If the developers, or anyone else, want to risk their own money, then all the rewards should stay with them. But the historical developer MO in this town has been: get somebody else, (an investor or lender ) to put up the money, and if it works, the deveoper is a genius and rich. And if it fails, too bad. The investor or lender is stuck, while the developer moves on to his next ‘vision’…….

I have been in this town a lot longer than Mr.Sanders. His vision for the upscale boutique hotel kind of reminds me of the theme park that was going to be built up on the north end……remember that? The one that was going to be based on the American Constitution? Or how about the the NASA facility that was going to be built east of Shriever…..there were actually people, including the developer, who thought the space shuttle would land here. Or, the 27 floor mixed use retail, residential, and upscale hotel that was going to be built across the street from this project? All they needed was money and tax breaks……

The list of boondoggles,and the developers who thought them up, is long and distinguished. (some of these folks even moved on to other boondoggles, in places like Balize and Florida,………..)

But, as recent local events have proven, sometimes the Tooth Fairy really does show up…this time, in the form of the City Council granting the tax exemption to Mr. Sanders.

I suppose, at the end of the day, having an empty, but completed, building is better than the boarded up mess that exists now….

As a downtown resident, I can tell you that the choices are slim for downtown hotel recommendations to my out of town visitors. Antlers or…..the Albany? Clarion is nice, but it is not historic and neither is the Antlers Hotel. I hope that you, Mr Sanders, would make make Mr. Stratton proud in your renovations of the building. What a great way to restore the old and generate new business. An alternative to the Tejon st. party is most welcome…and I love Jazz. If you serve up live Jazz, I’ll be there often.

It all sounds like a great idea to me. How can we help you?

Monique Vollmer

1. We not only checked Antlers occupancy rates…and numerous other similarly situated properties, we checked their revenue per available room and all other relevant data by using one of the top hotel consultants in the world, HVS. Based upon their conclusions in their feasibility study and appraisal, we are moving forward. The fact that John Q. Hammonds has withdrawn from the downtown market does not mean that we will do likewise any more than it means that others will do a hotel just because we are doing one. On this point, Mr. Whitten’s comments are based in classic fallacious reasoning. We also return ALL calls and welcome tours of the ongoing construction.

2. We can pay for this project whether or not the city gives up tax revenue, but it does not mean we WILL do the project without the tax sharing incentive. A hotel which creates jobs and tax revenue is much riskier and requires much more cash equity than the safe alternative, apartments. Mr. Whitten misstates that we CAN’T do it without the city, but we have said since day one that their involvement will guarantee us doing a hotel and employing many people and creating lots of sales tax. We are not waited till years end to get a vote if we can help it, and I have actually urged the city to get this before the council as soon as possible with no concern for political timing. The project stands on its own. It is well confirmed by everyone who has taken the time to confirm I bought 100% of Mr. Marshall’s interest in May of this year and currently have only one partner, Raphael Sassower. This particular boogie man comment by Mr. Whitten is unfortunate but understandable. It just has no basis in reality.

3. We are specifically appealing to a mature crowd that wants an alternative to vomiting and trash, so these particular comments by Mr. Whitten should not concern anyone. This will be a classy comfortable establishment end to end.

4. Not interested in COPS and am merely requesting that we get to keep a portion of the NEW sales tax we will create in order to mitigate the risk associated with this project that will employ hundreds.

5. I will be contacting councilman Paige next week for a tour and explanation and strongly hope he will be a yes vote on our very good proposal. This is classic private sector capitalism helping solve public problems with a proposal that costs the City zero and nets them plenty of money and employs lots of people.

Thanks

Perry R. Sanders, Jr. (Colorado Springs, not Woodland Park)

3. We are fo

So, we get a downtown boutique hotel, that can’t be paid for unless the city gives up some of its tax revenue. (Are we sure Ray Marshall still isn’t involved with this booddoggle?) Anyway, what happens if the city doesn’t agree to the proposal? As mentioned, the developer won’t be asking for the tax break until the end of the year which, conveniently, is also after the election. Sometimes, timing is everything…….

Some of the advantages of the hotel include an adult comedy and jazz club. COOL!…now all the vomiting and trash and fighting can be extended from Tejon east to connect up with the vomiting, fighting, and trash on Pikes Peak Ave west of Weber. How lucky can we get?

The source of all these so-called advantages is, of course, the developer…….whose vision is influenced (or clouded …) by his attempt to get everybody else to help pay for it. Who says the Land of OZ doesn’t exist?

Maybe the developer could get the city to issue more COPS……..well maybe not, since Mike Anderson is going to retire…soon, apparently, so his retirement check isn’t effected by all the budget mess……….

This tax break request may be Paiges first real opportunity to display his professed common sense approach to governing. He will,of course, be out voted…….