By: Diane Benjamin
Renner had a motion ready via Alderman Schmidt to move Public Comment to after the presentation last night by Giebelhausen.
Mayor Transparency: Information should have been posted before the meeting so citizens could review it. Instead YOU chose to shut down citizens by presenting information without allowing citizens time to process it. Can we expect more hiding the agenda in the future?
Let’s get a fact on the table: There is NO timeline that must be met. Gielbelhausen may have a deadline with the Huffs, but the City DOES NOT need to comply with it. If another developer magically appears wanting to buy their property and cut the City out of the process, phenomenal! Of course, that isn’t going to happen. Gielbelhausen sees an opportunity to make money and a Mayor with downtown blinders. It’s the perfect setup to make a lot of money at taxpayers expense. Gielbelhausen is going to collect a sellers fee from the Huffs and then make more money tearing the buildings down and selling the “Shovel Ready” property to the City.
Tari: Are you planning on GIVING the property to a hotel developer for free? Is that how you close part of the $17 million hotel funding gap? Koos did it in Normal – did Chris teach you how it’s done?
The citizens of Bloomington are going to lose again. Your government thinks they are smarter than you. Your government thinks they create economic activity. They said the same thing about the Coliseum and the BCPA. The Coliseum was advertised as NEVER costing the citizens a penny, millions later it continues to cost taxpayers.
Why has the country never recovered under the current DC leadership? Government intervention.
Why is Illinois a disaster? Government intervention.
Why is Bloomington declining? Watch Tari list his accomplishments starting at 7:20.
Free market capitalism works because investors risk their own money. Gielbelhausen isn’t risking a thing. The Council believes they are doing their job and making Bloomington a better place, the same thing every other Council has believed. Meanwhile, taxes have been raised. Money for this years budget has been taken out of savings. The roads are a disaster. The City has at least $200,000,000 in unfunded liabilities. The Coliseum management hides fiscal reality, empty businesses are littering Bloomington, and tax receipts are down.
The Council doesn’t care what you think, just like every other Council. They should just vote on Monday to take the deal, they are going to anyway. When you elect potted plants, what did you expect?
I spoke at the council meeting but forget a key point.one of the buildings owned by Huff can be condemned by the city and require the owner to demolish…no cost to taxpayers..why buy it and pay to demolish when the owner is required to do so..and the gentleman has no “skin in the game” and will make a hefty profit. 8.2 million is outrageous for what needs to be done. Fleecing the taxpayers is all this group can do.
Quote from Tari’s email over the weekend: “You may have heard the exciting news about a developer who is interested in making a major investment into Downtown Bloomington! In fact, the City Council is meeting Monday May 4th at 5:30PM to discuss using City Staff to review details about this investment.” In fact the developer is making zero investment, only pure guaranteed profit…. The city is making the 8 million expenditure, in spite of Mr. Renner’s previous commitment to make no public outlays where citizens could be responsible for repayment. Couple of whoppers from the meeting: Mr. Giebelhausen stating that the borrowing of 8+ million dollars would have no impact on the budget (same story we were told re borrowing 1.6 million for the Coliseum), and alderman Hauman stating she was against submitting the proposition to a referendum because of low voter turnout. Perhaps she should be reminded that it was this same low voter turnout that elected her to her position.
From the bird cage liner today,,,David Sage questions the promised revenue from the re-development but votes for it anyway. Typical waffling from a waffling fool. Wuss!
Ward 4 Alderman Amelia Buragas, thinks that (developers) “they can tear them down and do whatever they want,” she added. “We have a wonderful opportunity to be part of the conversation a while longer and find out more information.” * Uh, what?! AMELIA YOU ARE CLUELESS! That can’t do whatever they want. You’ve got codes now fool! For instance,,,no pig farming!
Amelia pointed out that kind of input has led to the developer reconsidering his initial thought to tear down Commerce Bank, a Chicago-style building at 120 N. Center St. that was built in 1902 for People’s Bank, which at the time was based in Bloomington.
McLean County Museum of History Executive Director Greg Koos raised concerns over the weekend about demolishing the bank building because of its historical significance. Its status on the National Register of Historic Places means renovations must follow specific guidelines to preserve its historic value. * However watch these fools including our so called historian proceed with the support of the tear down.
Giebelhausen said Monday night he is looking into whether the bank’s facade could be saved while the interior is gutted. * Dam straight he’s “looking into it” which usually ends with, whoops, sorry, didn’t work out. Fool me once,,,
“That has value to us as community … and the face we offer to people visiting our city,” said Buragas. “That’s one reason why I am excited why we are a part of this conversation … to make sure that however it is used, an entire city block in downtown Bloomington reflects our values as a community.” * Then keep the buildings so when people visit historic downtown Bloomington, there is some history left you fool!
I don’t personally like the name calling that I’ve initiated here but sometimes you’ve just got to call a fool a fool ! ! !
More information about the real estate broker’s (NOT developer as referred to) personal life was presented than facts about the proposal. Most of the Alderman voted yes because THEY were excited about the project. Only Mr. Sage and Mr. Lower made any reference to feed back from citizens. Amelia looked to the Mayor for approval for her “closing arguments” to the citizens, although her comment is inaudible.
The following is taken from the broker’s website. These are the questions he should have been prepared to address last night.
“Does the project make sense economically? Are the entitlements required to build secured or even feasible? Has the leasing aspects of the project been addressed? Is financing in place? What does the project budget look like and is it reasonable? Who is bidding and what is the schedule? Is the design practical and functional?” – See more at: http://cbcdr.com/peoria/development-consulting/#sthash.KYynQvpS.dpuf
Who owns these building/land? I see the name Huff being thrown around as the owner. If Huff doesn’t own all of this don’t they probably know some owner may hold out and not cave to their wishes. Sure they may try to condemn but that will likely result in a court case.
$2.9 million in government mandated environmental assessments… seems kinda of crony as well. Who is the group that will get the business for the assessment? They would end up profiting pretty handsomely also.