government

Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan

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Ronald Reagan

Today is the 100th Anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth.  It’s been interesting to see both Republicans and Democrats try to lay claim to Reagan’s legacy.  Willie L. Brown appeared on Meet the Press today giving his take on how much Barack Obama is like Ronald Reagan.  To paraphrase Mr. Brown, President Obama was held back from showing us this in the first two years of his presidency by the progressive left that controlled the Congress and Senate.  Really!?!  Wow!

Ronald Reagan accomplished many things in his two terms as President.  It seems both sides now look back on him positively with nostalgia.  Here are a few of Ronald Reagan’s best quotes from The Quotation Page as a reminder of what he stood for and why he was called “The Great Communicator”.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.“
 
“Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.“

“I don’t believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.”

 
“If you’re afraid of the future, then get out of the way, stand aside. The people of this country are ready to move again.”

“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.”

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”

“The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. ”

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’

 

“To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last–but eat you he will.”

To learn more about Ronald Reagan visit the Ronald Reagan Library website here.

Culver Garden Court – Rezoning

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The Plan Commission met on its regular third Tuesday night last month.  Rezoning the newly annexed properties on the south side of Culver was on the agenda.  Unfortunately, they did not have a quorum.  The meeting was rescheduled for the following Monday (Monday of last week) and the hearing was held then. I was unable to attend the hearing as I had a scheduling conflict.  I sent a letter of support (see it here) and I understand the rezoning was passed without remonstration.
 
I was a little surprised that the Plan Commission did not follow the Comprehensive Plan recommendations which I would have interpreted to suggest this area should have been zoned R-2.  The Plan Commission did zone the northern third, which included the McGee Property and the newly subdivided Garden Court Parcel to R-2 as per the agreement with Mr. McGee, but the remaining 2/3rds were zoned R-1.  My letter cited various references in the Comp Plan, but my source on the Plan Commission said that the property owners in that section preferred R-1.
 
Unfortunately, I think this may have been a lack of understanding or foresight on their part.  The basic difference between the two zonings is the density requirements and the allowance for multi-family development under R-2.  There is very little that can be done under R-1 that can’t be done under R-2.  (See the Use Matrix in the Zoning Ordinance here).
 
A continuing theme in the Comp Plan is affordable housing.  The Comp Plan is extremely dated as it was completed over 10 years ago and the housing issue has not been corrected in the past decade.  Allowing higher densities in housing is one way that housing can be made more affordable.  Higher densities are also a goal of the green movement as it promotes more efficient use of land and infrastructure.
 
In any case, I’m pleased to see that the Plan Commission has taken the steps to upgrade the zoning in this area and plan for future development. The Town Council has taken steps to extend water and sewer to the northern third of this area.  That project will be underway this Spring and was necessary for the construction of the Culver Garden Court.  I think this is a positive step for the area and may be the first step towards seeing additional housing starts in Culver.

Bass Lake Shore Club BZA Hearing

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The Shore Club LogoWe have been working with the new owners of The Shore Club to reopen the restaurant on the north end of Bass Lake.  I remember going to The Shore Club for years and I’m excited that we’re involved with its rebirth!

Last Thursday evening we appeared before the Starke County BZA to request a Conditional Use Variance to allow the restaurant to reopen.  It was heartwarming to hear the reminiscences from those there about past good times at The Shore Club.  There was even one unsolicited audience member that we didn’t know who stood up and voiced her support!

The Variance was required because of the gap in restaurant use between the time the restaurant closed and now.  The property is in a Residential District.  The Variance was granted unanimously.

The new owners look forward to reopening the facility as a restaurant and banquet center.  We will be doing interior remodeling and some minor exterior remodeling to bring it into line with ADA standards.  The interior will be updated and modernized.  There will be revisions to increase the parking for the facility as well.  We are excited to be involved with this project.

Culver Garden Court/Bureaucracy Rant

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It seems that a day doesn’t go by that I don’t get asked about the status of the Culver Garden Court Project.  I’m not sure why I should expect this phase of the project to go any smoother since it took years of promoting the project before finding a generous property owner willing to work with Garden Court for a site.  Now that we have a site and the Town is behind the project and HUD has approved the funding, we have hit another wall of bureaucracy.

It is particularly frustrating when President Obama has been talking about expediting shovel-ready projects for the past two years.  Is this how you expedite a project???

Time line:

July 2010 – Project Funding Announced:  Generally on past projects the funding is determined and announced in the Spring, often in time for us to have an early to mid-summer start.  This year the announcement was delayed until late July.

August 1st– Garden Court, Easterday Construction and B.A. Martin Architects meet to discuss finalizing plans.   Garden Court attorney applies for the 501(c)3 status with the IRS.  (HUD requires that each Garden Court be its own, separate, 501(c)3 non-profit entity.)

August 15 – Plans complete and sent out for bid.

September 1 – Prices in.  Budget met.  Easterday Construction is ready to go!  No 501(c)3 status.  Can’t close on property.

September 15 – HUD would REALLY like to have this project close before their year end of September 30th.  Can they help expedite the 501(c)3 approval with the IRS?  No.

September 30 – HUD year end passes.  No 501(c)3 status.  Project can’t close.

October 31 – Another month passed.  No 501(c)3 status.  Project can’t close.

November 30 – Another month passed.  No 501(c)3 status.  Project can’t close. 

December 10 – We had been nursing hopes of still starting but Winter hits with a vengeance.  Even with a closing, we would not be able to start, but… No 501(c)3 status.  Project can’t close. 

Present – As of this time, nothing has changed.

This project is not funded with “stimulus” money.  This project falls under HUD’s regular budget.  Washington is talking about expediting projects and they can’t even get their regular projects out the door in a timely fashion!  Is it any wonder that stimulus money remains unspent 2+ years after it was budgeted?

There are a lot of good people involved with Garden Court Projects.  The people at the local level are extremely dedicated to making these projects above and beyond the norm and the genuinely care about their elderly clientele.  The Open House for the LaPaz Garden Court we just finished was heartwarming as usual, seeing all of those involved come together in the celebration of a new facility.  The new residents were there to help celebrate and seemed thrilled with their new home.  And it is a home.  Garden Court strives to make it so.

My understanding is that the initial hold up with HUD’s funding was not at the local (Indianapolis) level.  The people at HUD in Indy have been wonderful to work with on the last couple of projects.  They seem to particularly like Garden Court projects and make a point to introducing the Garden Court representatives to their superiors at HUD when we are there for closings.  Our site inspector for LaPaz Garden Court, Vera Atha, was knowledgeable and showed genuine interest in how the final product would serve the elderly residents.  This hasn’t always been the case and it was refreshing!  We were pleased to hear that we will be working with her again on the Culver project.

The hold up with the IRS is puzzling.  As mentioned above, every one of the Garden Court properties is its own 501(c)3 corporation , so this isn’t something new nor is it an unfamiliar entity making the request.  The Garden Court attorney has done this in the past, so there should be no issues with paperwork.  To the best of my knowledge there hasn’t even been a request for additional information.  We are assuming that now that we are into the holidays, it is unlikely that there will be any movement on this until after the first of the year.

To repeat, President Obama wants to expedite shovel-ready projects!  How much more shovel-ready can you get???  To paraphrase the MasterCard Commercials:

  1. Project Funding in place?  Check!
  2. Property under contract?  Check!
  3. Plans complete?  Check!
  4. Municipality requirements met?  Check!
  5. Budget met? Check!
  6. Contractor ready to start?  Check and double CHECK!
  7. One piece of paper from the IRS that is currently holding up the entire project?  PRICELESS!