Comments on Advance Indiana™: Welcome To Fantasyland

Gary...THANK YOU for being there. I had contracts...

2009-06-04T02:13:59.111-05:00

Gary...THANK YOU for being there. I had contracts and proposal going today going at the office that I could not walk away from to be there in the middle of my business day.

You do the lions' share of unpaid citizen work in this town. God Bless You!

--Melyssa

Downtown Indy, I thought there was some compromise...

2009-06-03T18:47:34.569-05:00

Downtown Indy, I thought there was some compromise reached over the use of parking space controlled by the state.

And of course, the revenue stream (?) will not cov...

2009-06-03T17:22:53.941-05:00

And of course, the revenue stream (?) will not cover maintaining this garage. Does anyone know how old it is?

In my hometown, a city-owned garage collapsed due to lack of maintenance. Luckily no one was hurt besides a dozen or so vehicles (it happened during the night). So, contrary to people calling this an city asset; it will more likely be a city liability.

Gary, that one never has been resolved, has it? H...

2009-06-03T17:09:00.464-05:00

Gary, that one never has been resolved, has it? Haven't heard a word about it in a long time. Does that mean we're simply paying Irsay per the 'short' parking clause of the lease?

It's funny that the proposed high-end parking ...

2009-06-03T17:00:07.703-05:00

It's funny that the proposed high-end parking garage next to the Lucas Oil Stadium was projected to cost much less than $30 million.

At an earlier meeting today, in response to a ques...

2009-06-03T16:30:52.807-05:00

At an earlier meeting today, in response to a question by Scott Keller, Nick Weber disclosed that the two appraisals for the garage were not cost-based or income-based appraisals. The two appraisals are for the anticipated value of the garage once the full development is completed across the street, which would cause more customers for the garage. He mentioned that to replace the garage would cost about $30M. But, obviously, the garage is a business concern and not just a building.

Thus, the City is headed toward signing an agreement to buy a building using a 'fantasyland' appraised value. What could go wrong?

The abatement hearing is in two weeks - July 17, 1:00 pm, Public Assembly Room, City-County Building.

I was rather amused by the person speaking about t...

2009-06-03T15:30:04.162-05:00

I was rather amused by the person speaking about the 'gateway' from the east.

He even included a prideful reference to the Washington St offramp that was build to replace the Market St ramp.

Go check out the now-closed street the new ramp cut into, Pine St. For reference, that runs south from Washington, between the Hardees and the interstate.

There is a railroad overpass a few hundred yards south, which is where Pine St now deadends.

The place is already a shantytown for hobos and the homeless. It's becoming a dumping ground for garbage and looks like prime realestate for rats and other vermin.

Oh, and it's just a few blocks from these planned new apartments.

Can anyone explain how these projects, which are a...

2009-06-03T15:13:56.446-05:00

Can anyone explain how these projects, which are always spoken of with a long string of superlatives about the downtown vibrancy, can't fly on their own without taxpayper subsidy?

I would venture to say there are excellent reasons why no private developer jumped on the property before now which, as was reported today, is a steal at $18M (worth 'north of $30M'). But that's not a sweet enough deal, we have to kick in 10 years of tax-free living, too.

Indianapolis (and we're not alone) has done a fantastic job over the years of culturing a mindeset where no private investor will move on anything without taxpayer-funded welfare.

When the Bank One tower was built, I clearly remember the big placards along the street touting the project financing was through some large insurance company's investment.

In twenty years' time that all turned around and it's the taxpayer who foots the bill for everything. Without any rights to vote for or against it.

A Fantasyland, indeed!