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Monday, August 4, 2008
BRAD BOLLINGER,
BUSINESS JOURNAL EDITOR IN CHIEFWith last month’s agreement allowing developers of the SMART transit-oriented development near Railroad Square to purchase the 5.3 acre site, the unique and visionary project now stands a chance of moving forward.
The $180 million project had been mired in a dispute over what the land was worth.
There were some claims the property could fetch $10 million to $15 million. But the project’s development partners argued, apparently successfully as of last month, that the value was likely closer to zero given the important but costly public elements and the presence of toxics.
Until the true market value could be determined through testing and a realistic appraisal and it could be shown that developers would have the freedom and ability to deliver on their promises, the project stood little chance of securing financing.
The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit development, with its Food and Wine Center, parking, affordable and market-rate housing and retail, now has that opportunity.
Still, huge hurdles remain.
The developers need to raise $25 million to get the project off the ground. They will be seeking funding through the 2006 voter-approved Proposition 1C bonds aimed at transit-oriented and infill development. They are also looking at other bond financing and the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The developers of SMART and nearby projects already have invested millions of their own dollars in large part because they sense the opportunity to be part of a visionary project.
“I love the site,” said one developer, calling it “a balance between preservation and the environment.” And the project has “so many uses that are very good for the community,” he said.
The Railroad Square area was once the heart of Santa Rosa, and it could be again.
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Brad Bollinger is editor in chief and associate publisher of the Business Journal. He can be reached at bbollinger@northbaybusinessjournal.com or 707-521-4251.
Filed under: Electronics and Computers | Tags: blogging, microsoft, software, w.blogger, windows live writer
I’m playing around with Windows Live Writer. I tried to use w.blogger, but haven’t gotten it to work with WordPress. I would prefer it, or anything else to a Microsoft solution, just because of all their hooks, requirements of additional api, dll, etc.
I can use tags with this, but not categories. I like categories on WordPress just because I can click on the categories I put in, meaning I just have to spell it correctly the 1st time.
My solution is to post as a draft, then edit online.
There just isn’t enough WiFi hotspots, and I can’t afford any of the cell-phone broadband rates.
Ok, it isn’t wordpress tags either.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: aids, hiv, homosexual, homosexual marriage, immorality, same sex marriage
Yeah right. The problem with that view and sexual relationships, is it ignores the spread of disease. By continuing to spread disease, it also allows those diseases to Mutate, possibly becoming stronger, but also making it harder to inoculate against.
Lets take AIDS/HIV. It is not an easy disease to get now a days. With blood tests, it is unlikely to get it through blood transfusions anymore. The main reason people get it is sexual immorality, and drug use. There is some who get it from being raped. It is not their fault. If people would keep their private parts to themselves, a vast majority of new AIDS/HIV would be prevented. Think about it though, once infected, you will either die, or live a painful life, taking expensive drugs. Why not just prevent it?
The CDC came out recently came out with the the estimate for 2006 of new AIDS/HIV, 56,300 people. The top percentage was men who have sex with men at 53%, add in another 4% for those men who have sex with mean and inject drugs. The Homosexual lifestyle come in at 57%. The homosexual lifestyle is really a homosexual liestyle. A lie, that it brings happiness. It brings death. Why do we allow good people to die? Why not speak up, and prevent some of these deaths? The heterosexual lifestyle didn’t come up much better, 31% plus another 12% for those who also inject drugs, 43%.
