Richard says city ‘poised’ to grow
Deflects worries over Harrison Square
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/17076966.htm
From the article:
"The city outlined that it expects to have a cash balance of $5 million of county economic development income tax revenues over the next five years and a $19 million balance over the next decade."
"Controller Pat Roller said the CEDIT fund typically had a balance of $2 million to $3 million, so these balances show there is money to invest in the community. The annexation of much of Aboite Township last year will begin providing $2 million in CEDIT money annually starting in 2008, Roller said."
"The city will use half the $50 million in expected revenues from the Jefferson Pointe Tax Increment Financing district for Harrison Square. This leaves $25 million for other projects in the district until the special tax district dissolves in about 30 years"
"Although some people might believe the city’s cash balances should be used to pay for services and reduce current property taxes, the mayor said that is shortsighted. He said future generations will pay if no investment is made for projects to create a more vibrant city."
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Enough To Go Around
Posted by scott spaulding at 4/14/2007 09:43:00 AM
Labels: Graham Richard, Mark Becker, Pat Roller
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6 comments:
Graham Richard hit that comment right on the head. Our generation will pay because of the shortsighted folks who put the baseball stadium where it is now. The city and county planners are more responsible than anyone for the lack of activity in the downtown area. Apparently they don't care about or consider the effects of approving EVERY new construction venture and strip mall presented to them.
For years now Fort Wayne has grown outward. People have no reason to come downtown when they can drive a mile from their homes to shop at any of the countless strip malls in this town, most of which seem to be only half-occupied. Yet, they continue to approve more and more strip mall projects. If you don't believe that, drive out Illinois Road sometime. There is a new strip mall going up near County Line Road.
Housing developers have sought out farm ground to throw up their housing additions for years as well. Planners continue to allow this almost without question it seems. There is no reason that a developer couldn't work to acquire city blocks or smaller areas and make gated residential communities similar to those in Indianapolis.
By approving every new retail and housing project the planners are presented, they've run everyone and the businesses out of downtown. Now government wants to bring them back. But what about the homes, and business establishments people have created in the outlying areas? Who will buy those properties to make it possible for folks to move back inward? Fort Wayne doesn't have a huge influx of new residents to make this happen.
Facts are facts. There is nothing to draw a mass of people to downtown. There are few places to eat, unless you want fast food. There is nowhere to live, shop or park your car. Even if a baseball stadium does bring people downtown, they'll just get in their cars and go home after the game because there is no other draw.
Part of the Harrison Square project intends to bring shopping, parking, and restaurants to downtown, but the fact that no private developers other than Hardball are in on the project is troubling. Where there is money to be made, you'll find private developers.
If the ball diamond goes up, I'll still go to games there, but it's time for our local government to fess up, admit their own shortsightedness and come up with a better and more comprehensive plan. If the stadium is truly going to be multi-use then make it that way. It could host a high school football game of the week in the fall. Some will say that would ruin the field, but not if it were constructed with field turf like the Colts play on. I find the argument that concerts would be held there laughable. Wasn't that one of the main justifications for hitting the taxpayers with the Coliseum expansion? Last time I checked, the coliseum hasn't hosted many more concerts than it did before the expansion, maybe even fewer.
All we've heard about, up to now, is how the city has no money. Now suddenly we have a windfall. Seems strange to me. The city has no money when government want to tax us more, but when government wants to build a baseball stadium in the middle of a corn field, it has the money to do so, and then some. They obviously believe that if they build it, we will come. Who's really guilty of being shortsighted?
I guess Nelson Peters and I share the same opinion of the true multi-use aspect of the new stadium. I just read in a post on Fort Wayne Observed that he suggested a Friday night game-of-the week for football, soccer games and a possible ice surface for hockey in the winter.
What downtown truly needs is a Texas Roadhouse. Try getting into the one on Washington Center Road on a weekend night. If I'm going to head downtown for a ball game, I can't think of a combination better than steak, beer and baseball?
I just find it bizarre that we are looking for downtown development advice from Ed Rousseau.
It's also shortsighted to NOT plan for how the city will pay it's $1.5 BILLION debts.
Enclosing more and more of the city into TIF districts is the ULTIMATE in shortsightedness...
Chad, I agree, that a large downtown restaurant OR bar would be something that should be added to complement the ballpark. You want people to come downtown before the game, eat or shop, mosey around, then do something similar after the game. Immediately the "Cubby Bear" in Chicago near Wrigley comes to mind.
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