[Mpls] Allina

[Barbara Lickness]

Chris said:

Meanwhile we are dropping $750,000 in taxes and
millions of dollars in 35W Excess development. 

I say:

Unless I am calculating this wrong, we aren't dropping
$750,000 in tax dollars. We aren't collecting $750,000
in tax dollars now on the building, we are collecting
$0. How do you lose $750,000 your not getting in the
first place? This is at least a $100M project from
what I have been told.  Not only will there be jobs
when this is over, there will be big time construction
jobs to build it. No, most of them don't live in the
city either but I bet the Subway, Taco Bell, Burger
King and Mickey D's business will pick up during
construction. In addition, there is cement, sheet
rock, mud, tape, flooring, windows, nails, bolts, air
conditioners, heaters, lights and a myriad of other
products that will be purchased to breathe new life
into Sears. It wont just be the economy around Chicago
and Lake that benefits from this project.

I agree with you Chris that the flyover ramp was a
benefit to both Allina and Wells Fargo. But, adding
nearly 3,000 jobs between Allina and Wells Fargo in a
3 block radius in a beautiful but struggling
neighborhood is also no small potatoes. I was pretty
vocal about my opposition to 35W. My big issue is that
we knew early on that the real intention was to expand
35W and that wasn't being clearly stated in the
beginning. To add another lane to 35W without
accommodating space for future mass transit is
irresponsible. I do believe that the city council
added some language about that in their resolution
approving the project. Other people have their own
reasons for not liking the 35W project. 

Barb Lickness
Whittier

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead