As the last of the winter snowpack melted from the former Castle Inn properties Tuesday, the St. Bonaventure University administration denied any connection with it.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Colton Crosswire, university spokesman, as he covered his ears. “La la la la la la! I can’t hear you!”
The 17.2-acre, fenced-in eyesore across from the university doesn’t even appear on the newest university map. The map instead shows an extension of Cranberry Road complete with non-existent buildings and a non-existent plaza marked “Shopping Center.”
Crosswire said the map was accurate as far as he knew.
“That shopping center has been around for years and has served the university community well,” he said. “I just bought a great pair of slacks from Target on clearance, too.”
The December 2004 agreement between COR Development Company, LLC and St. Bonaventure expires next month. The property has already cost the university more than a half-million dollars in taxes, on top of the $1.8 million total mortgage.
Psychology professor Richard Burrows said the administration appears to have regressed to Stage 1 of the Kübler-Ross model of grief — denial.
“We sometimes see this in patients who’ve lost both legs — they accept it while lying in bed, but they relapse once they sit up and realize they can’t walk,” Burrows said. “In the administration’s case, the snow covered up their problem for so long, they and everyone else forgot it was there. Now it’s right out in plain sight again and they’re going through the grief of having an undeveloped plot of land all over.”
When asked about Burrows’ thoughts, Crosswire snorted.
“Sounds like that man needs some retail therapy,” he said. “The Bed Bath & Beyond across the street has a great sale on shower curtains this week!”
Filed under: Briefs
