Thinking of starting a Business in Downtown Racine? Great! You can get building cheep! Look at 522 6th St. Sold for 40K YES! that’s right a building that was assessed a few years ago at 700K sold for less 10% of what we are told this great building one block away from city hall is worth far less then my home is worth. Wow.
What does that say for the real worth of Downtown? Let’s ask this question how are the Businesses Downtown doing? I think for shit.
Why do I care easy! We tax payers are spending lots of hard earned cash supporting of just what 1.5 squire?
Question is 1) how much money is being dumped in this area? 2) When if ever will the gravy train end? 3) for what? How does this spending help the real issues of The City like lack of jobs?
From what I see Porter’s has done NOTHING and no one knows why? I think nothing will get done to the point of taking bets (I only bet things of no real value like Gum) if it ever starts.
in 2012 we are told about the project 2/9/12
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/porters-of-racine-to-become-million-redevelopment/article_caec008c-5358-11e1-a2d1-001871e3ce6c.html 2/9/12
RACINE — The former Porters of Racine’s owners Thursday announced a $5.5 million redevelopment of the building into 37 apartments and seven ground-floor retail spaces.
The renovated structure at 301 Sixth St. will be named the Porters of Racine Building, said developer Micah Waters who co-owns the property with his uncle Bob Waters. The name refers to the high-end furniture store that lasted 152 years before closing about two years ago.
During its final months, Micah Waters, an architect, and his firm, Signature Architecture — also at 301 Sixth St. — began working on a reuse plan for the 80,000-square-foot structure that started as nine different buildings….
Then after some time we have this 7/13/13
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/porters-project-moves-ahead/article_133b80fa-eb7a-11e2-972a-001a4bcf887a.html
RACINE — Construction could start for a major Downtown redevelopment, the $6 million Porters of Racine project, within two months.
On Friday, developer and building owner Micah Waters said they are now about halfway through the process of doing architectural drawings with a structural engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer and plumbing engineer. Those drawings must be submitted for state approval — not the City of Racine — because of the project’s large size.
No local permits will be needed; as soon as Waters has state permits, interior demolition can start.
“With the adjusted construction schedule, it looks like the beginning of September” for construction to start, Waters said. Construction is expected to take about 16 months, which would have the project being finished by about the end of 2014.
Note this quote ““With the adjusted construction schedule, it looks like the beginning of September” for construction to start, Waters said” …
Now its 12/13 and still nothing. NOTHING We are told everything is in place but….
Maybe nothing will after all even the Hot Dog guy cant make it in Downtown Racine
http://journaltimes.com/business/local/top-dog-hot-dogs-closes-downtown-store/article_dd4088ae-6f93-11e2-9b87-001a4bcf887a.html
“RACINE — Top Dog Hot Dogs owner Caleb Robinson has closed his store on Monument Square, but the head of Downtown Racine Corp. hopes to eventually get him another storefront.
Top Dog’s last day at 520 Main St. on Monument Square was Friday. Without elaborating, Robinson said he had loans and tax obligations that required him to slash overhead.
“It seemed like for every step I took forward, I was taking two steps back,” he said Monday…”.
Note this quote.. “Robinson said he had loans and tax obligations that required him to slash overhead. “It seemed like for every step I took forward, I was taking two steps back,” he said Monday…”
In other words he could not sell enough Hot Dogs to pay the bills with taxes leading the list.
That is if you pay your taxes, we know from other reports we have businesses in the great downtown that are not paying taxes from Sales to Propriety Tax.
We know that the County is paying the City the property taxes that are owed but to me does nothing to seize the buildings that owe the back property . Why is it the job of Union Grove to pay the taxes owed by Downtown Property owners?
Might this photo explain?
Worse we are told that if we just get more members of the GOP in Madison things will change but I think not
Getting to think that be it GOP or Democrats its all a game. SAy what the Sheep want to hear and drive on after all its all about the money, who gets it and how
I hope I am wrong but I think not. Lots of ways this helps from votes to maybe envelopes put in cars like happened in Kenosha County.
Of course with no real change in Racine or Downtown Racine other then looting and crony Capitalism end result will be a fleeing population and crashing property values
See example
Not long ago this was assessed at 700K now Downtown property is falling in vale
But be happy, Mayor John Dickert is going to Mexico! Did your really need your street light? Did you truly want the street plowed? Hey look at the City Hall Bathrooms! Who did the Bathrooms? Did you see the nice ad on Belle City TV for the Hat store? How much you think that cost?
Racine, is it a corrupt place on the Great Lake?
Racine in Ruins a Muckrakers Dream 