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Register Star, April 19, 2008
My View: Mall
builder giving empty promises
By Elizabeth Nyland
Greenport
Two years ago the Widewaters company came from Syracuse to Greenport proposing a huge shopping center that would produce a lot of money because it was going to offer shopping experiences not possible here, and through that it would put a lot of coins in our coffers via increases in property tax and sales tax revenue.
While all during the approval process Widewaters seemed unable to name any tenants, they continued to assure everyone that the tenants would be fine retailers who would provide goods and services so needed by the residents of the area who found themselves needing to travel great distances to find what they needed because it just wasn’t available in our stores. They promised their stores would fill that void.
And, all through the approval process, the Widewaters assured the Greenport officials that they would pay their taxes; would not ask for tax relief. They also assured the officials that they would retain ownership of the parcels they need to sub-divide for some reason having to do with tax benefits. They said over and over again that they, Widewaters, would own all the land and buildings on it.
So, given the promise of grand and varied shopping, no tax relief requests, and single property ownership, the Greenport officials said Yipeee!! And proceeded to grant Widewaters the needed site plan approval. That was about a year ago.
During the past year Widewaters has floated many appealing names before the public, stores that would be welcome and help to keep the sales tax here. But, now what? Only one signed lease, a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Just what we need.
And, all the appealing retailers seem to be off the list of possible tenants. There may be a Lowes, a Verizon store, an Applebees and a branch of Kinderhook Bank. But, none of these have yet signed on the dotted line. And, even if they did, they would not provide the new merchandise or the variety and depth of shopping so desired by the residents. No, those who now have to leave to shop will still have to leave to shop. And retail sales along the Rt 9 strip in Greenport would probably be stagnant.
And, now Widewaters appears to be so badly off that they need our tax money to build and fill this shopping wonder with tenants. So, one promise not delivered and another broken. What about the third promise – to retain ownership of the entire parcel? Well, that one is broken too. While Widewaters seems not to have actually purchased any of the land yet, Wal-Mart has purchased a parcel that was sub-divided at the request of Widewaters. So, another broken promise.
Now we know from first hand experience that Widewaters is not trustworthy. If they get their way and persuade the IDA to grant their request for tax aid, including reduction or dismissal of a very large mortgage tax, Greenport tax payers will be the ones to suffer most, but they won’t be alone. Everyone in the county could see their county tax bill go up. Someone will have to provide for our needs and it won’t be from those promised increases in taxes if Widewaters gets the rebates they want. So, it will have to be us.
We would all be subsidizing a business that is way too big for us to support anyway, one that will in all likelihood lead to the closing of some of your favorite locally owned stores as well as an increase in our taxes. Not a happy situation, is it?
Please tell the IDA that this is not the kind of business you want them to make tax deals with. Tell them to save those deals for businesses that make something, don’t just sell goods made elsewhere, and who pay living wages for the work they provide. The IDA wants to hear from the public, so please tell them this is a request to deny. Just do it before the 22nd – next Tues.
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