City of Columbia Approves Bull Street Deal

The City Council took a vote, and by a 4-2 margin, the City is going to sign a certain contract with a developer and move forward with the Bull Street development.

The agreement commits the city to the $31 million in public aid for water and sewer lines, streets and other utilities and possibly an additional $40 million for two parking garages and the baseball stadium that would double as a concert and civic-function venue. The deal also saves from demolition five major buildings on the nearly 200 year-old state mental health facilities campus. But the agreement leaves most the remaining 40 without any protection.

I really hope this development works out. I think the City needs a baseball stadium about as much as it needs Sherman to ride through again, but that's just my opinion.

Hopefully, it works out. I thought it was interesting that Councilwoman Devine didn't vote because she had a "prior commitment". Could that be a possible way for her to have hedged her bet?

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/09/2854206/new-crowd-groans-as-attempt-to.html#storylink=cpy

Wal-Mart Coming to Downtown Columbia?

If you want to be heard, there is a public forum on December 19, 2011 at 6:00PM at 701 Whaley. I don't live over on that side of town, so I don't really have a dog in the fight. The only thing I would say is that I think putting a Wal-Mart there is better than not developing the area at all. It would be one thing if there was an alternative plan, but I haven't heard any alternatives. A good plan executed now is usually better than a perfect plan executed later.

On the practical side, a Wal-Mart would provide a convenient location for USC students in the area to get cheap stuff for their dorm rooms, and it would probably be the closest grocery store to them.

I understand that some people are against Wal-Mart because they fear it will put smaller retailers out of business, but I'm not really buying that argument in this case. I like being able to go to Wal-Mart to buy certain things very cheaply. Oh, and it will bring some jobs and tax revenue in to Columbia - that's not a horrible thing.

If Permanent Press had a vote (and it doesn't) it would vote to allow Wal-Mart to develop the property rather than let the dilapidated baseball stadium just sit there.

Anyone disagree?