A lot of people are teed off this week over the City’s plan to sell the Erie Golf Course to either a private developer for housing or nearby Millcreek Township as a white knight move to keep the course intact.
Because the deed requires that the golf course remain a course (or at least a park), city attorneys are attempting to get the courts to lift the deed restriction.
That has brought together a unique mix of people.
Golf fans and environmentalists have joined together to fight the city. Among the golfers are former City Councilman Jim Casey and former Assistant Public Works Director Jim Casella, who oversaw a recent and somewhat controversial renovation at the course of nearly two million dollars.
What’s interesting in that is that the two men fought bitterly tooth-and-nail over how those renovations should proceed. Casey would often use the bully pulpit of the council dais to blast Casella over delays and cost overruns. The two even squared off for a council seat and fought so hard it knocked both of them out of contention.
Who’s the lawyer to lead this strange group of bed fellows?
It’s attorney Rick Filippi, who once was Mayor Rick Filippi during the time the renovations for the course were approved and implemented. Rounding out the group is former City Solicitor Paul Curry, who is assisting as second chair.
The group’s lineage not withstanding, they make some great points.
They contend that the property was given to the City as a park and has to stay a park. They argue that the A.W. Tillinghast design makes the 80-year old Erie course a tourist draw for serious golf history buffs.
And they argue that the area is simply a better place with the golf course in it.
The problem is the Joe Sinnott administration makes some great points too.
The City argues that in tight times it’s hard enough to pay off the debt on the course without additional operating losses.
They point to projections that the course (with renovations) won’t break even for a number of years to come.
And the Mayor argues personally that he has a hard time stomaching layoffs for police and firefighters in tight budget times while pumping money into a non-essential and losing proposition.
So should modern realities outweigh old promises?
That’s why we pay judges.
HEY! We’re still puttering around with the Comments section of this blog. If you have the drive (or even a chip on your shoulder), you can email me at scott.bremner@wsee.tv. Write “Comments” in the subject line, and I’ll pitch your thoughts right after mine.
COMMENTS
Hey, Scott
If all these people think that this piece of property should remain as a golf course, why don't they put their money up where their
jaws are flappin and collectively lease the course from the city for a break-even rent. They should not have any problems taking in a sufficient amount of money to make it a worthwhile investment.
If Fillipi and the others don't have the confidence to take it over, then it's a cinch the city can't afford to keep it going either. Gifts do not have strings attached: Just ask the Native Americans who used to live on their own reservation down where the Kinzua Dam is now located. That land was deeded to them forever by the U.S. Government, which eventually broke their promise to the Indians and reclaimed the property. Why should the city fathers act any differently?
Dale Hannah