[Winona] Is this responsible use of Tax Increment Financing?

[c.e. woodford]

 I've been reading about the Applewood Point project in the local papers and wonder if anyone else on WOD feels this is a negligent use of TIF? I dont believe TIF was conceived for projects such as this. Is this a blighted property? I will grant you that it is not on the tax rolls now...only because its been coveted by a church and never been offered on the open market, but I have to believe it is certainly a marketable property. 
 Being a former taxpayer in the city of Chanhassen, I have seen TIF go way awry( do a search on the Star -Tribune website, there are several articles detailing the Chan problem, this isnt that comparable but it does show a good reason why TIF requests should get the utmost scrutiny) and come back to bite the taxpayers.
 Is there someone else here who has a different point of view on this project? Am I not getting the whole picture on why this is a benefit to Winona taxpayers? Does anyone else have the same opinion as I do on this?

c.e. woodford

       
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