[Winona] Tip of the Iceberg?

[Paul Double]

Last weeks report of the Port Authority buying the Chrysler Corner building
for $500,000 is interesting to say the least.  Even before the Comprehensive
Plan is in place it implies many things.  The most obvious is that downtown
will copy San Antonio, TX, a great place, with canals running up Main Street
so that the new port property can front on water, or maybe the concept of a
Port Authority is miss leading.  It could be called the slush fund to use
sales tax revenue (dredge funds) to continue to fund city retail adventures.
And then government officials wonder why TIF districts got a bad rap for
creative abuse. 

However, putting together some of the pieces, adding some out of the box
thinking and just maybe it's to be converted into the first downtown parking
ramp???  The locations proximity to the old Middle school Auditorium, Senior
Center, Library and most important is that the building already has an
underground parking ramp and parking area did somebody really do some
creative thinking to save taxpayer money compared to new construction?

So when you see the Thompson dredge on her last project moving up main or
cars disappearing into basement of the building you will know the answer.
Until then the Comprehensive Plan and the guiding principles for the use of
your Port Authority slush fund are not for public consumption. 

Paul Double