So the City of Danbury's Common Council meeting was rather interesting last night. From the residents who spoke up at the beginning of the meeting, to the budget presentation, to the outburst of Councilwoman Taborsak, it was one that you shouldn't have missed. Since there is so much to talk about, and I don't know about you but I hate reading a long blog entry, I am going to discuss the budget in more then one post.
The meeting opened with the usual time for residents to address issues on the agenda and the biggest one was without a doubt the BRT apartments and the city's tax incentives for the company. Both sides brought up some good points, some argued that the apartments were never supposed to be for college students and that college students wouldn't bring the income to downtown that everyone was told residents of the new apartments would do. I can see that point, looking back at my college days I was pretty much broke all the time but I always managed to get enough for dinner out or to enjoy a night at a local bar both of which are within walking distance of the new apartments. Others complained that parking would be an issue but Westconn is already planning on adding shuttle service to and from the apartments to both its campuses and parking garages. Others complained about partying and the effect of college students taking little care of maintaining the apartments, but again Westconn has addressed that issue by planning to run the apartments as they do dorms with RAs to make sure things don't get crazy and I'm sure apartment inspections will take place at the end of the school year forcing those who didn't mainatin their apartments to pay for any damages.
I agree that the apartments and incentives weren't approved based on the fact that they would eventually become like Westconn dormitories and I would even question if the city should give BRT all the incentives it promised and maybe even have Westconn contribute alittle but in the end the apartments will bring people downtown, whether they be familes or students, and would developers really consider building in downtown if there weren't incentives? Westconn is an asset to our city and I think we should give the plan a chance and maybe next time the city can take better care of putting the details in their contracts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Great job Mayor, more fire and police personnel are an asset to this city!
I hate long posts too. Let me ask all of those who oppose the BRT tax incentives....Don't you believe (I know a leading question) that BRT should be commended for building housing in Downtown Danbury? Nothing has been built in years. Nolan just maintains and Dasilva lets things go to pot. If the former Amphenol site becomes a reality it will be good for downtown. Right now there is nothing good downtown. The restaurants are always empty, I don't know how Two Steps stays in business. The historical aspects of the buildings are being destroyed with flamboyant colored advertising and inattention to upkeep. Danbury needs a whole new set of downtown landlords and soon.
If we show possible future landlords and builders that we are unfriendly as a city and recind tax breaks and don't give any in the future to encourage them it will be a very bad sign and there will be no hope for downtown.
I agree more firefighters and police officers are a plus.
My take on the BRT building on Crosby Street is that it is a great place for young people to bring a different view of downtown Danbury, however, WCSU can't be branched out all over the city. Why wasn't another apartment building or dormitory built on the campus, either west side (Mill Plain Road) or Midtown (White Street)?
I wonder what downtown business owners think about this issue.
Downtown dining especially on the weekends is great. Two Steps, Ciaos, and the newest addition Bella Luna are great restaurants for city center.
Two Steps and Ciaos draws a great bar crowd on the weekends and I think having college students closer to this area of town will increase the flow of business during the week.
Maybe this is the start of the change we have all been looking in downtown Danbury. I know as I drive the Main Streets I see nothing but what we're all complaining about. (Illegal Immigrants, Spanish/Latino/Ecuadorian shops, food stores and little dining places. Bringing new faces to downtown will definitely change what I see everyday going to and from work. What I'm seeing now is horrible especially as I can recall what Danbury used to be like years ago. Let this be the beginning of a good change!
Good job to Mr. Mayor & Council last night.
Post a Comment