If the private sector wants to spend only their funds to build a second Town Center near the oceanfront, have at it. But if their plan involves the use of tax dollars or taxpayer-funded new "infrastructure", no thanks. We taxpayer's are all tapped out. The taxpayers have been fleeced enough by the black hole of debt that the oceanfront "resort area" has been allowed to become. Our City Council and DED need to focus on reducing spending and attracting high paying jobs to our city instead finding more ways to increase the annual debt service "tab" we taxpayer are forced to pay for so-called "economic development projects" that benefits low-paid service sector businesses and politically influential large businesses and developers.

Why take a vote. The city council will do what it wants to do regardless what the citizens says. 31st hotel is a prime example 2-1 vote against it but the city went ahead with the project and have now found out if the hotel bails the city gets stiffed.

I love where I live. I am a good Citizen. I live where I have been able to walk or bike almost anywhere I need to go. I was green b4 it was cool. That's the kind of neighborhoods we have. The City shouldn't bother it's good Citizens. I should get a tax break for not developing. The wind bags need a little of the oxygen that my underdeveloped green lot provides all of this City.

karma happens. some people should consider this.

I own property at the Gateway to the Resort, affected by these corridors, Oceana, Resort Redevelopment, the future SE Expressway... Eminent Domain is a curse word... I was awakened the other morning by the trucks that wash and sweep our streets. They went up and down maybe 5 times that day. Everytime they sweep our street, I know that some one is out to look at stealing our properties again. I saw the Mayors car and others down the street at the CC. I knew something was up, but not what.

I agree that if individuals want to develop or redevelop their property on their own or collectively, they should have the right to. But if some one is once again going to try to take our homes, so the City can give our property to their developer buddies to make gross fortunes, they are wrong in their thinking. I do not support public/private partnerships. They tax me to build something to line some one else's pockets,

JMO, what a nicely succinct and true answer. Let the private sector determine what projects to undertake! Government bureaucrats do not generally have the business acumen to make savvy business decisions. Funny how they are willing to risk our money in these ventures. If the ventures do not pan out, they are not paying out of their own pockets...they just keep dipping into mine.

There are times when you need to spend money to make money. If an outside investor has a plan that can make the city money I am for it. I'm even for it if we need to invest some of our own (and I am a taxpayer here)money to make it work to our benefit. My concern is that our investment as a city should probably be no more than 1-5% of the overall cost of the project. If the project performs as the people putting up the majority of the money foresee it to, we would probably be on the profit side of taxes received in a matter of a few years. I do not believe in the city being the "Bank" for private developers of tourist attractions.

Again, you forgot to have as a response, "WHO CARES."

If you had something of value and decided to expand it to make money for yourself, but knew that alot of the revenue generated would go to taxes that are collected by the city, wouldn't you ask for a little help? especially if you knew that you couldn't get your idea rolling without it? It's a win-win situation.

Hey! I'm looking to put an addition onto my house, can someone tell me how to approach the infamous VaBch City Council to help me fund that?

Meybe they're all still in denail about the current Town Center, thinking that once they built it...they'll come! Who in the H^%$ can get there?

It's a traffic nightmare - all day long!

Should the city pursue it? No.

Should the property owners pursue it? Sure, if they choose to. It's their property. But if they want it, they should pay for it.

It's telling that we've all come to expect that private development will cost taxpayer dollars. Council, are you listening?

jmo