Atlanta City Council OKs TAD bonds (White: amusement park, loans, how much)

[chip1980]

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 7:37 AM EDT
Atlanta City Council OKs TAD bonds
Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Dave Williams Staff Writer

Atlanta City Council overwhelmingly approved bond issues late Monday that will make substantial contributions toward two major development projects.
Council members voted overwhelmingly to put $85 million in bond money toward a planned civil and human rights museum and other improvements in the Tax Allocation District.
A second $117 million bond issue represents the first installment of government funds for the Beltline TAD.
The $125 million Center for Civil & Human Rights is scheduled to break ground next year at a site at Centennial Olympic Park. Nearly half of the bond issue -- $40 million – is earmarked for the museum project.
The Westside TAD also will feature a office and retail space and 1,600 units of housing.
The Beltline project calls for developing a 22-mile corridor around the city over 25 years, including parks, trails and transit.
TADs are created by local governments through ballot initiatives that authorize elected officials to borrow money to pay for redevelopment projects.
The loans are repaid from the additional property tax revenue generated by the improvements.

http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view...ge_tab_newstab

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by chip1980

Council members voted overwhelmingly to put $85 million in bond money toward a planned civil and human rights museum. The $125 million Center for Civil & Human Rights is scheduled to break ground next year at a site at Centennial Olympic Park. Nearly half of the bond issue -- $40 million – is earmarked for the museum project.

Surprise!

So, I wonder what exactly the $125 million dollar museum is going to teach people that they can't already get from the MLK memorial site and various other exhibits in the city? "Pork project" might be a good name for it.

I think the only thing that bothers me is the attitude by the city council as to WHY such a museum needs to be in Centennial Park. I know someone who works with the city tourism office and who has been around every city leader multiple times. I had heard about this project quite some time ago, and she (who is black) told me that they were really pushing for it, and for one reason only - that they consider the Aquarium and World of Coke museum "White attractions" that draw majority-white tourists into the area. News to me - I see people from all over the world and of every nationality when I'm around there.

So this civil rights museum isn't being built to educate people or for any sense of public good - it's just something that's being built because some members in city leadership think that the tourist area around the park is "too white" and wanted a more minority-themed attraction there. Completely the wrong reason to build such a facility as far as I'm concerned, and I question the $125 million construction cost for such a facility as well. Bonds or not. Pay close attention if this goes through as to who gets picked as the contractor for building it as well - my guess is we'll see another "Bill Campbell" type of thing where if it's investigated well enough, the bidding process won't be handled by the book and it will go to someone who's a personal friend of someone in city leadership.

[Pcola110]

Haven't they straighten that mess out with the Mason's yet? I last heard that their suppose to use portion of TAD funds to purchase Mason's property $66 million, but deal needs Atlanta City Council approval.

[masonbarge]

Sigh. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose -- the more things change, the more they stay the same.

$125 million dollars down the drain for window dressing, and they can't afford to fix the sewers and water mains.

[MMANN]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Surprise!

So, I wonder what exactly the $125 million dollar museum is going to teach people that they can't already get from the MLK memorial site and various other exhibits in the city? "Pork project" might be a good name for it.

I think the only thing that bothers me is the attitude by the city council as to WHY such a museum needs to be in Centennial Park. I know someone who works with the city tourism office and who has been around every city leader multiple times. I had heard about this project quite some time ago, and she (who is black) told me that they were really pushing for it, and for one reason only - that they consider the Aquarium and World of Coke museum "White attractions" that draw majority-white tourists into the area. News to me - I see people from all over the world and of every nationality when I'm around there.

So this civil rights museum isn't being built to educate people or for any sense of public good - it's just something that's being built because some members in city leadership think that the tourist area around the park is "too white" and wanted a more minority-themed attraction there. Completely the wrong reason to build such a facility as far as I'm concerned, and I question the $125 million construction cost for such a facility as well. Bonds or not. Pay close attention if this goes through as to who gets picked as the contractor for building it as well - my guess is we'll see another "Bill Campbell" type of thing where if it's investigated well enough, the bidding process won't be handled by the book and it will go to someone who's a personal friend of someone in city leadership.

I think this is dead-on. What a complete waste of money. I have also heard from many sources that this is the reason they are building it. Its frustrating to see tax dollars wasted on something that is basically a duplication of the King Center.

I have also heard that the TAD funds are mostly used to subsidize "affordable housing", a move some have interpreted as a move by city leadership to keep the city majority black.

A girl I graduated with works with the city planning department. She said there is a lot of buzz over there due to the new census figures and that WSJ article about blacks leaving the city and whites moving in. She said they are looking for ways, through "affordable housing" and a civil rights center to keep the city majority black.

[gt6974a]

Brand Atlanta was a great idea as well, how much did Atlanta spend on that? How much did they spend on the song alone?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Brand Atlanta was a great idea as well, how much did Atlanta spend on that? How much did they spend on the song alone?

Not to mention that failed amusement park that the city funded next to the stadium.
The city has a history of squandering funds on ridiculous projects like this.

[Georgia]

I guess the main question would be if they can find either the money or the results of the money itself from the last TAD Bond issues.
According to the ABC that money has to be accounted for, but where

Two great examples here in regard to TAD Bonds:

Good example: Charlotte City, NC
Bad example: Atanta City, GA

You can go downtown Charlotte and the old, now new 4th Ward and see what proper leadership and planning can do for a city. Clean, remodeled high end homes, clean affordable homes. Able to walk the streets and even enjoy outside seating cafe's without being hassled by panhandlers.

What's another 125 million for a museum, heck it's just taxpayer money. Shirley can always double the property taxes again all around, no biggie!

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by MMANN

A girl I graduated with works with the city planning department. She said there is a lot of buzz over there due to the new census figures and that WSJ article about blacks leaving the city and whites moving in. She said they are looking for ways, through "affordable housing" and a civil rights center to keep the city majority black.

I can't see how a civil right center that most people will visit once (if that) is going to "keep the city black", but I guess there are people out there who are far smarter than me

[straighttalker75]

Its not going to work. White leadership tried to keep the city 30 years ago and that failed too. Besides, do you really think that this incompetent and corrupt city government can actually be successful and accomplish anything? They have repeatedly proven to be unable to meet even the most simple goals. A effort to keep the city black is doomed to failure... actually, its laughable.