Ben Franklin said two things in life are certain, death and taxes. Unfortunately, he seems only half right these days. An annarbor.com article reported that the “Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission officials shared their vision for a new recreation center on Ypsilanti’s Water Street property at the Ypsilanti City Council’s meeting on Tuesday.
The preliminary plan and ideas received a warm reception from several council members, though concerns were raised over the city not receiving any tax revenue from the center and the size of its parcel.”
The amount of land in question is about 12 acres, which is more than 50,000 square feet for those of you not up on conversions.
The cost for the center is expected to be in the $10 to $15 million dollar range. Like the city council, I like the idea, but I don’t like the size. I’m not thrilled with the price tag either.
If you’re curious where the money is coming from, annarbor.com said “is funded by a millage and officials previously said the project would be partially paid for out of its fund balance, while the rest would be covered by bonding.”
Storm clouds have gathered over Europe. Their economy might get worse, and it will probably drag ours down with it if they can’t fix it within a reasonable amount of time. With a recovery built on cheap synthetic quicksand substitute, big ambitious building plans are not necessarily a good idea.
Another problem is the tax exemption. The article mentions, “A lack of revenue from Water Street has significantly contributed to the city’s strained financial position. The city started acquiring parcels comprising it in 2001 with the expectation that it would quickly attract mixed-use development.”
So, the plan is to make an even bigger plot of land tax free, straining the city both with its construction and its tax exemption? Insert rhetorical query about drug abuse here.
“But the construction and rec. center will create jobs!” you say. Sure, but look around, construction jobs are not in short supply. Michigan’s infrastructure is in a constant state of, to be scientific “self ancient ruin formation,” thanks to a state law that says the lowest contractor bid must be accepted. That’s a separate issue, though.
I’m not saying a rec. center is a bad idea. I’m saying a huge tax-exempt rec. center is a bad idea. Especially if a fourth of the land is for a parking lot.
The plot they’ve chosen –“northwest corner… bordered on the north by Michigan Avenue and on the west by the Border to Border Trail and Huron River” — sounds like a good spot. I’m just saying a smaller center — and a proportionately smaller parking lot — might not be a bad idea.
For one thing, a smaller rec. center would cost less to build, we’d still have a new center, people will still be newly employed and everyone can still be happy. Of course, compromise can be a 50/50 shot in that regard.
Either way, now might not be the best time for a huge tax exempt building taking up prime real-estate.
A smaller tax exempt building taking up prime real-estate is better, since the plot’s location is the main reason for placing the rec. center being there. Revenue generation or not, some things can’t be measured in taxes and are worth their weight in gold.
