Life Of Jason

The city of Springfield is pushing to sell the Heer’s tower to the lone developer still in the mix.   The agreement calls for the city to sell the building for three million dollars and to provide a host of incentives to the developer.  The city is trying to position this as a great deal but if you look at the actual contract you’ll see this is an act of desperation on the part of the city government.

First, the deal calls for the developer to request half of the two percent hotel/motel tax that is dedicated to the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.   The city also says in the agreement that it will not “actively oppose or take action against the developer in making this request.”  It says nothing about the city taking action against the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau if they don’t make the decision to give the money to the Heer’s developer.  I don’t believe for a second there won’t be pressure brought to bear on the CVB to approve the cutting of their funding.

The CVB probably can’t afford it and they’ll probably say no but it’s beside the point.  We elect the members of the city council to make these kinds of decisions and no t the CVB.  If the city wants to offer something like this then they need to step up, vote on it and tell the CVB they’re up the creek.  Doing it this way only allows the members of the city council an opportunity to avoid something that could haunt them at election time.  It’s time for our council members to do their jobs and make a decision on the whole issue and not just parts of it.    The way the deal is right now it could leave the council in a position where they can’t do anything to stop the developer if they don’t agree with some of his actions.  Is that really what we want from our city officials?

The city would also be required to make over a million dollars of improvements to the square in front of the Heer’s tower.  It’s not an option…it’s a requirement.   If the city doesn’t come through with the improvements…with the developer of the Heer’s tower involved in that process…then the developer can exercise an option to make the city buy back the tower for what the developer paid PLUS direct and indirect developer costs PLUS an up to 15% markup on the deal.  So if the city decides to do something else with the square or the improvements are delayed we could end up buying back the tower plus interest.  Where do you think the money for that is going to come?  Higher taxes for you and me.

While I’m in favor of developing downtown and getting something into that tower this is not the deal for accomplishing that goal.  It’s time for the city to open things back up and try to get some other developers into the mix with better ideas.  Yes, I realize the city is having to pay interest on the loan that was taken by the previously failed developer of the tower.  That doesn’t mean we need to rush into a deal that’s just as bad for the city and ultimately for the pocketbooks of every city taxpayer.

Monday night the city council will be considering this deal.  They will have their second reading and vote on it.  If you feel like I do that this is not the way we need our city officials to…especially on the cop-out regarding CVB funding…then you need to show up at the city council’s meeting and make your voice heard loud and clear.  Take some time to read the proposed deal as I’ve done and reach your own conclusions.  I agree with councilman Ralph Manley’s statement in the Springfield News-Leader…”I don’t want to give away the store to get it done.”