OK. So today the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will begin collection of .5% sales taxes on all items and services purchased except food and prescriptions. Housing is part of this tax hike, so tack it onto the price of a home, in addition to interest rate hikes and a housing glut that favors lower prices. Not the best time to invest in housing, it looks like. Buy high and sell higher is what some think is the norm and maybe it is because they aren’t making any more land and they sure are making more people. According to a source, housing prices are down 10-15% here in Tucson, as they are nationwide, particularly in Florida. Somebody is going to lose money!
I guess it makes sense to OK a residential high rise downtown during a water shortage and a housing glut. Cheap housing brings people as long as our quality of life remains sustainable in terms of water and food consumption. True, a high rise residential unit uses less water than lot housing development. I just wish you luck selling those residential units at the level you hoped for when you wrote up your proposal. Tucson no longer has cheap housing and cannot compete for the population overflow from the Midwest and California, as if we need any more.
After that brief detour, I return to the implications of the RTA. What if the sales tax projections fall short of the reality? It’s like divvying up the Colorado River during the rainiest period on record. Take your tax projections from a period of growth and inflationary spending, and the actual revenue could diminish if there is a recession.
The wholesale price of gasoline was up to $2.20 today. Add tax and dealer profits and we’re going to be paying $3.20. So goes Wal-Mart, so goes sales tax revenues? Check the figures and see if consumer spending is being diverted into paying for gas. Discretionary income is unknown to many as you should know, or are you a member of the ‘Let them eat cake’ group? Huge amounts of money are being spent to maintain our cars, agriculture and distribution system.
Given the limitations on resources, we cannot expect inflation to conveniently adjust the price of oil for us again. There is a true shortage coming, not just a production slowdown. Inflation now means impoverishment and Mr. Bernanke of the Federal Reserve is right to focus on controlling it.
So connect our rising taxes and petroleum prices, public debt, the RTA, a housing glut and a high rise downtown. Pull out your wallets and pay up.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Presidio Terrace Condominium Project
Doesn’t sound like too bad an idea except that this tall building will sure block out views of the mountains even worse than green mesquites close to the ground. Whose views? Whose views will now be more salable? What is a view worth?
Land worth at least $750,000 is now worth $2,000,000 to the city, which is proposed to be paid to Ms. Noonen, which makes the land free plus a nice little $1,250,000 cash bonanza for her! All so city employees get covered parking in perpetuity? When I wanted covered parking, I paid for it. Are city employees paying for their parking? What is the income on the current lot? Will the city get a like payment from Ms. Noonan or will this be a hidden cost in addition to the $1,250,000 paid to Ms. Noonan, so the city can expect a cut in income and maybe even lay somebody off, or as a last resort, pay for their own parking.
This is sure a good deal!
The project sounds OK except for the height. Maybe nobody wants to view your building from their front window. Is it that beautiful? Maybe a smaller project would fit the land better. Any particular style architecture? I hope not recreated Spokane in red brick façade over cardboard and stucco. Foodstores and reasonable eateries included in the project is a wonderful idea.
How about a shuttle bus picking up city employees or subsidized bus passes instead of parking that takes up so much space and money? Pave the world, folks. Who needs to park a personal vehicle that occasionally holds four or even more? Car pooling could cut down on the land use demands of parking so how about 4 persons per parking space?
Lower the height, deny the $2,000,000 to Ms. Noonen and offer instead a payment plan from individual car parkers to pay it to her as they use the space, like everybody else.
Land worth at least $750,000 is now worth $2,000,000 to the city, which is proposed to be paid to Ms. Noonen, which makes the land free plus a nice little $1,250,000 cash bonanza for her! All so city employees get covered parking in perpetuity? When I wanted covered parking, I paid for it. Are city employees paying for their parking? What is the income on the current lot? Will the city get a like payment from Ms. Noonan or will this be a hidden cost in addition to the $1,250,000 paid to Ms. Noonan, so the city can expect a cut in income and maybe even lay somebody off, or as a last resort, pay for their own parking.
This is sure a good deal!
The project sounds OK except for the height. Maybe nobody wants to view your building from their front window. Is it that beautiful? Maybe a smaller project would fit the land better. Any particular style architecture? I hope not recreated Spokane in red brick façade over cardboard and stucco. Foodstores and reasonable eateries included in the project is a wonderful idea.
How about a shuttle bus picking up city employees or subsidized bus passes instead of parking that takes up so much space and money? Pave the world, folks. Who needs to park a personal vehicle that occasionally holds four or even more? Car pooling could cut down on the land use demands of parking so how about 4 persons per parking space?
Lower the height, deny the $2,000,000 to Ms. Noonen and offer instead a payment plan from individual car parkers to pay it to her as they use the space, like everybody else.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Preserve and Provide
On June 24, the San Juan’s Day festival was held on the meeting place out West Congress by the huge eucalyptus tree. Horse shows, dancers and a superb ranchero band, plus tamales and tacos served while people prayed for rain.
