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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Team Garret Flummoxed On City Hall Project



The Guardian learned today about the City Hall catalyst project not going to happen as origianlly planned.

It would appear Team Garret and Urban Renewal have pulled in their horns on a new city hall and TVCC. Mayor Nancolas and Team Garret have been receiving flak from every direction on all their spending for a new city hall nobody really asked for nor do we really need. That leaves TVCC on the table to move forward.

It would not be a surprise to have the Mayor come out and announce they are back to plan "A" for TVCC at Sky Ranch. The other idea floating around town is TVCC will locate downtown in the Oppenheimer project building sans a new city hall. Some of this was hashed out at the Caldwell Economic Development meeting Tuesday of this week.

No doubt TVCC will move forward, the only question is will they be downtown or out at Sky Ranch OR??? The downtown plan for a combination TVCC/City Hall has unraveled due to lack of funds. More than $7 Million is in the coffers of Urban Renewal as of budget time last August to spend on the "CATALYST PROJECT". (reads..non revenue generating)

Meanwhile TVCC has come back to Urban Renewal for more than $40k to fund rent at the Mercado building because they will not be on target to occupy any new digs financed by Caldwell Urban Renewal.

It has also been learned, a developer for a new Fred Meyer in Caldwell has finally gotten the "green light" from Team Garret to gain access from his property to Hwy. 20/26. City Officials have had the project bottled up for several years in bureaucratic red tape.

Fred Meyer store location will be on Hwy 20/26 between Aviation and Smeed Parkway on the south side of the highway. The Principals in the Fred Meyer project brought in their lawyer and word is the threat of a big dollar lawsuit swayed the Mayor an his Team into clearing up access issues to Hwy. 20/26.

Once again, we have a great example of a city without a plan. No plan, no world view and reacting as they stumble forward managing growth. All of the studies including the Leland Report languish in the dust heap at city hall. Money spent for these studies reports and plans is called into question.

There are also some rumors about St. Lukes Hospital and their plans (plight) on the opposite side of Hwy 20/26 as well. St. Lukes owns 117 acres on the north side of 20/26 ans seem to be having similar access issues to Hwy 20/26. St Luke's paid $13million for the property in 2006 and to date nothing is happening to develop the property.

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