Comments on: Wichita’s getting ready to plan

By: Wildhorse

Wildhorse — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:44:00 +0000

With all due respect, my friends, I place TIF up there with heroin and meth. Once you start, it’s nearly impossible to stop.

Well done, Bob.

By: Wichita planning firm hopefuls make pitch

Wichita planning firm hopefuls make pitch — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:13:13 +0000

[...] that we’ll want to get answers to. These are the important things I learned about during my trip to Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle development. Will Wichita pursue a freedom-friendly planning process as used [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:17:25 +0000

Hi, I’m totally against TIF districts for the following reason:
“Taxes generated from new property taxes within the district go to the project fund controlled by the TIF district, not to the City, the schools or any other taxing body.”
In my hometown (out of state), a city used a TIF district to build a new subdivision of roughly 50 homes. The school district gets no tax $ from these new residents, but has to provide for their education for the next 15 hears. Everyone should be paying an equal amount for equal services.

Mike

By: Downtown Wichita proposals not available to citizens

Downtown Wichita proposals not available to citizens — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:59:56 +0000

[...] districts and other forms of public subsidy. These are the things that I learned are important from my trip to Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle, if a city wants to plan in a freedom-friendly [...]

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:38:23 +0000

@ Oldphart – Sorry, I don’t have any sympathy for them. It’s just human nature that when paying taxes we want our property valued as low as possible; however, when it comes time to sell, everyone thinks they’re sitting on a gold mine.

Fact of the matter is when RD started buying up properties in downtown, the only real deals were the first couple of properties that they acquired. After that, the asking price started going up.

And no, I’m not asking the public jack for parking. I think parking is plentiful and people should quit whining. If someone who has a private lot wants to charge for event parking, more power to them. That’s the free market at work.

By: Oldphart

Oldphart — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:30:13 +0000

@ Pat Tell that to the businesses paying double their taxes. Increased property value? Are you one asking, “Now that the Arena is in place, lets ask the public how they want to create and pay for parking”. We need more billboards along Kellogg so people won’t have to view this blunder when they drive by.

By: Wichita downtown revitalization discussed on Kansas Week

Wichita downtown revitalization discussed on Kansas Week — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:36:38 +0000

[...] The article referred to is Wichita’s getting ready to plan. [...]

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:37:54 +0000

@ Craig – Read what I said. “but for the investment, there is no additional, new, incremental or increasing property tax.”-
BUT FOR THE INVESTMENT.

Secondly, since Real Development hit town, downtown property values reversed their downward spiral and have increased. Increased property values mean increased taxes. The fact that the values have increased is all the “proof” that you need.

By: craig gabel

craig gabel — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:45:59 +0000

Also pat if TIF’s are doing so well where is the proof. Two years ago you couldn’t find a parking spot near 2nd an douglas before 5 p.m., now you can’t find a single car in 3 separate parking lots. But the City gave Dave Burke almost a $1,000,000 to bring people into the area with apartments in the old WATC school building.

By: craig gabel

craig gabel — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:38:11 +0000

Pat you are incorrect in your statement about no tax increases.
I spoke to several small business owners that showed up for the Center City TIF expansion. All said they saw a 200 to 300% increase in property evaluations i.e. tax increase, created by inflated property values. These increased values were the direct result of anticipated use of TIF dollars for purchase and renovations. A prime example would be the Sutton Place, Michigan building, and Exchange Place. I was personally offered the Sutton Place for $300,000 a few years ago. I didn’t feel I could afford the repairs and pump the occupancy to make it pay. Now the City gives the Minn. Boys
$9,000,000 in TIF $ it totally changes there value, along with every other property in the area, i.e. Tax increase.