Comments on: Hazlehurst: Prepare for future pitches of progress and prosperity http://csbj.com/2012/06/01/prepare-for-future-pitches-of-progress-and-prosperity/ Fri, 17 May 2013 17:29:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Bill Murray http://csbj.com/2012/06/01/prepare-for-future-pitches-of-progress-and-prosperity/comment-page-1/#comment-67597 Bill Murray Sat, 02 Jun 2012 20:07:19 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=54581#comment-67597 Welcome back John Still chasing the rainbow, but where’s the vision????? Headed north by the looks of things…
This is a pitch for progress and prosperity.
Are you familiar with the donut theory? Cities expand and create a hole in the center as the suburbanites leave the congested center. Over time, the property values and cost of movement to the center (if your job resides there) makes it a better fit to renovate and move back. Part of this process is the cost of fuel. Colorado Springs is not, at this time, close to the pendulum swing for movement back to the center. It is still growing out and up towards Denver.
We consistently pursue growth at any cost rather than the slow but steady multiyear plan. Part of this is consistently placing developers on the planning board. Also, any business is worth a tax exemption status of one kind or another. Please take time to read about WalMart’s new data center’s tax exemptions. It will employ forty jobs. No guarantee that any will be from Colorado Springs.
Try masking (think a tent like structure similar to Denver airport) the downtown utility rather than moving it. A lot cheaper and will improve the skyline. Let’s try to offer community/military housing solutions in the downtown area (mixed residential/commerical properties). Let’s try not to pocket from ideas that might help the city. Its call profiteering. Let’s use the new UCH lease and build a model university/medical community. We should approach all the high schools in the area and request A+ certification for all graduates. Plus, teaching an app class. Its amazing what you can learn from this process.
Finally let us tackle the hard question…Taxes. Instead of blindly signing a form that commits the candidate to no new taxes, talk about stormwater, PERA and roads/bridges.
The future is here and we can adapt or not. Telecommunications and IT education will reshape our entire environment. But only if we have it. Ball’s in your court…

]]> By: Diane Wengler http://csbj.com/2012/06/01/prepare-for-future-pitches-of-progress-and-prosperity/comment-page-1/#comment-67579 Diane Wengler Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:25:51 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=54581#comment-67579 Welcome back John! It will be great to read your column each week in the BJ.

Diane

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