Greetings Wall project prevention team, Tomorrow (Monday) evening, the Village Plan Commission is holding a special meeting (6 pm; Village Hall) related to the creation of and boundary changes to TIF District #8. The village has expressed an interest in removing the 2nd Street portion of the proposed Wall project out of the district, but this does not fully stop the proposal. While Mr. Wall would not get an incentive to construct the development on that site, he could still build on it. However, the village is still interested in retaining the Main Street portion of the block in the TIF for redevelopment. This would result in displacement/demolition of all businesses mentioned, some of the historic structures (including Packer House and Wanabike building), and most of the affordable housing. The village has new interests in demolishing the American Legion Post 360 building for senior housing, which does not seem right or fair to local veterans, and the historic Hofbrau Haus/Smitty's Bowling Alley structure for a large parking lot. What the building lacks in historical aesthetics it has inside with antique hardwood floors and moldings and historical community value. The TIF would make it easier for the village to demolish the remainder of the historic structures on Main Street (such as Ripp's Bar, Main Street Diner Building, Gold Nugget, Miller Hotel Building), effectively creating the "New Waunakee" that our Village Board seems to desire. While the village retained the historic Koltes-Riphahn building as part of the Hovde project, they built the "New Waunakee" facades to make the building blend in instead of standing out like it should. Our village would surely get more local businesses and tourism dollars if they retained historic structures like Mount Horeb, Lodi, and Stoughton have done. The Hovde project, while the developers claim that it will not be all the way up to the street, we have no doubt in our mind that it will be. The Hovde project has not been approved other than demolition of the site, so we can still do something about that as well. We need to show the village that we as citizens want a historic district downtown and not luxury/high rise apartments. We need to get as many people as possible to attend the meeting to encourage the village to take action on items below: Remove southern portion of Main Street's 200 block from TIF district to fully prevent Wall project Downsize the Hovde project and encourage citizens to attend further meetings (first one February 5th, more details in upcoming update) Remove Hofbrau Haus/American Legion properties from TIF district Encourage village in the public comment period to create a historic district and effectively end negative downtown redevelopment We want as many residents as possible to attend the meeting and hopefully fill the meeting room to capacity to prevent our town's historic structures from being fully destroyed and to help preserve affordable housing and local businesses. Our organization is not going to let the village demolish more historic structures or displace more low income residents and local businesses. The village is trying to make the town center an extension of Southbridge, and we are not going to let that stand. We as citizens must send a clear and urgent message to the Village Board that our downtown is not Southbridge, but its own unique entity. Our community's uniqueness and character goes away if demolition such as what was done for the Hovde/Madison and Main projects continues along with luxury apartment development. A village that destroys their historic structures and does not care about its low income residents is not one that deserves our tax dollars. Attending the meeting and collectively voicing our opposition shows our village that residents like you care about our business district and community, and that we all want to have court side seats on local affairs. We hope to see a large number of supporters and community members at the meeting and that some of you spoke before the Commission and provided comments. The meeting agenda is linked below. https://onbase.waunakee.com/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1129&doctype=1 In the upcoming election on April 4th, we need all citizens to use their civic duty of voting and vote for Joe Zitzelsberger and Erin Moran. Erin lives on Main Street and sees on a daily basis how the redevelopment projects have negatively affected the community. Joe lives in Meadowbrook and wants to make residents more aware of proposed projects and create a historical preservation committee and historic district. These trustees are not pro-growth and will work to end wealthy government domination in the community by better serving residents of working class areas and the original plat. We gave Joe a public endorsement, which you can read here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/electzitzelsberger/endorsements/?ref=page_internal Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/keepnortherndanecountyrural/ TIF District/Hovde Project Tribune Article: http://www.hngnews.com/waunakee_tribune/news/government/article_87d3d09e-1bda-586d-b123-e11df2855b2d.html TIF Hearing Article: http://www.hngnews.com/waunakee_tribune/news/business/article_a89c607f-d815-573f-973b-fb019d2aa856.html Emails and comments are always appreciated to help us improve our efforts. Constructive feedback is always welcome.