IS IT TRUE? December 20, 2011 McCurdy Redux

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IS IT TRUE? December 20, 2011 Part 2

IS IT TRUE that the McCurdy Hotel was back on the agenda of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission today?…that this time there was a discussion of the represented fact that there is another developer that has signed an agreement with City Centre Properties LLC to replace City Centre Properties LLC as the lead developer for the McCurdy project?…that attorney for the ERC Brad Salmon will not share with us who the supposed two interested developers are and did not even state whether the project will continue to be for apartments or for a Vintage Hotel that actually has a chance for financial success?…that this is of course the same Brad Salmon who advised us all that the financing for City Centre Properties LLC was in order and ready to go only a week before learning that it wasn’t?

IS IT TRUE that the ERC states that City Centre Properties will be responsible to pay the City of Evansville back the $800,000 incentive that was advanced to them for 80 loft apartments as part of the downtown loft program incentive offer if the subcontract deal falls through?…that if the ERC and their attorney really believe that is a realistic possibility then they need to do some basic investigation with respect to the ease with which an LLC can be placed into bankruptcy?…that the ERC is at the mercy of the successful assignment of some contract and the approval of 5th 3rd bank that holds superior debt on the building to even come away with a shred of dignity to hang their hat on?…that when it comes to old buildings that are not producing cash flow that getting a judgment is one thing and getting a dime is quite another?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is quite aware of one investment group that is interested in going forward with a project that will be called McCurdy Place that will return the McCurdy Hotel to its former glory as a hotel and even utilize the flophouse formerly known as the Riverhouse and Jackson House for some constructive purpose as part of the project?…that the location would be quite perfect for tourists to enjoy downtown Evansville, Casino Aztar, the Museums, and the riverfront?…that this is the kind of project that takes vision and courage to implement but the impact can be quite high?

IS IT TRUE that there was no mention of the new hotel or the Kunkel Group in today’s ERC meeting?…that at last night’s meeting of the Evansville City Council that there was indeed discussion about two properties that Kunkel has not paid real estate taxes on due to the fact that they are appealing the valuations?…that one of those properties that is being appealed is the old Whirlpool facility that is assessed for over $10 Million even after Kunkel bought it for about $2.7 Million?…that as per the Indiana Constitution Kunkel will win this appeal which will reduce the taxes from over $300,000 to under $100,000?…that similarly the Walker Building was bought for $10 and with market rate assessment will be set at what they paid for it?

IS IT TRUE that this writer just ran PCMatic that is designed to optimize computers to get as much speed as possible from a computer with the infrastructure available?…that this computer is on a local wireless network and is paying for the best internet service available in Newburgh, IN?…that after putting the computer through a workout that the performance testing website www.speedtest.net was run to see how the speed stacks up?…that this site tested the speed of the overall system to be a D- on both national and global scales for upload and download speeds?…that as long as people and businesses in greater Evansville are only capable of a D- in this critical piece of infrastructure that is needed for doing jobs that required interaction with the outside world.

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13 COMMENTS

  1. What Internet service do you have? Is Insight BB available? If so, do you have their 50.0 service? I tested mine here at work and got a C without any optimization.

  2. It is hilarious given that a fish is a card playing term for someone who loses money due to being inept, that the ERC has an attorney named Salmon. The ERC is the fish bowl of Evansville.

  3. I attended the ERC meeting this morning. As the meeting concluded, Mr. Goldman went on a self indulging rant about transparency and how it should be used. He was referencing the publication of the Hunden report. I was furious at the implication that transparency should be a privilege, and not a right.
    In response to Mr. Goldman, I would suggest he keep the following in mind. Transparency is the watchdog of the taxpayer. Transparency is the very thing that informs the taxpayers of backroom deals, bad faith negotiations, and misappropriated funds. Transparency leads to the truth. If you have no fear of the truth Mr. Goldman, transparency shall set you free. I was told a long time ago, if you wouldn’t tell your mother what your doing, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. I pay the tax money you so freely spend, and as a citizen I demand accountability for my hard earned money. Next time you are so quick to lecture Mr. Goldman, remember who you work for, and that is the taxpayer. Your time as the head of the ERC could have been more efficient and productive if you would have remembered this, instead of waiting to have your strings pulled by the powers that be.

    • I abosolutely agree. Mr. Goldman is an insult to the taxpayers and other public servants who actually work for the good of the community. I am excited to see that he will not be re-appointed by the incoming mayor, for obvious reasons. There will finally be a chance for open, honest and conservative dialogue that will lead to investing in meaningful projects. Good riddance to the self-serving, elitist chairman of the ERC.

    • The ERC could have very easily just not complied with the FOIA request, and let the request go to the next level…they could have also claimed exemption on the grounds – “trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential” or “contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions” – neither exemptions would ever stand up but would have bought a little time for the ERC and required the CCO to spend more money….bottom line is that they have no imagination.

      JMHO

    • Transparency is more than that 21/2, transparency is the LAW. It is a crime to obstruct transparency when it comes to the use of public money. Perhaps those who lecture on this subject need a course in the laws that their appointed positions are subject to. The same LAW and COURTS that prosecute thieves for robbing a pawn shop, protect the citizens from those who would rob us of information that we have paid for with our taxes.

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