To the Editor:

I am a resident of Guilderland, my parents are taxpayers and residents of Guilderland, and we all agree that building a new hotel near Crossgates Mall would have a positive impact on the town of Guilderland. The addition of a new hotel in the town of Guilderland could create revenue for the town for future upgrades such as the schools in Guilderland and areas of the town that need sidewalks.

According to the article, “Crossgates hotel seeks tax break” by Elizabeth Floyd Mair, the application for the hotel says 55 construction jobs would be created to build the hotel and, once it’s built, 50 permanent jobs would follow, including room attendants and front-desk agents. A select portion of the jobs that the hotel would create would include benefits such as medical, dental, and life insurance, vacation and holiday pay, and a 401K.

These jobs would benefit the residents of Guilderland who are seeking a job. Being a room attendant or a desk agent requires minimum education and skill. Whenever I am getting off the Northway, I see someone holding a sign asking for money; these people could easily get a job as room attendants.

There are a couple of negative aspects about the hotel that people are concerned about. One concern is the tax exemption that the company building the hotel, Pyramid, is seeking. The tax exemption would be over a course of 10 years, according to Elizabeth Floyd Mair in the article she wrote...

This would not be a huge problem if you look at it as a tax being paid toward revenue being made in our town because the hotel would attract tourists to come stay in the hotel and shop at the mall. Another problem raised in my class is the potential for an increase in traffic. Traffic would not be a problem because of Crossgates own lane to turn into the mall and its four lane exits and entrances making traffic less of a hassle. People are already turning into Ted’s Fish Fry right now and it would not be any different if a hotel were placed there.

We should support the construction of a hotel because it would create revenue and jobs for the town of Guilderland. The addition of this hotel might be attractive to people who are visiting this town, from sports teams to business travelers.

Locating this hotel on Western Avenue would create business for diners, restaurants, and other local shops.The hotel next to Crossgates would have a positive impact on this community.

Christian Nolan

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Christian Nolan wrote this letter as part of a College Writing class taught by Christopher Mazura at Guilderland High School.