Re: 9/29/00 URA Meeting

[bill london <london@moscow.com>]

I thank Duncan for posting this message for all of us to read.  I hope he
continues to post messages, ask for input, etc.....
BL

Duncan Palmatier wrote:

> Dear Vision2020:
>
> Bill London asked me to send a message along describing the Urban
> Renewal Agency meeting last Friday, September 29.
>
> The first order of business was approval of refinancing for Alturas. I
> am a new commissioner on the URA and missed the previous meeting, so I
> came in with lots of questions. The 3 long-standing commissioners, John
> Weber, Chair, Larry Branen, and Jim Pilcher, had endured the refinancing
> saga for awhile, so it must have been dreadfully dull to have a new guy
> ask a million questions, which I did. Gary Reidner answered them all
> with good cheer. The other new commissioner, Mike Allred, was also
> there. Moscow's City Finance Director, Katherine Sink, started the
> presentation with a description of the refinancing details. In the
> audience were BJ Swanson of Bank of Pullman, Dale Pernula, and two other
> people I did not recognize and did not have a chance to speak with
> before they dashed out.
>
> I voted against the refinancing. The other commissioners voted for it. I
> had 2 reasons: (1) I wanted more time to study the details, and (2) I
> thought refinancing should be delayed while additional covenants or
> restrictions were imposed on the Alturas development, in order to
> prevent a repeat of the Anderson & Walker purchase. With respect to my
> first reason, as noted above, the other commissioners had studied the
> refinancing for a long time and felt ready to vote; there was also some
> time pressure, which made delay in refinancing possibly unwise.
>
> So, Alturas is refinanced.
>
> The URA is now looking at developing the designated "blighted" area,
> adjacent the new south couplet, on the east side of Hwy 95, immediately
> north of Henley Street. Just across the highway is the incubator. The UI
> plans to develop the large, empty lot to the west, across the street
> from the Child Development Center, into an "Arts & Cultural Area". Sweet
> Avenue is supposed to become the "entrance to the University", I was led
> to understand. To the north-west of the couplet, the City (and the UI?)
> plan to develop an "entrance park", like Lewiston's. It looks as if the
> trail/bike path will go along this park.
>
> As I understand it, Bennett Realty has acquired options to some or all
> of the lots in the "Urban Renewal Area". One possible development was
> specifically mentioned: a hotel.
>
> This plan is in its infancy, so I would be grateful for anyone's
> thoughts about this potential URA project, or any other suggested
> projects.
>
> At the end of the meeting, Jim Pilcher, who was the commission
> secretary, submitted his resignation. The position of URA commission
> Secretary was taken over by Mike Allred.
>
> Duncan Palmatier
> 530 South Asbury, Suite 5
> Moscow, Idaho 83843
> Tel: (208) 892-2962
> Fax: (208) 892-3853
> Email: dpalm@earthlink.net