Randy "Volunteer Hoosier" Smith offers the following succinct summary of the case for Scribner Place and the "Option 1" funding plan.
Follow the link to read the remainder of his comprehensive survey of the issues, as we head into tonight's climactic City Council meeting.
Remember that beginning at 5:00 p.m. today, the Constituency for Progress will be conducting a teach-in in front of the City-County Building.
I'd love to meet and chat with NA Confidential readers, so come on down and visit before, during or after the council meeting. I'll be the one with the sign that reads "Coffey Plan = D.O.A."
Scribner Place Talking Points, by Randy Smith.
1. Scribner Place is the essence of what a city can do to spur investment.
2. Scribner Place offers the lifestyle amenities demanded by prospective new businesses and residents. Furthermore, it creates an environment that will foster investment in more such amenities.
3. Scribner Place takes full advantage of the already-built infrastructure of downtown and promises to bring restaurants, pubs, music venues, retailers, and office jobs back to downtown.
4. The best financing plan does not threaten to raise property taxes. Option 1 would conserve city resources, promote a stronger and more vibrant tax base, and keep property taxes lower than they would otherwise be.
5. The aquatic center is more than a swimming pool for the "elite." It will offer a place for recreation and exercise to all comers, with city (and presumably county) residents able to buy passes. Its possible management by the YMCA, extended hours, and year-round operation makes it a real draw to outlying communities that could make it a revenue generator.
6. A "yes" vote sends the signal that New Albany is changing its attitude toward commercial investment, tourism, and lifestyle amenities. A "no" vote will likely be the death knell for downtown and will relegate New Albany to years of faltering services and higher taxes. As a bedroom community for Louisville, New Albany and Floyd County can't survive on residential development alone.
7. Downtown is uniquely suited to the type of specialty independent retailing that contributes most to a community. Independent businesses throw off 75% more to the local economy than does the same size chain store. A thriving and compact downtown business district, once rejuvenated by Scribner Place, will be a benefit to the environment by curbing the trend toward urban sprawl.
8. Having a livable community is the goal. Scribner Place is a big step in that direction.
9. Investment capital will look to the city and county as partners instead of as impediments. As participants in development, the city and county can create a development environment that serves their citizens instead of the speculators and slumlords. Scribner Place announces that smart growth is the future for Floyd County.
10. With city/county involvement, the YMCA can proceed to build a state-of-the-art facility that will be the gem of the metro region.
11. With city/county involvement, further development initiatives can begin right away. One investor is considering immediate investment by building additional stories above the YMCA for offices and conference centers. The demand for that space is there right now, with one tenant ready to sign a lease if the private investment comes through.
12. Isn't it about time Floyd County and New Albany as governments began to see a return on the outlays we make to accommodate a nearby casino? Can we possibly turn down $20 million in private money from Caesars Foundation?
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