I was pleased to see a Rio Nuevo booth, the portender of change for the ancestral heart of Tucson. Surrounded by Spanish costumes and customs from the 1500’s, I could not help but think that the people need this space and more to hold family style events like festivals and games.
So the city of Tucson will receive $1,100,000,000 to revitalize downtown. Revitalize does not mean the creation of a moribund residential district catering to expensive clients who all demand 200 square feet for their two vehicles per unit, thereby reducing the commercial space accordingly. Perhaps downtown is not the place to build high density housing.
Let’s make a park and a recharge lake downtown and set up low rent business units adjacent to official museum and science center units. Variety is truly the spice of life. Our climate allows for outdoor businesses and sports, so why not take advantage of it? Old downtown could furnish saloons and salons while Rio Nuevo could furnish eclectic shopping and eating and pubs.
Public money equals public facilities.
I was pleased to see a Rio Nuevo booth, the portender of change for the ancestral heart of Tucson. Surrounded by Spanish costumes and customs from the 1500’s, I could not help but think that the people need this space and more to hold family style events like festivals and games.
So the city of Tucson will receive $1,100,000,000 to revitalize downtown. Revitalize does not mean the creation of a moribund residential district catering to expensive clients who all demand 200 square feet for their two vehicles per unit, thereby reducing the commercial space accordingly. Perhaps downtown is not the place to build high density housing.
Let’s make a park and a recharge lake downtown and set up low rent business units adjacent to official museum and science center units. Variety is truly the spice of life. Our climate allows for outdoor businesses and sports, so why not take advantage of it? Old downtown could furnish saloons and salons while Rio Nuevo could furnish eclectic shopping and eating and pubs.
Public money equals public facilities.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Public Money for Public Purposes
The Rio Nuevo extension passed the legislature and the people of Tucson are now deprived of a vote and obligated by this august body to contribute matching funds to an exclusive tax rebate district for 12 more years. According to the Tucson Citizen, this will be $350,000,000 more in addition to the original $156,000,000, for a total of at least $506,000,000. We are such a rich town, we can afford to pay at least $650,000 from the city to Rio Nuevo every month, which is .7% of the total budget. That’s quite a bite, overall. Other figures state that Rio Nuevo would require even more matching funds.
Now, I’m hoping that social services in Tucson remain funded and maybe
expanded as need arises. It would be bad news if the homeless took to hanging around downtown instead of nimby. It wouldn’t look too good. What about low income housing downtown? Should the maids and gardeners be forced to ride the bus while the elite live in subsidized housing next door to where they work? What about grocery shopping? Shall we see an upsurgence in traffic to existing grocers or are you creating a situation in which people must have cars in order to purchase daily needs or must ride the bus to the store and backpack goods into their abode?
Infrastructure downtown? That needs to be addressed in order to accommodate any high density project. What are the costs of revamping the sewer, water, electric and gas infrastructure? Are high density projects too expensive? The MLK apartments are scaling back on the number of units to 66. What happens to the other residents currently living there?
I suggest a study on downtown properties. What are they charging for rent? If they are keeping people out with unworthy rents, they should be willing to lower their sights a little in order to get a viable deal. This includes hotels.
We need a cultural center, museum and outdoor arena for concerts and a flea market type shopping area. Did you see the crowds associated with the gem and mineral shows? We went to most of them and encountered many people buying and looking and enjoying themselves. Tourists want shopping variety and reasonable food. Tour buses will not stop where there is nothing to do. Leave open spaces where gem show vendors and others could set up and attract customers. Traveling art shows, chili cookoffs, the possibilities are endless. Bring the fair back to town!
I’m talking about public buildings, not subsidized housing or parking garages to benefit law bending developers who don’t want to follow the rules. I’m talking about a reasonable place for locals and tourists to enjoy themselves without having to spend too much money. I’m suggesting eclectic shopping and eating and traveling shows setting up right next door to the permanent booths, keeping the people interested. How about an old time western saloon and dance hall in one of those vacant spaces downtown? A modern Bird Cage Theater.
We need a nice new bus station connecting with the city bus system and convenient to Convento and the new flea market shopping area and adjoining traveling show setup areas. This bus station would be a dandy, with a 24 hour fast food joint inside, seating, telephones and bus connections all over the city and Davis Monthan. Shuttle service to Phoenix, etc. This parking thing is totally out of control. Every driver is now requiring 100 square feet of reserved space wherever they go, whenever they go. Of course parking is a problem but the problem derives from people’s attitudes and the lack of public transportation and proximity of stores.
Let’s put that CAP recharge right over here downtown in the Santa Cruz. Dump it in the ground and let it recharge and mingle with reclaimed water. We could have a park and riparian area near the old Convento and museum setup.
