RE: Alturas and the Future of Urban Renewal Business Forum

["B. J. Swanson" <bjswan@moscow.com>]

Everyone,

I would like to reiterate Dave Potter's invitation to the community to
attend the Alturas Forum on April 5.  Again, if you don't eat, it's free.
Speakers will give background and numbers but the purpose is to encourage
everyone to ask questions, make comments and become informed.

There is obviously a wide gap between perception and reality on this issue
with misinformation running rampant.  Why was the City meeting not better
attended by those who don't understand or have some problem with Alturas?
Gary Reidner gave a clear, understandable presentation on the history and
purpose of Alturas.  I sat behind Fritz Knorr at the City meeting and, after
reading Fritz's comments, wonder if we were at the same meeting.  The Daily
News did a much better job at objective reporting and I trust LuJane will do
the same.

Do you think for a minute that if Alturas was not there and Eastside
Marketplace had not been resurrected that there would be anywhere near $5.6
million in growth in that area?

Remember, the land where Alturas is located was previously designated to be
zoned Motor Business.  Please compare the allowed uses in the Motor Business
zone to RTO (Research, Technology, Office) zoning and decide which you would
prefer for that area.  Understand that RTO includes OFFICE; ie, law offices,
financial, engineering, etc., that lend viable support to research and
technology.  Both Pacific Simulation and Anatek said that John Walker's
legal expertise has been utilized by them and is a welcome addition to the
Park.

Finally, please take a look at the website in Stephen Cooke's post of
1/27/2000, http://niip.wsu.edu/Idaho/selindid.htm, regarding Latah County
population, jobs, income.  Pay particular attention to Total Industry
Earnings and Average Earnings per Job and see that Latah County is falling
way behind the State of Idaho and the United States in earnings growth.
Then realize that the 47 jobs in Alturas contribute over $2 million annually
in payroll to the community.  These jobs could have easily gone to
Washington, Oregon, etc., who are able to pay incentives to lure away those
types of businesses.  Let's not forget Advanced Hardware Architectures that
was lured to Pullman because we did not have an Alturas or other suitable
place for them to locate.  Now, Bend Oregon is trying to lure away Cylant
Technologies with a substantial cash incentive.  Tax Allocation Financing is
probably the best tool the State of Idaho offers to ward off the stiff
competition.  It is complicated, but the economic benefits to the community
are real.

Again, please come to the Forum; listen, learn, comment and decide for
yourself what contributions/benefits Alturas has made and will continue to
make for our community.

B. J. Swanson