With so much debate about the Waterfront, I want a chance to hear from you. Over the weekend, the City Council was presented with two visions of the waterfront. You can read all the information here. The primary difference between the two approaches is what happens to the privately owned land on the waterfront; is it developed under current or modified zoning both of which allow for 5 story buildings, or is the land purchased by the city to be turned into parks.
The first plan recommended by city staff calls for 5 acres of new parkland, new flood control systems, continuous public access along the waterfront and new art and history features. It also includes new rules to control parking and to closely manage through design and zoning controls any development that would occur on the private land along the waterfront. This plan costs over $50 million and would take 25 years to fully implement and pay for and is designed to be paid for by tax revenues raised off of any new development.
The alternative plan presented Saturday includes the same flood controls, art and history concepts, but calls on the city to buy the private land on the waterfront and turn it into parks. This plan would add about 10 acres of new parkland. This proposal would cost over $200 million dollars and does not directly create tax revenue to pay for it so would require the City to raise taxes on every household by about $400 per home. Supporters of this approach believe they could raise some private money to help offset some of this cost.
