Land for sale
So, the Council is thinking of accepting the offer by Mr. Kennedy for about $2.3 million for the Town Center property. This is about $700,000 less than they turned down from him less than 2 years ago. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
Last time, they didn't want his money, because they "were worried about how he was going to finance it". Truth be told, they were holding out for more money. His financing plan would have been fine. Just look at the corner lot of Jefferson and 55...the Red House. He bought that lot and turned it into a nice looking parcel with a successful business as a tenant - looks like his financial planning was sound enough for that project. At the least, it was better than Lewie Bloom's plans for the 2nd Bloom building. He still hasn't found a stable rack of tenants besides his own seafood store.
But now, Mr. Kennedy senses that the Council feels that they need to "make their imprint" on the history of the Town while they still have 7 months left on their terms. So he has offered almost 25% less money to them and they want to accept it! OK, to be fair, he does plan to renovate the old run down buildings on the property (old Post Office/Red Rooster and the grey house behind Town Hall). He also has promised to bring a couple other dilapidated buildings over to the property and make them nice enough to run a business out of. Just how feasible that it, I'm not sure.
I'm not against Mr. Kennedy's plans. I've met him and I appreciate his business ideas and plans. I think it's great that he's getting what he wanted – and on sale to boot. What I am against is the fact that the bulk of the current Council sat in their chambers less than 2 years ago and denied this man's plan and rejected his money for property that they don't need. They could have sold for the $3 million back then, paid off their debts and built a nice place down on the Harrover lot. As of now, the only thing the Harrover lot purchase has been good for is to give the Police Department easier access to the outskirts of Town. I swear I see our cruisers at the 7-11 on Rt 29 more than I see them in Town. Guess the coffee there is better than at Sheetz.
The point is that you people need to make a stand on December 3rd at the Town Meeting and voice your concerns about this Councils inability to manage the Town Property and the Town's finances. If they keep giving out 25% discounts on such large deals…why do they need to keep property taxes as they are and impose meals taxes and cigarette taxes?
Just a thought…let's hold onto the property that doesn't cost us anything to own and pays for itself. Let's move the PD out of Harrover and into Town Hall (where they belong) and sell the Harrover property for residential or commercial development.
Have a nice day!
