Chief
06-19-2007, 05:30 PM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/06192007news155661.cfm
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
By JEFFREY MIZE Columbian Staff Writer
Not every redevelopment plan is adopted with trumpets blaring and crowds cheering.
Such was the case late Monday night when the Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the 130-block Vancouver City Center Vision Plan, along with related zone changes and development code amendments.
Councilman Tim Leavitt said he detected only tacit acceptance from those who testified Monday.
“I don’t hear folks jumping up and down,” Leavitt said.
“I don’t perceive overwhelming support,” Mayor Royce Pollard agreed.
Despite the lack of fanfare, city officials believe the plan will provide the foundation for a second round of downtown projects that should generate at least $750 million in private investment.
The plan’s genesis dates back almost five years.
City officials wanted to cast a broader redevelopment net across downtown, one that included the Boise Cascade industrial site along the Columbia River west of the Interstate 5 Bridge.
**SCHNIPP**
Now you know why there is so much pressure being put on the Port of Vancouver to approve this lease with Gramor Development.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. This whole deal is built on speculation, and all of it is ultimately going to be paid for by all of us. We as taxpayers are about to go on the hook to pay enormous sums of our hard-earned dollars into a highly questionable real estate development in Downtown. Wait till you see the pictures...
Keep in mind that the City has already handed out the 10-Year Tax Exemptions for all of these condos that Gramor wants to build.
Keep in mind that there is well over $100 Million Dollars worth of access issues to the site, as well as who pays to build streets, sidewalks, sewerlines, waterlines, electricity, cable, telehone, and all of the other infrastructure and all of the other goodies at the Boise Cascade site, that the City Center Visioning Plan just specified they now have to build.
The two access tunnelsinto the site alone were orignally reported by the columbian as costing $30 and $40 Million each!!
Keep in mind that the City already has over $350 Million Dollars worth of unfunded street and road repair projects that they cannot afford to pay for right now... Go look up the TIP on the City's website, and do some supplemental reading.
How can we possibly afford to put any money into Boise Cascade, if the City is being sued becuase they don't have enough curb-cuts for the disabled all over the rest of the City??
Folks, someone needs to put the brakes on the Development Mania in City Hall!! Vancouver City Council has a Champagne Development Taste on a Pabst Blue Ribbon budget...It is insane to allow this kind of rampant, out of control spending to go on in Downtwon Vancouver, to the exclusion of everything else in the City; especially when it is you and I who are ultimately going to have to pay for this insanity!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
By JEFFREY MIZE Columbian Staff Writer
Not every redevelopment plan is adopted with trumpets blaring and crowds cheering.
Such was the case late Monday night when the Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the 130-block Vancouver City Center Vision Plan, along with related zone changes and development code amendments.
Councilman Tim Leavitt said he detected only tacit acceptance from those who testified Monday.
“I don’t hear folks jumping up and down,” Leavitt said.
“I don’t perceive overwhelming support,” Mayor Royce Pollard agreed.
Despite the lack of fanfare, city officials believe the plan will provide the foundation for a second round of downtown projects that should generate at least $750 million in private investment.
The plan’s genesis dates back almost five years.
City officials wanted to cast a broader redevelopment net across downtown, one that included the Boise Cascade industrial site along the Columbia River west of the Interstate 5 Bridge.
**SCHNIPP**
Now you know why there is so much pressure being put on the Port of Vancouver to approve this lease with Gramor Development.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. This whole deal is built on speculation, and all of it is ultimately going to be paid for by all of us. We as taxpayers are about to go on the hook to pay enormous sums of our hard-earned dollars into a highly questionable real estate development in Downtown. Wait till you see the pictures...
Keep in mind that the City has already handed out the 10-Year Tax Exemptions for all of these condos that Gramor wants to build.
Keep in mind that there is well over $100 Million Dollars worth of access issues to the site, as well as who pays to build streets, sidewalks, sewerlines, waterlines, electricity, cable, telehone, and all of the other infrastructure and all of the other goodies at the Boise Cascade site, that the City Center Visioning Plan just specified they now have to build.
The two access tunnelsinto the site alone were orignally reported by the columbian as costing $30 and $40 Million each!!
Keep in mind that the City already has over $350 Million Dollars worth of unfunded street and road repair projects that they cannot afford to pay for right now... Go look up the TIP on the City's website, and do some supplemental reading.
How can we possibly afford to put any money into Boise Cascade, if the City is being sued becuase they don't have enough curb-cuts for the disabled all over the rest of the City??
Folks, someone needs to put the brakes on the Development Mania in City Hall!! Vancouver City Council has a Champagne Development Taste on a Pabst Blue Ribbon budget...It is insane to allow this kind of rampant, out of control spending to go on in Downtwon Vancouver, to the exclusion of everything else in the City; especially when it is you and I who are ultimately going to have to pay for this insanity!!