[Vision2020] Alturas
B. J. Swanson
bjswan@moscow.com
Wed, 28 May 2003 23:00:30 -0700
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0033_01C3256C.EFF4A830
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Bill,
You continue to talk about "...what the taxpayers of Moscow
were promised in exchange for their tax support." The RTO
zoning has not changed since Alturas began. Alturas has
succeeded just as it was planned in 1996. Did taxes
increase in Moscow to pay for Alturas? No. In dollars that
we can all understand, please explain. I will show you, in
dollars that we can all understand, the multiple benefits
that Alturas has contributed to the taxpayers of Moscow.
Alturas has helped diversify our economic base. Something
that may become even more valuable if the State of Idaho
looks at a chancellor system and dilutes another 200-300
jobs out of the University of Idaho.
I share your concern for "downtown loss." In the early
planning stages of Alturas, we seriously looked at the
downtown area as well as many other areas of town. Trying
to fit an Alturas into downtown Moscow would have been like
trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The cultures
did not match, there was not enough reasonably priced space,
there were no willing landowners as partners, parking was a
big problem. It would have failed and you and the taxpayers
of Moscow would have had a legitimate complaint. Certain
businesses thrive in a downtown setting, others do not. No
one recruited any downtown businesses to Alturas but if they
fit and the zoning allows it, so be it. It's better than
losing them out of town.
Rather than continue the complaining without solid facts to
back them up or passing a law requiring downtown business to
stay downtown (is this a free country?) why not look at a
revitalization plan that will work to keep the downtown
vibrant, keep the existing businesses there and make it a
place where new businesses will want to be.
B. J. Swanson
----------------------------------------------
Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On Behalf Of Bill London
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 8:47 AM
To: bjswan@moscow.com; Vision2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow Planning and Zoning Agenda
Wed 5/28
BJ and all....
You are mixing apples and oranges in your attack on my
posting.
When Alturas was pitched to the citizens of Moscow years
ago, it was as a tech park to lure new businesses to stay in
Moscow. As were many others, I was convinced then that it
was worth a try.
However, that is not what it has become. I am glad that
several high tech businesses have located there, providing
jobs, tax money etc. What I have repeatedly complained
about is the transformation of that tech park into a
professional mall (with offices for attorneys, accountants,
and now possibly a day care center).
I am sure that building a whole new town and a wide
collection of retail and professional businesses there would
be great fun for the people who work there.
But that is not what the taxpayers of Moscow were promised
in exchange for their tax support of Alturas. It is also a
little problematic in terms of sprawl and downtown loss.
And, even if I don't own a calculator, I will try to
respond to the questions you raise:
-Remember, Eastside Marketplace was a sore-eye, in
foreclosure and 18% occupied when Alturas began.
Yes, I remember Eastside Marketplace was a loser then,
but I do not think Alturas had anything to do with its
turnaround. More likely, the new owners and their infusion
of capital, plus a rebound in local economy made it happen.
BL
-Remember, the tax assessed value of the Urban
Renewal District has increased about $8 million dollars
since 1996. Do you seriously believe it would have increased
that much without Alturas and the jobs it created?
The district is a large area (including Tidymans and the
Eastside Mall etc). Again Alturas is a small part of that
increase.
BL
-Remember, there are about 70 jobs in Alturas that
pay over $3 million dollars in salaries every year.
Salaries to people who live in Moscow, pay taxes here, spend
money here.
As noted above, I think hightech jobs in Moscow are
great. Does that have anything to do with diluting the park
concept with non-tech office businesses? BL
-Remember, several of the businesses in Alturas
derive revenue solely from outside of Moscow, not recycled
but NEW money that comes into the community and stays here.
See previous answer BL
-Remember, Alturas contributed about $35,000 in tax
money to Moscow School District last year, not counting the
state payment to schools for the children of Alturas
employees (possibly another $150,000). Would you, as a
taxpayer, like to pay higher taxes to the school district if
Alturas was not here? Taxpayer subsidy by whom??