High end condos will not attract more free market money after the initial investment. If the city fathers and mothers want increased property tax revenue, then subsidize high end real estate and lock the poor outside looking in. If they want a free market stimulation, then invest in public buildings and have open air markets with cheap rents for small businesses, shopping and food service and collect your taxes there.
Avoid the subsidy of private projects or spending money that benefits these projects unless public aspects are also heavily enhanced. We need to work together to build projects that provide amusements and cultural activities for the people. I support the UA science center and the Museum Convento complex with the stipulation that the area include a superlative museum gift shop that sells high end arts and crafts, a world class desert botanical garden free for the viewing and a bookstore specializing in western history, ecology and mineral resources.
I could envision a terminal for the passenger railroad from Mexico if one existed! We should explore this possibility in contact with local representatives in Nogales and Hermosillo. This would vastly benefit downtown businesses and put Tucson on the map as a true international city, with air and rail transportation to Mexico. Mexican rail could make money if they transported tourists to the interesting places, particularly the new international port in Guaymas.
This money should not be wasted on bureaucracy or private projects. The people are paying for this and they deserve a return on their money.
Now, I’m hoping that social services in Tucson remain funded and maybe
expanded as need arises. It would be bad news if the homeless took to hanging around downtown instead of nimby. It wouldn’t look too good. What about low income housing downtown? Should the maids and gardeners be forced to ride the bus while the elite live in subsidized housing next door to where they work? What about grocery shopping? Shall we see an upsurgence in traffic to existing grocers or are you creating a situation in which people must have cars in order to purchase daily needs or must ride the bus to the store and backpack goods into their abode?
Infrastructure downtown? That needs to be addressed in order to accommodate any high density project. What are the costs of revamping the sewer, water, electric and gas infrastructure? Are high density projects too expensive? The MLK apartments are scaling back on the number of units to 66. What happens to the other residents currently living there?
I suggest a study on downtown properties. What are they charging for rent? If they are keeping people out with unworthy rents, they should be willing to lower their sights a little in order to get a viable deal. This includes hotels.
We need a cultural center, museum and outdoor arena for concerts and a flea market type shopping area. Did you see the crowds associated with the gem and mineral shows? We went to most of them and encountered many people buying and looking and enjoying themselves. Tourists want shopping variety and reasonable food. Tour buses will not stop where there is nothing to do. Leave open spaces where gem show vendors and others could set up and attract customers. Traveling art shows, chili cookoffs, the possibilities are endless. Bring the fair back to town!
I’m talking about public buildings, not subsidized housing or parking garages to benefit law bending developers who don’t want to follow the rules. I’m talking about a reasonable place for locals and tourists to enjoy themselves without having to spend too much money. I’m suggesting eclectic shopping and eating and traveling shows setting up right next door to the permanent booths, keeping the people interested. How about an old time western saloon and dance hall in one of those vacant spaces downtown? A modern Bird Cage Theater.
We need a nice new bus station connecting with the city bus system and convenient to Convento and the new flea market shopping area and adjoining traveling show setup areas. This bus station would be a dandy, with a 24 hour fast food joint inside, seating, telephones and bus connections all over the city and Davis Monthan. Shuttle service to Phoenix, etc. This parking thing is totally out of control. Every driver is now requiring 100 square feet of reserved space wherever they go, whenever they go. Of course parking is a problem but the problem derives from people’s attitudes and the lack of public transportation and proximity of stores.
Let’s put that CAP recharge right over here downtown in the Santa Cruz. Dump it in the ground and let it recharge and mingle with reclaimed water. We could have a park and riparian area near the old Convento and museum setup.
High end condos will not attract more free market money after the initial investment. If the city fathers and mothers want increased property tax revenue, then subsidize high end real estate and lock the poor outside looking in. If they want a free market stimulation, then invest in public buildings and have open air markets with cheap rents for small businesses, shopping and food service and collect your taxes there.
Avoid the subsidy of private projects or spending money that benefits these projects unless public aspects are also heavily enhanced. We need to work together to build projects that provide amusements and cultural activities for the people. I support the UA science center and the Museum Convento complex with the stipulation that the area include a superlative museum gift shop that sells high end arts and crafts, a world class desert botanical garden free for the viewing and a bookstore specializing in western history, ecology and mineral resources.
I could envision a terminal for the passenger railroad from Mexico if one existed! We should explore this possibility in contact with local representatives in Nogales and Hermosillo. This would vastly benefit downtown businesses and put Tucson on the map as a true international city, with air and rail transportation to Mexico. Mexican rail could make money if they transported tourists to the interesting places, particularly the new international port in Guaymas.
This money should not be wasted on bureaucracy or private projects. The people are paying for this and they deserve a return on their money.
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