- any variance that they want
- letters of support from the City and the City delegation when they apply for State and Federal Grants
- land on the cheap either through direct negotiations or the RFP process
- no enforcement of the terms of the LDA (land disposition agreements)
- unchecked use of NRSA to help develop their low-mod housing projects
- waived property taxes on parcels that they buy that have big balances
- free infrastructure improvements (sidewalks, overground sewer lines through private property).
- question whether they pay the full permitting fees especially when the current charge is suppose to be $1,330 per bedroom
I agree with Eric's comment earlier. If we could 1) stop these incentives and 2) create incentives for market based housing, I am sure we would see the same results.
4 comments:
Folks anyone who has not yet realized that Jim McGovern has to go if Worcester is to have any future (commercial base) is clearly being blinded by something.
Time & again I have said he's the trigger mechanism for all the NOLO constr. The congressman is swamping Worcester with all kinds of social problems (a.k.a. McGovern voters).
Call me negative....but hey... I am realist and I am advocating time & again that the city gets its financial house in order. Endng NOLO constr is the the least of Worc's worries. Labor costs will eventually bankrupt governmental entities. How may more years do you think Worc will be getting stimulus money to fund it's day to day operating budgets.
This notion that regionalization is going to save muncipalities has about as much credence as Coupe Devals promise to cut my property taxes 3+ yrs ago and makes about as much sense as saying Deval solved the MassPike problems by merging it with the state highway dept. I trust none of you were so foolish as to watch his speech this past week on TV.
Did you read Diane Williamson today?
Don't they get that help because they are providing a service that market based housing doesn't? Market based in my mind equals speculation in the hope of turning a profit, and we all know where speculation has lead our economy.
(Assuming no backroom political wheeling and dealing. I know, big assumption.)
SFD:
Yes, they get that help and they should when they are below the 10% threshold.
The question is when you are way beyond the 10% mark, at 14%, fasting approaching 20% without any corresponding market rate developing, why do you keep giving out the incentives?
Incentives are suppose to be given are to entice someone to do somthing. Lets change the incentives to something we actually need?
Thanks
Bill
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