The previous WCA nursing house on Temple Side road in Fredonia was once put it on the market previous this yr.
P-J photograph through M.J. Stafford
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FREDONIA — Dennis Rak, a neighborhood businessman, just lately expressed hobby in buying the previous WCA nursing house positioned on Temple Side road in Fredonia. His intent was once to support dwelling stipulations for staff he employs at his trade, Double A Vineyards, Inc. in Fredonia.
Since Rak’s hobby within the former WCA nursing house become obvious to more than a few participants of the neighborhood, some feedback were made that don’t take a seat neatly with Rak. “It’s been moderately disappointing,” Rak stated of the general public reaction as a complete, together with fresh feedback made through a Fredonia Village Trustee.
Michelle Twichell, a Fredonia trustee who lives close to the previous WCA construction, just lately addressed Rak’s hobby within the belongings. Twichell highlighted that since the construction is positioned in a residential district, the web site will require a variance for use for Rak’s meant objective.
Rak replied, “The WCA was once grandfathered in. However regardless of who is going in there, there’s going to must be some variance — until any person buys it as a unmarried circle of relatives house. Who’s going to shop for a 40,000-square-foot, 63-room construction as a unmarried circle of relatives house,” Rak stated. “It’s unfair to the WCA, who ran this for years to serve the neighborhood. Now they’re at a spot the place they want to promote it, and they’re announcing it must be a unmarried circle of relatives house?”
In an OBSERVER article that ran on Aug. 19, Twichell said, “He must say it creates a hardship for him … however he’s making a hardship through purchasing this. He already owns 4 or 5 homes in Dunkirk the place he homes those folks.”
The “folks” Twichell referred to are overseas employees accredited to legally input the U.S. for agricultural paintings on a brief visa. Rak makes use of the H-2A transient agricultural program to team of workers Double A Vineyards.
“Fairly frankly, we had no longer been in a position to protected ok or high quality hard work for quite a lot of years. That’s once we explored the H2A program. It’s very dear to be part of, however a minimum of I do know I’ve a competent body of workers who needs to return to paintings for me,” stated Rak, who has a statement this is incorporated on this weekend’s Submit-Magazine.
Housing is needed to be supplied for the employees reduced in size as a part of this system. “We’ve been in a position to protected some housing to carry folks, however we’ve needed to renovate them an excellent quantity to lead them to appropriate. They’re excellent, ok dwelling stipulations, however they don’t seem to be highest,” Rak stated.
When the WCA put the previous nursing house belongings on Temple Side road in Fredonia up on the market in April, an acquaintance suggested Rak to seem into buying the valuables. To start with, Rak was once not sure of the theory, however a excursion of the ability modified his thoughts.
“Once I went thru it, I used to be simply amazed at how neatly it was once maintained it have been and the way great it was once. It truly is completely laid out for what we wish to supply our staff for dwelling preparations,” Rak stated. “It’s a complete lot higher preparations than what we’ve were given now.”
Rak stated he considered what the greater high quality of housing would don’t just for his employees, however in flip, for his trade. “We notice that to have the hard work pool that we would like and wish at some point, we want to have excellent, high quality housing for them,” Rak stated. “It’s a long-term funding within the staff that we’re going to have right here. We all know that we’re going to wish the ones staff shifting ahead. That’s my motivation. … There’s no earnings flow from staff or any one else. That is what we pay to supply housing as a part of the H2A program.”
Twichell in the past instructed the OBSERVER she and different neighbors “are outraged” at Rak’s hobby within the belongings. She cited diminished belongings worth as one in all her considerations.
Twichell additionally claimed that the WCA board invited Fredonia Mayor Doug Essek to a contemporary assembly, the place they allegedly stated they intend to promote the valuables to Rak. The acquisition would additionally allegedly come with a Fee In Lieu Of Taxes settlement for the valuables during the Chautauqua County Business Construction Company.
Lori Poniatowski, president of the WCA House, instructed the OBSERVER that the board is “dedicated to creating selections which can be excellent for the neighborhood.”
Rak claims that buying the valuables — in addition to the bigger level of bringing migrant employees to the village in any respect — is a receive advantages to the neighborhood.
“There might be 30-some folks there who might be spending cash in the neighborhood,” Rak stated. “We’re having a look at offering a meal carrier for them, and we will be able to be the use of native caterers to supply the ones foods. It is helping all my staff who reside right here year-round, as a result of if we don’t have that body of workers, none folks might be in trade.”
Rak then addressed considerations folks would possibly have about overseas employees he has welcomed into the neighborhood. Rak claims he has had no problems with the employees he has hired during the H2A program.
“They’re excellent folks. They have got households. They simply need to make a greater existence for themselves, and they’re doing it legally,” Rak stated. “Everyone complains about unlawful immigration, and that is precisely the other. Those are people who find themselves doing precisely what the legislation requires so they can come right here and paintings on this nation. If they may be able to’t do this, that’s what I don’t perceive.”
