Some on council aren’t buying
Team owners should pay more for stadium, they say
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16489595.htm
- Comments from a number of individuals, including Councilmen Tom Smith, Don Schmidt, Sam Talarico, along with Greg Leatherman and Jason Freier
- Points out that many recently created baseball parks have had significant private investment, but fails to mention if those investments also coincided with significant embedded developments such as with the Harrison Square project
- Jason Freier of Hardball Capital indicates that their $5 million investment in the stadium can increase with contributions to operating and maitenance costs
- Encourages people to keep an open mind about the project while the details are being hammered out
Kevin Leininger asks a great question in his article: "If City Council rejects the stadium – and with it Hardball’s millions – what’s the alternative?"
The point is that Hardball Capital is an outside company willing to invest millions in private dollars in downtown Fort Wayne. What other opportunities are available right now? Where's the developer lining up to present a plan on a water park? Where's the developer with a proposal for a youth sports complex? Hardball Capital is in the city now, knocking on the door, asking to invest in downtown Fort Wayne. The success of a project such as Harrison Square makes possible further investments in downtown Fort Wayne from private developers once they see that our city is a viable location in which to dedicate their dollars.
Comments? Leave 'em if you got 'em.
2 comments:
While I am happy that Kevin Leininger took a "open mind" stance on this issue, I must point out that it is no real surprise that Tom Smith and Don Schmidt are possible opponents of this project. The key is the councilmen who are wild cards when it comes time to vote on Harrison Square.
HARRISON SQUARE IS NO DOUBT A FORWARD LOOKING PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT BUT IF IT FALLS THROUGH, MAYBE DISNEY WILL BUY FORT WAYNE, CONVERT IT TO A THEME PARK AND NAME IT "LAND OF THE LOST".
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