Development: Timing is everything

Timing, as Ginger Rogers could tell you, is everything.

Not only did she have to do everything Fred Astaire did, she had to do it backwards and in high heels.

And she did, in perfect time.

So what's the Administration's excuse?

Continuing the discussion on development matters, there are issues of timing to discuss.

First, last-minute additions to Council agendas.

This is how the resolution designating the UCIA as the city's redevelopment agency was brought to the table in 2006 (see PT story here) -- and challenged by Councilors Storch and Davis at the time.

This is the conduct that led to Ray Blanco's sharpest -- and most entertaining -- tongue-lashings of the Robinson-Briggs Administration (see PT story here, and Plaintalker story here), leading to promises of change.

Ray, sadly, is gone -- and evidently so are the promises of changed behavior by the Administration.

One third of the way through the mayor's term, last-minute agenda additions look like a tactic to keep the public from being fully informed. It's hard to know if the Council is kept as much in the dark, since so much of the communication between the Council and the Administration is out of the public view.

Of course, there IS always the possibility that the Robinson-Briggs Administration CAN'T dance backwards and in high heels.

Secondly, timing is important in the designation of an area's being 'in need of redevelopment.'

Essentially, the clock is frozen for property owners, who are thrown into a state of limbo. With improvements being unwise under such conditions, and buyers being gunshy, property owners must face the prospect of possible eventual buyout under eminent domain, in which their equity in the property may have actually been damaged by the designation itself.

This can be disadvantageous for residential property owners. It can be downright disastrous for commercial and industrial owners.

Is there any way the process can be made more fair?

Not likely without more involvement of the property owners and the public at large.

Something to be devoutly wished for.

-- Dan Damon

View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/