As far as City Hall goes . . . One of the greatest indicators as to whether or not Kansas City has made ANY progress is the upcoming Citadel Plaza vote.
$20.5 million bucks for a project that nobody thinks will make a dime.
And we already know this deal is soon to become a racial issue. So, the only thing left to do is count the votes and try and see how things will work out.
Warning: NOTHING is set in stone here. Votes change all the time but at the outset of this discussion, according to KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS . . . This is how the votes look
Kansas City Council people opposed to the Citadel Plaza Cash Giveaway
Councilwoman Deb Hermann
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Skaggs
Councilman Russ Johnson
Kansas City Council people in favor of the Citadel Plaza Cash Giveaway
Councilman Terry Riley
Councilman John A. Sharp
Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks
Councilwoman Melba Curls
AS OF NOW, THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL EXACTLY HOW ED FORD AND HIS CADRE OF CITY COUNCIL LADIES ARE GOING TO VOTE ON CITADEL PLAZA!!!
So let's just call them undecided:
Councilwoman Jan Marcason - We hear that she's closer to going with the Northland contingent on this one.
Councilwoman Beth Gottstein - Anybody's guess.
Councilwoman Cindy Circo - Leaning towards the Citadel folks.
Councilwoman Cathy Jolly - Somebody needs to tell her what to do here.
Councilman Ed Ford - Taking a big departure from his Northland buddies.
And of course, the biggest question mark of all is Mayor Funky!!!
Will this be another one of his tax breaks as a substitute for social justice? Or is he going to keep his word on fighting giveaways and staying "smart with the money?" Actually, I'm thinking that he'll stay quiet on this one until the last moment and give even more credence to the folks who say that he's irrelevant.
Honestly I don't see how this can be turned into a racial issue. Am I for the council giving these companies money? Not really.(Especially since the KCPD is suffering financially right now) But the thing is if it does make a difference and create jobs and they are able to pay back the money then I don't see what the big fuss is about.
ReplyDelete$20.5 million bucks for a project that nobody thinks will make a dime.
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No no Santino... this project will lose money for all except the developer.
Even with tens of millions of dollars of city subsidies, I still can't figure out how they will get mortgage financing. Nor can I figure out how they will get enough tenants to achieve anything close to 100% occupancy.
Dave... with respect to this project, when has any goal been reached or any money paid back?
ReplyDeleteWell inafunkaboutthefunk. There was that time.....oh no. Well there was that other time....oh not that either.
ReplyDeleteDamn it.
Honestly I see what you mean which is why I have a lot of doubt about this project. It is just too risky to really go forward with it.
How much city money was put into The Shops on Blue Parkway? It is a very nice shopping center but most of the shops sit vacant! Why build another to sit empty?
ReplyDeleteThere is simply NO WAY the city should be putting up $20.5 million cash--up front--for and to a developer to fix this site. It's insane.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the fiscally conservative people of this town who should be raising hell about this? This is nucking-futs.
and it's not competed? Are you kidding me?
this has dirt written all over it.
Let's raise some hell, people.
Mo Rage
www.moravings.blogspot.com
This town is WAY overdeveloped on retail space now, to boot. Ask any real estate person. Heck, drive around town and see for yourself. Check out the Plaza, the 'burbs--everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt becomes a racial issue the second they bring out the flock to cheer for the project. Just like they did for Harvest Church.
ReplyDeleteFord is out of town this week, so no vote either way from him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, "the Citadel Flu" will strike again . . . just like last week.
ReplyDeleteFew on the council have the courage to say "no" in the face of the threatened (and false) charge of racism. Those lacking the courage will either cave or find a reason to not be there for the vote.
This Council is also off the rails (along with Funk). They gifted $500K to Bill Nigro/Westport last week and now 63rd & Prospect $20M!
ReplyDeleteWHAT! Two months ago the City was broke. What gives?
Twenty million is everything cut from the police budget and then5 million more....
ReplyDeleteExcellentr point, Hyperblogal, excellent!
ReplyDeleteIf we have to spend $20.5 million on the east side, let's put it into additional police officers dedicated to the area.
Which is going to have more of a positive impact, one more strip mall in a market already overcapacity, or more police?
Councilwoman Gottstein will do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the right thing mean in this instance?
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that Beth has a cheerleader on this site often; but that response maybe indicates that the author is going to form an opinion for *after* learning how Gottstein votes. I bet she hasn't committed to how she will vote yet.
ReplyDelete