First, a very Happy Mother's Day to All! We hope everyone has a lovely day cherishing those special nurturers and role models which help the living learn to laugh loudly, love passionately and embrace enthusiastically this thing we call life. Speak out at the Town Hall on the Broadmoor Land Exchange, Monday, 5/9 at 6pm at City Hall. 107 N. Nevada Avenue. 719-385-5986. Sign up to speak for 3 minutes at beginning of meeting. For those of you who have not seen them, here's a link to the released appraisals (5 CORA denials the we know of were filed to get these): https://coloradosprings.gov/proposedlandexchange Of note are a couple of times: 1. The Strawberry Fields parcels are the only ones coming in under County Assessor values -- by about $600,000. Assessor values put Strawberry at $2.2 million. The RESTRICTED appraisal puts it at $1.6 million. 2. What is a Restricted Appraisal? You should do your own research, but here are a few sites we found which discuss the limitations of restricted appraisals. Pretty incredible stuff. Ask that Mayor (copy City Council) why he is not questioning this suspect data and allowing our land to be so carelessly evaluated which will not, of course, garner the highest value for the citizens. http://www.appraisalcolorado.com/value-vault/commercial-appraisal-report-types/ A Restricted Appraisal Report contains minimal detail/content and can legally only be relied upon by the client, not any other party. This type of report is not appropriate for most appraisal situations due to the fact that it contains minimal details and content. Further, this report type may not be understood without additional information contained in the workfile that is not transmitted in the report. http://www.appraisers.org/Disciplines/Appraisal-Review-Management/arm-news-and-events/2014/01/07/2014-15-uspap-modifications-released A Restricted Appraisal Report might not include sufficient information for the client (no other intended users are allowed) to understand either the appraiser's analyses or rationale for the appraiser's conclusions. http://www.ccim.com/cire-magazine/articles/evaluating-appraisals/?gmSsoPc=1 USPAP does not allow a restricted report to be used by anyone other than the client or someone intimately familiar with the property, so a summary or a self-contained report must be prepared if other parties will view the appraisal. Appraisers cannot recertify this type of report to other lenders. 3. Look at the comps which were chosen for Strawberry Fields and ask how those compare to some of the highest value real estate in our City which surrounds Strawberry Fields.The SF comps are (1) Manitou Section 16. (2-3) two TOPS-purchased parcels on the top of Cheyenne Mountain, (4) a Turkey Creek parcel way south of the city, (5) a Rock Creek parcel also way south of CS, and (6-7) two parcels off Hwy 115 -- again way south of the city. Ask for a copy of that workfile. Don't you think the Stratton Open Space is a much more appropriate comp. Using the Stratton $18,131 per acre purchase price of nearly twenty years ago, SF would still come out at $3.5 million. Seriously, do they think we are dumb? 4. Look at the comps chosen for the Incline. Flat land. What? The Incline is one of the steepest terrains in our city, thus, the name. The only appropriate comp is the parcel the City owns which abuts the Broadmoor parcels directly. That would bring it in at $3,000/acre or, $469,000 using Assessor records. 5. Speaking of the Incline. Ask about the engineering study (there is not one) and cost/benefit analysis (does not exist) which shows the taxpayers what kind of long term burden we will be assuming. We know, so far, it's up to $2.9 million. Laws of Physics and Mother Nature ensure this will be an ongoing liability -- into perpetuity. Wouldn't it be a good idea to understand exactly what that means? 6. Ask the Mayor why he is willing to take our land which we can enjoy for FREE and give it to wealthy out of town guests who he does not represent? Why would he ask his own constituents to walk the perimeter of the land peering in at rich visitors enjoying land that used to be ours? It's like something out of the French Revolution which did not work out very well for Louis XVI. What does "public access" mean? Who can afford to rent the outdoor entertainment center and horse rides planned thus far? Look at current prices charged -- $6.50/Rice Krispie treat, $8/S'more, $14/person for a cupcake station, $16/burger, $7.75/craft beer, $55/hour per horse ride, about $800/round of golf (including greens fees, room night if you are not a club member and dining), $135/person for a zipline ride...etc... 7. Can you imagine the Aspen City Council giving the meadow in front of Maroon Bells to Ritz Carlton? It wouldn't happen -- nor would the Aspen business community get behind that either. We do have principles. This is America. Our parks are for EVERYONE and, especially, the wildlife that calls them home. Photo creds to: Thank you Amy Niswonger for capturing this Mama and her 2 cubs having woken up from a long winter's nap coming through Strawberry Fields 2 days ago. It's THEIR home. They are not interested in loud parties and pony rides. Have you given yet? Give for these guys: https://www.generosity.com/animal-pet-fundraising/protect-their-home-save-strawberry-fields--4/x/13872378