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Community - West County
Capital Gazette Communications
Published
03/15/10
West county civic leaders continue to express concern about a public financing deal for another upscale shopping center along Crain Highway, although a small glimmer of support remains among a handful of residents. Find Us On Facebook
County Council members are debating establishing a tax-increment financing (TIF) deal for the $300 million Village South at Waugh Chapel shopping center being developed by Owings Mills-based Greenberg Gibbons Commercial. The 1 million-square-foot shopping center is slated to include upscale grocery market Wegman's and a Target, among numerous other large and small retailers, banks, restaurants, office space and...
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Sweet deal. - 2010-03-16 18:42:01
County brokers bonds, developer gets discounted funding for construction. Until the developer pays back discounted funding secured by bonds, he is only paying property tax based on unimproved land value. It appears the site was used as a fly ash dump and is in the wetlands. So what in the underlying value? The Council is also obligating County residents to pay 78% of impact fees. Mr. Scrivener, beneficiary of the County's largesse states; "We have every reason in the world to make this go as smoothly possible." Now that's an understatement.
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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent
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The TIF is another - 2010-03-16 02:29:13
way for private sector businesses and developers to undercut the costs for development and make taxpayers bear the burden of development costs for years before they (the shopping mall) begins to really pay into the public coffers, supporting public projects and infrastructure. The County council with a republican majority talks a good game about cutting costs and risks to taxpayers for development, but when it comes down to it, they always go for the gimmicks, after all they won't be around when the real accoutability comes due.
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Maryellen Brady - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Neutral
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re: Waugh Chapel TIF - 2010-03-15 21:28:25
I agree wholeheartedly with the posters comments. The article glosses over the complexity of TIFs and makes a presumption in favor of more uncontrolled growth and more tax payers on the hook with a special levy when the whole thing falls apart. TIFs are a complex issue and the writer gives them less justice than a wikipedia article. I was reading a local blog called the Anne Arundel Desk and they seemed to actually give the facts a try. It's not really news but it certainly makes the effort.
What happened to journalists who asked questions? It seems most of the Capital's writers simply carry the politician's and developer's answers!
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George Fisk - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Waugh Chapel TIF - 2010-03-15 16:27:49
After reading this article it makes me wonder about unbiased reporting - does it really exist. The reporter apparently interviewed FSCA residents, none were quoted. Apparently didn't interview or quote any member communities of the Greater Crofton Council. The only quotes were from the developer/owner and the party that the developer/owner is using to discredit the community outcry.
The reporter points out that the county will "broker" the bonds - that would mean that the risk for the county is not only the lost tax revunue but their bond rating. Since when did counties become mortgage brokers. It has been stated that this project will bring taxpaying jobs to the community, but you can't force the contractors nor the retailers to hire only AA County residents. So, where are these tax dollars coming from.
I am very disheartened that my county Council wants to broker bonds fro developers and is now proposing to delay impact fees for those developers as well - diverting future tax dollars and not collecting impact fees...I am so confused.
And, not to mention the fly ash on the site and the fact that the remediation process...well, that's a joke as well. And the Army Corps letter - I guess wetlands are not important either.
Please people - open your eyes!
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Madonna Brennan - Gambrills, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Wegman's - 2010-03-15 16:10:27
I wish the media would stop referring to Wegman's as an "upscale" grocery store. Wegman's has been serving blue collar Upstate New York communities for over 50 years. Wegman's has raised the bar on the whole grocery shopping experience. The quality of goods, abundance of choice, the beautiful stores, PRICE and customer service is unmatched anywhere. The unions are not the only people that don't want to see Wegman's come to town. Safeway and Giant can refurbish their stores all they want! They can't touch a Wegman's. The labor unions are nervous because a non union Wegman's will extend to their employees better benefits and opportunities then the labor union will ever offer. They haven't been ranked in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For the past 12 years (Top 5 the past 5 years) for nothing. I think it will be a great disservice to our community if this store doesn't get built.
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chris rock - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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