Onward!

Reflections on St. Paul Square

Tonight the Valparaiso City Council voted 6-1 to pass Ordinance No. 14 – 2017, designating the proposed St. Paul Square development as an economic development target area, paving the way for the related tax abatements. And, though I argued against it, I don’t see it as a complete loss.

True, the number of units planned is more than six times greater than the lots would have provided as originally platted.

True, despite the city’s significant time and effort to make this major downtown project feasible, it does nothing to address the ValpoNEXT vision plan recommendations to explore solutions to both market rate AND more affordable housing.

True, the developer admittedly made misleading statements as late as September regarding the true nature of the project’s funding sources.

True, the fact that public assistance was to be provided first came out publicly only four days prior the first reading of the aforementioned ordinance.

True, the application of this economic development tool to this kind of project is, according to the city economic development director’s characterization of it, “atypical,” “not inexpensive,” and “very, very complex.”

Still, I left tonight’s meeting feeling optimistic and enlightened.

In two years, a blighted part of our neighborhood will have received a new breath of life. And it will be better to look at than what was there.

In two years, more folks will be working, playing and shopping in downtown Valpo. And, as a downtown small business owner, I think that’s a good thing.

In two years, there will be people living where there were none before. And we will welcome them with open arms because it’s in our neighborhood’s nature, mission, and interests to be inclusive.

And, if you still don’t like any of that, in two years, there will be an election.

Remember how this felt. Remember how this all went down. Remember that there is a better way. And remember to vote.