These last few months, I’ve watched the efforts of out-of-town developers to build a multi-use facility (by their account, a hotel, sports complex, and senior housing) near Whitewater’s east side roundabout.
Two quick, easy points.
First, this proposal was, in virtually every aspect, suspect and disreputable. Review of notes, recordings, and research into the developers’ plans and backgrounds over these last few months only confirms how odd – and substandard – every aspect of this was. Those in office who expressed doubts about this project, including at the Community Development Authority, represented Whitewater’s interests well.
I’ve not written about the project until now because it seemed certain that a majority was sure to see this for what it was. (It is worrisome that a few took longer than others to see these problems, and any discussions after mid December with these unconventional developers – and this is nothing like a conventional deal – would be evidence of poor judgment.)
In this way, as a deal it’s not so interesting; as an example of how some officials show greater insight than others it’s interesting.
Second, if one wanted to see how newspapers fail their readers, one need look no farther than a story in the Gazette: Whitewater City Council rejects proposed development, 2.19.16, http://www.gazettextra.com/20160219/whitewater_city_council_rejects_proposed_development. The reporter treats this as a conventional deal, with conventional developers, and the story even includes a helpful graphic about where this supposed complex was to be located. A review of the actual documents, presentations, and claims (made over several months) from these developers shows that this proposal was close – much too close – to B-movie science fiction.
Those who expressed doubts, especially those who had doubts early on, were right about this.
That land is ripe for a small upscale, high end grocery store, I.e., Sendiks, etc.
The east side is the place for a new grocery store. The students will always run to Walmart, never a grocery store. We have all learned that. Young people shop big box, not Mom & Pop. A specialty market would reap big bucks on the east side by us locals, university staff, etc. Think about it…
It definitely is a good spot, waiting for the right (and a better) deal than these developers offered.
Talk about understatement! These guys were (fill in the blank)!