Mr Scully yesterday correctly apprised the cost to go forward as at least $50,000 (could be more, up to a $100,000). We cannot go back in time to say how we should have spent whatever we spent on the TIF, but we can do this thinking now. Like Sharon Lehman from OP said, we are in a very position since we have not adopted the TIF yet, unlike OP, which is entangled in it.
Anyone have some other ideas on what to do with that money? It has to improve Riverside, especially the CBD - and you can't give Kafka $20,000 to pay his water bill.
my first impression - not necessarily the most prudent - is
*to buy some trees in the trainscape on north and south sides of the tracks. I don't know what that would cost. 2 trees per property and ?250? properties = 500 trees @ $100 each = $50,000. I am a tree guy. On this one, I'd probably not spend a standing $50k, but would rrather get it from a 'grass roots' campaign asking people to pitch in. 'sponsor a tree to welcome the people who pass by our town each day...'.
do we really know what it would cost to fix the infrastructure with the load bearing it has now vs high density?
*The $50,000 can also go towards fixing water pipes; it'll be less of a bond issuance.
*Hold it, earn interest on it, and plan out what we should do, and see how the VC and the other developments work.
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*spend some money on Public Relations - increase web presence, well placed brochures. This is probably a fraction of the $50k.
Today coming into work as I walked by the Sears Tower on Jackson downtown, I saw a bunch of tourists with their cameras. They looked like just types who, if directed, could take a quick 20 minute train ride from Union Station only a short block from the Sears Tower, to Riverside and have a walking tour. Some guy or gal or both will have a Bike place so that they can rent out BIkes in the center of town, and they can tour our lovely town this way. The can possibly make a biking day of it and connect with the Bemis path.
Or they can take the trolley to Brookfield zoo.
*EDIT - I see Kim's idea. get that guard over there. one quick question on the guard: wd at least some of the cost for school crossing guard come from the d96 budget? But one can now quickly see how taking away money from one taxing body, the schools, removes that money the body had. Little kids cannot wait 23 years for the crossing guard. Good idea, Kim.