See previous answer. BL
------=_NextPart_000_0033_01C3256C.EFF4A830
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003>Bill,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D902201505-29052003><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff><FONT color=3D#000000>You continue to talk=20
about "...what the taxpayers of Moscow were promised in exchange =
for their=20
tax support." The RTO zoning has not changed since Alturas=20
began. Alturas has succeeded just as it was planned in 1996. =
Did=20
taxes increase in Moscow to pay for Alturas? No. In dollars =
that we=20
can all understand, please explain. I will show you, in dollars =
that we=20
can all understand, the multiple benefits that Alturas has contributed =
to the=20
taxpayers of Moscow. Alturas has helped diversify our economic =
base. =20
Something that may become even more valuable if the State of Idaho looks =
at a=20
chancellor system and dilutes another 200-300 jobs out of the University =
of=20
Idaho.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D902201505-29052003>I=20
share your concern for "downtown loss." In the early planning =
stages of=20
Alturas, we seriously looked at the downtown area as well as many other =
areas of=20
town. Trying to fit an Alturas into downtown Moscow would have =
been like=20
trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The cultures did not =
match,=20
there was not enough reasonably priced space, there were no willing =
landowners as partners, parking was a big problem. It would have =
failed=20
and you and the taxpayers of Moscow would have had a legitimate =
complaint. =20
Certain businesses thrive in a downtown setting, others do not. No =
one=20
recruited any downtown businesses to Alturas but if they fit and the =
zoning=20
allows it, so be it. It's better than losing them out of =
town. =20
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003>Rather than continue the complaining without =
solid=20
facts to back them up or passing a law requiring downtown business to =
stay=20
downtown (is this a free country?) why not look at a revitalization plan =
that=20
will work to keep the downtown vibrant, keep the existing businesses =
there and=20
make it a place where new businesses will want to =
be.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D902201505-29052003>B.=20
J. Swanson</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003>----------------------------------------------=
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D902201505-29052003> </SPAN>Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]<B>On =
Behalf Of=20
</B>Bill London<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 28, 2003 8:47 =
AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
bjswan@moscow.com; Vision2020<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Moscow =
Planning and Zoning Agenda Wed 5/28<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">BJ and all.... <BR>You =
are=20
mixing apples and oranges in your attack on my posting. <BR>When =
Alturas was=20
pitched to the citizens of Moscow years ago, it was as a tech park to =
lure new=20
businesses to stay in Moscow. As were many others, I was =
convinced then=20
that it was worth a try. <BR>However, that is not what it has =
become. I=20
am glad that several high tech businesses have located there, =
providing jobs,=20
tax money etc. What I have repeatedly complained about is the=20
transformation of that tech park into a professional mall (with =
offices for=20
attorneys, accountants, and now possibly a day care center). <BR>I am =
sure=20
that building a whole new town and a wide collection of retail and=20
professional businesses there would be great fun for the people who =
work=20
there. <BR>But that is not what the taxpayers of Moscow were promised =
in=20
exchange for their tax support of Alturas. It is also a little=20
problematic in terms of sprawl and downtown loss. <BR>And, even if I =
don't own=20
a calculator, I will try to respond to the questions you raise:=20
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=3D"CITE"> <SPAN class=3D537540105-28052003><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1> -Remember, Eastside =
Marketplace=20
was a sore-eye, in foreclosure and 18% occupied when Alturas=20
began. </FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1></FONT></FONT>=20
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1>Yes, I remember Eastside =
Marketplace was a=20
loser then, but I do not think Alturas had anything to do with its=20
turnaround. More likely, the new owners and their infusion of =
capital,=20
plus a rebound in local economy made it happen. BL</FONT></FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <SPAN class=3D537540105-28052003><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1> -Remember, the tax =
assessed=20
value of the Urban Renewal District has increased about $8 million =
dollars=20
since 1996. Do you seriously believe it would have increased that =
much=20
without Alturas and the jobs it created? </SPAN></FONT></FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT>=20
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1>The district is a large area =
(including=20
Tidymans and the Eastside Mall etc). Again Alturas is a small part =
of that=20
increase.</FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D-1>BL</FONT></FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <SPAN=20
class=3D537540105-28052003><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D-1> =20
-Remember, there are about 70 jobs in Alturas that pay over $3 =
million=20
dollars in salaries every year. Salaries to people who live in =
Moscow,=20
pay taxes here, spend money here.</FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1></FONT></FONT>=20
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1>As noted above, I think =
hightech jobs in=20
Moscow are great. Does that have anything to do with diluting =
the park=20
concept with non-tech office businesses? BL</FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <SPAN=20
class=3D537540105-28052003> <FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1>-Remember, several of the businesses in Alturas derive =
revenue=20
solely from outside of Moscow, not recycled but NEW money that comes =
into=20
the community and stays here.</FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
size=3D-1></FONT></FONT>=20
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1>See previous answer =
BL</FONT></FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT> <SPAN=20
class=3D537540105-28052003><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D-1> =20
-Remember, Alturas contributed about $35,000 in tax money to Moscow =
School=20
District last year, not counting the state payment to schools for =
the=20
children of Alturas employees (possibly another $150,000). =
Would you,=20
as a taxpayer, like to pay higher taxes to the school district if =
Alturas=20
was not here? Taxpayer subsidy by =
whom??</FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1></FONT></FONT>=20
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D-1>See previous answer.=20
BL</FONT></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0033_01C3256C.EFF4A830--