You didn’t really think there wouldn’t be an Edgewater post this morning, did you? Look at this, can you tell what we are paying $16m for?
It’s on page 49. This is in the “public space” section of their handout.
This is what was in the TIF presentation about public space and what TIF would be paying for:
First, it listed three components of the project with public space being one of them, and this is what they listed.
Then, they provide a map with “vehicle and ped” entrances and private dining areas.
Then, they say the TIF will pay for the following public access items.
Can you make heads or tails of any of this? Where is the public space we are paying for and what are we not paying for. Are we paying for the section labeled “vehicle and ped access”? And are we paying for the dining areas? How did they determine what the public access money is for? And how much square footage is it? And what exactly are we paying for?
To add to the confusion/frustration, they are proposing that they have the right to close off portions of the public space when they have large events and mostly, that will all get determined “later”. I don’t think that is a “later” issue if we’re going to be making a TIF decision. We should have the details of that agreement today. I have to admit, I looked for the PUD language, but after opening numerous pdf’s I didn’t find it. I guess I have succumbed to the “bury them in last minute paper” strategy. If I find it, I’ll post it here.
I ask these questions because part of what the plan commission will be taking testimony on tonight is the changes to the 1965 ordinance to allow for us to use TIF to support the project, which is primarily going to be used for the open spaces.
