Redevelopment: What didn't happen last night?

Most of the time, the news is what does happen. The actions of public leaders etc. Sometimes it is the things that do not happen. Last night was such a night.

On the agenda for the Redevelopment Authority was the Night Owl TIF application and project report. As readers will recall from last month, Mr. Ardisson had gotten the application at last months meeting, and was was in the midst of redoing the plans and wanted to start construction on June 1st.

The RDA urged him to wait till they had a chance to see the plans and offered to have a special meeting so they could review them. They did not want to have him begin and then ask for approval.

Last night, Gred Ardisson did not appear at RDA. And no TIF application was received.

Here is my speculation: At last meeting in the audio you can hear Greg talk about the double whammy of the project---he would lose the income from the business plus incur the costs of construction. My speculation is that there is a third whammy---the surprises of construction estimates and the problem of having the numbers come out even after TIF assistance. The rough estimate had been a $400,000 project with about $80,000 in TIF constribution.

Today was a flurry of activity on East Main. The dry wall being delivered to The Economy store for upstairs, the front of the old roller rink being removed and construction activity picking up----but no action at the Night Owl.

So---will the Night Owl be restored during the construction or not?

Stay tuned.