The city’s meeting with the elite concept designers for the DeArmond Mill land, just purchased by the college through their Foundation, produced very artistic development ideas…for a Commercial Corridor. I think that should be the new name for it, at least it’s honest. They describe retail shops near the Resort and Indepencence Point and the special night lighting of the wastewater treatment plant. Education did not seem to be the focus, and it never has been.
The original Resolution for this project from the NIC Board of Trustees, almost two years ago, emphasized beautification of Downtown and commercial development, not education. Seems like they’re right on plan. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against commerical development or business. I am against the taxpayers paying for the land and then well-connected business people shrewdly getting good deals on long term leases or other such arrangements. Meanwhile, the land is owned by the college so the city & county will get no property taxes from them, and the businesses will get to do their thing without those pesky tax bills so they’ll have unfair advantage over other non-commercial corridor business.
What do you think?
I find it incredible that the DeArmond Mill land was appraised at
13.25 million just last year.But, the
college foundation was able to get it for a supposed steal at $10 mil.
The value on the 17 acres never went
down,even though RE has tanked?Also, the parcel is by a wastewater treatment plant and had some environmental concerns to take care of.Shouldn’t that lower the market value of the property?It was alleged on this site that the principles used their own personal appraiser to assess the property.It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that by giving this property a very high market value on the appraisal,it would help the college to find more attractive financing to purchase this mill site parcel.
If it turns out that most of the development of the ED Corridor,has commercial development in it,then
maybe the public was mislead,because the city leaders knew it could be a hot issue.So, if you say it’s for education it’s more acceptable to the public and it quells some dissension.
Comment by kageman — August 14, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Am I still in the Twilight Zone?
Riverstone is a ghost town with rows of empty store fronts and now we need more retail space in the “education” corridor.
Commercial real estate is collasping and the “education” corridor creates more.
They suddenly discover there is a shortage of parking for NIC students after insisting it is the most convenient and accessible place for busy junior college students.
This whole deal is a lie, a bait and switch and a government/business scheme that milks the public taxpayer.
Unfortunately, there is no sleeping giant to awaken. The city government is basically Democrat, NIC is run by liberals, and the residents are mostly liberals. When voters think that government is the solution and blindly puts it collective trust in government, manipulation and self interest follows.
Comment by citizen — August 15, 2009 @ 7:52 am
You’re right, Citizen, the city and NIC seem to be living in a bubble and whenever they need more money they just up our taxes.
Kageman, there’s so much more to the appraisal problem. It’s so bad that this whole thing could end up in court.
Here are 4 newsletters and newspaper columns I’ve written on the “Ed Corridor” issue over the last year and a half. They last one details out NIC Trustee Judy Meyer’s relationship with the appraiser, including a link to a scan of an actual legal document Judy, her husband Steve and the appraiser all signed together, which provides clear evidence of their business relationships.
http://www.thecityspulse.com/newsletter/Feb28_08.html
http://www.thecityspulse.com/newsletter/Feb7_08.html
http://www.marysouzacda.com/HOM_8-05-08.html
http://www.marysouzacda.com/HOM_9-14-08.html
Comment by mary — August 15, 2009 @ 9:20 am
When the Master Plan for the so called Education Corridor was rolled out last year, it was nothing more than a glossy promo piece for softening up the public to get used of the idea that it was, in fact, to have a very prominent commercial component. To soften the criticism, proponents said it was conceptual.
When the elite urban planners Mayor Bloem brought to town this week presented their 3 day workup of dreaming, again the presentation was conceptual, a large grab bag of visionary concepts, some very goofy. All of it obviously to be very costly. Notably, the point was made in the initial comments they were to keep their “hands off Memorial Field”. Does that comment furrow your brow? Think city politics.
It is interesting to note that the visiting experts in describing their vision used terms such as “Downtown Renewal”, “Downtown enhancement”, “stronger more viable Downtown”, “access to Downtown” and a new term not used here before, “Hinge”. The presenter rhetorically asked, “where do you go when you come out on Northwest Blvd”? “You need a downtown hinge”. (I’ll bet resort folks liked that.)
Finally, after more than an hour and 3 presentations about Downtown issues, the last presenter talked about Education, but not much about the so called Education Corridor. His presentation focused on removing buildings on the existing campus to open the view of the lake, showing a map of the existing campus with familiar buildings gone and new buildings clustered more to the north, but still on the existing campus. The only presentation on the so called Education Corridor had to do with putting lipstick on the sewer plant, bridges over water features, recreational use and a token showing of interest in a campus parking garage about where the mill dry kilns were located. Someone should view the video and make a count of the number of times “Downtown” and “Education” were said.
Comment by Gary Ingram — August 15, 2009 @ 11:06 am
These designers given the opportunity to create their visions for this property were taking their cues directly from the Mayor. They were in fact assigned to the Mayor, for the Mayors purpose, at the Mayors behest. The organization they came from works with city leaders. Mayors solicit to that forum, present their circumstances and define their desires. If the proposed project offers enough of an opportunity for the group they then award the mayor a design cadre to compile for them a conceptual plan. Voila, we see CdA, a la Mayor Bloem.
So this is the mayors plan and, no, it has not much to do with higher education. NIC in CdA is to be a small, concentrated designer campus that plays an elite minor role in a larger celebrity level recreational business scheme. The community is to be wealthy whether of a permanent or a seasonal occupancy status. There will be upscale eateries, shops and entertainment resources to serve the well-to-do. Their silver spoon children are to attend NIC. The upper crust are not to be disturbed or bothered by the lower citizen echelons working to support their lifestyles. Tell me that does not sound like Riverstone, etc?
CdA 2025 is to be a destination second home, resort for the wealthy. The lucky will own part time homes in or near the posh downtown district. There will be quaint older homes, new fast-lane condos and riverside palaces. NIC will serve their families and the downtown and lake CdA will be their ritzyland playground. CdA, an enclave for the rich and famous. Thank you Mayor Bloem.
And of course building and selling this will make a handful of insider stakeholders extremely well off. What a coincidence?
Comment by Wallypog — August 15, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
Gary, I’m so glad you were there. Your eye-witness report underscores the tone of newspaper coverage—that this was mainly about a Commercial Corridor, not education.
Wallypog, you forgot to mention the key element in this plan: The TAXPAYERS of Kootenai County will pay!
Comment by mary — August 15, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
I imagine the city will get around a county wide vote to construct buildings and infrastructure for NIC. You poor suckers in CDA will pick up the bulk of the expense unless they get tricky with the county. Where are the CdA sleeping giants? I guess with ipods on their ears and and going to earth day socialism rallies. Government knows best and all you have to do is sacrifice and pay up….you greedy residents, Open CdA bloggers excluded.
Comment by citizen — August 15, 2009 @ 3:43 pm