconi

I cant believe the patrons of the PokaDot would say something like that. Maybe they will be the ones using it while they suck down their cigs, and hang all day. The South Side of Batavia holds alot of history. I think at this point anything would be an improvement. I just know there are alot of other improvements that need to be done in this town. Its funny too, I dont see any city workers doing much of anything. Did their hours get cut??

May 16, 2009, 9:45am Permalink
Bea McManis

I guess I was thinking of private enterprise. Putting real estate back on the tax rolls.
Sort of if you build it they will come.
I loved walking down streets that had outdoor seating in the summer. You could have your coffee and watch the world go by. The shops, mostly small boutiques, would open their doors and people would walk and shop. Many places I visited were not tourist attractions, but developed by communities who saw the value of such a neighborhood.
The caveat is that many of the eateries were also open in the evening. It made for a lively night life. Would we be ready for that? I would like to think so, especially if it helped develop a section of town that has been neglected for far too long.
Not taking advantage of the well traveled route is short sighted.

May 16, 2009, 9:53am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

A lot's being made about a little cynical humor about the bench. It isn't that big of a deal. People make jokes about stuff like this. There's nothing malicious in it. I'm surprised people are taking it seriously.

May 16, 2009, 9:54am Permalink
Ron C Welker

I cant believe my eyes! I am reading the slams and slurs right aren't I?
The Pok-A-Dot resturant is a land mark, known for years to have a great cup of Coffee served in a clean enviornment. The menu is loaded with great Italian specials, peppers and eggs, Italian sausage with peppers and onions to name a couple of my favorites.
I for one south side resident hope the Pok-A-Dot is open for generations to come.

May 16, 2009, 10:03am Permalink
daniel cherry

I like the service...............an roast beef...think ill go sit on that bench..

May 16, 2009, 10:28am Permalink
Mark Potwora

That picture tells the whole story of why New York State,and the City of Batavia is broke.......Money for a stone bench that no one asked for or wanted..But no money for the star rebate program....

May 16, 2009, 11:21am Permalink
George Richardson

Hey, there was no innuendo in my comment. I was talking about the bench, not the people who will be sitting on the bench, not the people who eat at the Pok a Dot, and I wasn't even knocking grease. I love grease. I thought I was being insightful. For example, I have a fountain in my back yard that was getting green and scummy looking. For a while I tried cleaning it regularly but I finally gave up and now visitors to my home comment on the beautiful "Patina" that has developed on it. It is still the same stuff but now I view it differently too. Wait a year and take another picture of the bench. Some people will say it looks filthy, others will define it as having character. That's all I meant, anyone who read more into it was mistaken.

May 16, 2009, 11:27am Permalink
Bob Price

Hmmm-driving through Batavia alot, I see plenty of "riff-raff" walking around-don't need a bench to linger longer....they should invest a little money to fix te RR tracks on 63 by Center St.instead....

May 17, 2009, 12:18am Permalink
Bob Price

Nuts....being 63 is state road,it is either state or CSX-looks like it won't be getting fixed anytime soon.I would suggest anyone reading this slow down to 5-10mph before going over them,or else you might end up w/damage to your vehicle.

May 17, 2009, 1:30pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

I would not want to get in anyone's way ranting about government but, I'm just about positive that bench was purchased by the BID or the cities business owners, not the city.

Jul 17, 2011, 4:05pm Permalink

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