IS IT TRUE? November 27, 2011
IS IT TRUE that tomorrow night, November 28, 2011 there will be a hearing of the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission at THE CENTRE beginning at 5:30?…that the topic of discussion is the proposed “dense pack†project and the way that Vectren is proposing to finance it?…that this meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and that the PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK?…that those who complain that the IURC is a rubber stamp group that never comes to Evansville and won’t listen to regular people need to make a point to be at this meeting?…that this is an opportunity to start an education process between the IURC, Vectren, and the people of Evansville that should have started many years ago?
IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council has a regularly scheduled meeting that conflicts with the IURC meeting?…that as the governing body of the City of Evansville that each and every member of the Evansville City Council and the Council members elect all should be at this meeting looking after the interests of their constituents?…that if that takes rescheduling the City Council meeting to do so then that is what should be done?…that the same goes for all Vanderburgh County elected officials?
IS IT TRUE that the proponents of the Vision 1505 project to convert the old Safe House into a permanent homeless shelter are patting themselves on the back again?…that to the extent that the homeless need a place to sleep the CCO thinks such efforts are worthy of charitable organizations?…that we continue to assert that PAYING $240,000 PER APARTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS in a market that has plenty of apartments available in the free market at LESS THAN $20,000 EACH is government waste of the highest order?…that there are more than enough empty apartments and abandoned houses in Evansville that will serve the homeless well for a rent check of under $500 per month?…that the Vision 1505 project is the equivalent of paying $240,000 each for 33 $20,000 cars for carless people?…that even when a project is a nice thing to do that runaway waste of public dollars is not the right thing to do?…that somewhere on the east side there is a group of 33 single family homes that are currently occupied by their owners that would gladly accept $240,000 for their houses that have market values of far less?…that this project is the local poster child for government waste and actually makes the FRONT DOOR PRIDE program look intelligent?…that for those of you who have forgotten that program builds for $200,000 to sell for $100,000 which is a lot better than building for $240,000 to create value of $20,000?…that restoring sanity to the federal government needs to start at home by rejecting projects of massive waste?
IS IT TRUE that the readers of the City County Observer believe by a 4 to 1 majority that no “viable†hotel deal will be struck before the Weinzapfel Administration leaves office?…that these same readers believe by a 2 to 1 margin that Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke should have veto power over any financial deals struck by the Weinzapfel Administration during its last days in office?…that without an affirmative recommendation by Hunden Strategic Partners that any deal that may be entered into is not “viable†anyway so let the games continue?
Vision 1505 is a joke and a scam. This should not be happening! Don’t get me wrong, a good cause but not this way.
Come on now folks, you don’t really believe that the vetting has not been completed do you? Why is it that there has not been a single mole come forward with any information? It IS out there and I know for certain that you have one mole in particular who is in the know however, for one reason or another has chosen not to come forward. Come out, come out wherever you are…….
Actually Jack, most people who are watching this think the vetting has been finished for a while now. It is furthermore believed that neither proposal was deemed to be financially acceptable and that the ERC and/or the Mayor are either running out the clock or getting ready to do a dumb deal with a company that did not pass vetting as their last middle finger to the people of Evansville. Winnecke will have to pick up a shovel and clean the mess.
You mean WE TAXPAYERS will have to pay someone to clean up the mess.
I noticed in Morton Marcus’ piece today that Evansville was not included in his list of metropolitan districts within Indiana that are showing signs of economic expansion.
Imagine that. With all the spending of tax dollars this city administration has done since 2008, Evansville was not on the list!
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Hey Jack, go out on a limb here and give us another bold prediction on the convention hotel . . . I believe you are “oh for four” (0-4) to date! Good chance to get your batting average up to the “Mendoza line”, .200.
alefellow
I am going to go way out on a limb here and predict that if you build $240,000. apartments for the homeless here in Evansville, that we will see an influx of homeless people the likes of which we have never seen before.
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Mercifully there are only 33 units planned in this project and the look of them will not be appreciably different than apartments that can be bought for $20,000 each. As we stated, this is a poster project for government waste. We will add that it will also be a magnet for crony capitalism and graft. Sometimes free money should be turned down.
I’lll go out on a limb and predict less than 50 at the Vectren shindig, and with the exception of Gail Reicken, no politicians nor anyone who ran for office will attend. Has John Friend returned to the neutered now that he has won reelection? Haven’t heard much from him on any issue lately.
Barney
It appears you missed the mark, big time! Evidently the local Vectren ratepayers are fed up with their ever increasing electric and gas rates.
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And I should add that these people came out on one of the crappiest weather nights we have had this year to tell Vectren that they are mad as hell about their rates.
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This gives us reason to be more optimistic about Evansville. Things are beginning to change for the better.
If you didn’t do the Vision 1505 project what would you do with the old Safe House?
I believe the city/county doesn’t own that building. At least they rented it at one time, so let the owner have it back
I am pretty sure that the Pigeon Township Trustee Mary Hart and her husband own the building. She is a longtime donor to the Weinzapfel campaigns. Could the be the big payback before he leaves office?
According to the C&P, it was donated back to the EHA.
Demolish it as it should have been years ago. Maybe someday it can be part of a tract that will begin the re-industrialization of the City of Evansville. Another alternative would be to first demolish it and then put the project out for competitive bidding. I guarantee you than in a fair bidding process this project can be done for less than 20% of what is proposed to be spent now.
I’ll agree with the fair bidding process but not demolishing it. If this is the building I’m thinking of, it is an old warehouse building that could look really nice just a few blocks from the arena and centre. If you build all of these habitat for humanity houses out in the burbs you will have to put in new infrastructure to accompany it which makes the price tag more competitive. Downtown apts are better than suburban homes.
All they need to do is go back and get a reasonable price tag to renovate it.
Rail,
I think this building is just off court street near the Coliseum.
Pretty sure that it is at 1505 Fulton Ave., or 1505 First Avenue, thus the name Vision 1505. Neither are near the downtown.
3322,
I looked it up, we are both wrong, editor was right. I was thinking of the building just south of the library, you are thinking of the Old Knights of Columbus Hall which is being renovated by the Kunkel group already.
This house is down by Fulton and First Avenue. If they do it right, it would be a welcome addition to the area. We’ve seen Jacobsville get theirs and now this area will be getting theirs. When will Bosse Field, the ballpark village around it, and Garvin and Kleymeyer Parks get theirs?
Just for the purpose of clarity we want to state that we are not against the project but we are against paying nearly $8 Million for what can be bought in the open market for well under $1 Million. The idea is a winner. The project is a big waste.
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