No exit ramps for business owners
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
The dispatch reported yesterday:
[City of Columbus] council members approved plans for a new city-owned parking garage at 4th and Elm streets Downtown. Their action allows the Capital South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. to move forward with plans to levy a special assessment on about 50 property owners within 800 feet of the project.
One of them, Due Amici restaurant owner Jeff Mathes, said a few big developers are forcing the financing scheme on everyone else. Former Capital South Director John Rosenberger said property owners accounting for 80 percent of the $5.7 million expected to be raised are on board with the plan.
In addition to the assessment, parking income and property taxes on new and renovated Downtown buildings will pay for the $15.3 million garage.
Why force area business owners to pay for a parking garage? If the garage is really needed, a private company can build it and make their investment back by charging customers to use it.
