How ironic they use a picture of Cherapa Place, receiver of one of the largest taxpayer handouts. And I guess they want to drive that message home by having the meeting at Cherapa Place. It’s no secret that Darrin Smith is a supporter of the governor’s initiative.
A South DaCola foot soldier just sent me this piece of info;
Remember the pile of rubble from the river ramp that they moved from the middle of the river up onto the East Bank. YES, that same pile that Lloyd told the Council it would be removed by Tuesday, June 19th at the latest. It’s still sitting in a heap on the East Bank. There is a $75,000 fine written into the River Ramp Agreement if the demolition is not completed within 90 days. That deadline has past.
Smith is a one-trick pony with his TIFs. I discussed a few NEW ideas with him for more robust economic development, but he seems to hold on to an antiquated definition of “economic development.” Apparently, any new ideas from an outside source are a threat to him. IMO, Smith is not qualified to run the Community Development Dept.
Actually, Craig Lloyd appeared before the Council on June 5th.
At that time, he stated the piles of rubble from the demolition of the river ramp that were moved onto the East Bank would be cleaned up by Soukup no later than Tuesday, June 12th. That deadline was ten days ago.
The 90 day deadline (for completion of the demolition) written into the River Ramp Agreement has also past.
Has he been fined the $75,000 for not completing the demolition as agreed to?
Take it easy…here’s a developer taking a risk and actually putting forth an effort to improve DTSF and the East Bank and you are trashing him because of a pile of rubble that hasn’t been removed?
Is your ice cream too cold as well? I am not a Darrin Smith fan by any stretch of the imagination, but piling on Lloyd is over the line.
Bringing down that ramp was a massive undertaking and huge improvement for the city (see favor). I have absolutely no issue with providing a little flexibility in removing the rubble. FYI – you could make the argument that the structure has been demolished – clearing the site may not fall under the 90-day deadline.
The more standard TIFs become in the development landscape, the more necessary they will be. While they used to be a “sometimes food” to help with particularly difficult developments in critical areas, they have now become part of the standard diet of developers, thus giving traditional (non-TIF) development a de facto tax penalty. As long as the TIF (and Large Project Fund) is being handed out willy-nilly, it would be a bad business decision to undertake a major development without a subsidy.
Hey, who sent that flyer? That’s remarkable: let the B.S. season begin! I wonder if the same folks will be pushing for a Yes on 16, the referral of HB 1234, as well. I hear someone is already push-polling the education issue, trying to save Daugaard’s flagship bill from defeat.
J Train, I was told today, as I figured, the concrete will be ground up and used in the new construction of the hotel.
Cory – The Chamber sent this out.
A South DaCola foot soldier went back and reviewed Lloyd’s appearance before the Council 06-05-12 at 7:00 (15:00). He clearly states that Soukup will be removing all of the debris from the East Bank and then they will take care of some final specifications from the Walker Study.
http://docs.siouxfalls.org/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1715&doctype=AGENDA
Kinda hard to grow grass in concrete rubble . . . I’m just saying.
“here’s a developer taking a risk and actually putting forth an effort to improve DTSF…Bringing down that ramp was a massive undertaking and huge improvement for the city (see favor).”
~JT
Wow. What a tool. craig has done no one ANY “favors” with his latest capital venture. The guy does nothin til we’ve scratched his back with things like TIF’s. We just lost 498 parking spots DT so craig could build his hotel which we, the taxpayer, will further enhance by throwing a few million $$$$’s for pillars, concrete, and water spouts. Those 498 lost parking spots mean one thing. Another ramp to replace it. I’d say a minimum of 10 million. Look for ALL leased parking spots DT to increase by at least $60 a year for years to come. Not a good thing when you consider nearly all cubicle warriors who lease spots DT will see little or nothing in the way of cost of living pay increases.
Uh . . . Collecting fines is a joke. The city has no lien authority and denies itself access to the courts per city ordinance.
You can only be a foot soldier if you live outside city limits. Vowing to protect & defend against domestic enemies is not allowed.
I’d like to know what risk a developer takes if he’s funding his project with government money.
TIFs are not funding vehicles. TIFs reduce long-term financial obligations. Big difference.
Can I get a TIF for my house? or for remodeling my house?
I’m just saying I love the hypocrisy of the myth, legend, and folklore of these “self-made” “self-reliant” snake oil salesmen.
John – You can get a community development loan for little or no interest, BUT, you have to be lower income to qualify (unlike these yahoos). I have often said that TIF’s should be provided to people who fix up older homes DT.
I guess the pile of rubble got hauled away today . . . hmmm.