HomeMy WebLinkAboutA032 - Letter from Deborah Krauth in favor of tax abatement g= DEBORAH S. KRAUTH
OE y 5 ���� 2417 BRADFORD DRIVE
AMES,IOWA 50010
QTl Ci�3"i1P\�
CITY OF ANIES,IMIA
Deember 11, 2000
To Mayor Tedesco and the Ames City Council:
I am contacting you regarding the issue of tax abatement for Somerset Subdivision. I am a resident
of Somerset, having purchased a town home on Somerset Pond last July. I have been very happy
with my new home. I have regular guests from other communities, all of whom comment on the
lovely and unique appearance of the subdivision.
I have made a substantial investment in my home. It is important to me that my home maintain its
value,and increase in value as has been my experience with other homes in this community. In order
for this to happen, it is important that Somerset Subdivision be completed in a timely fashion. I
believe the tax abatement incentive will jump-start a development that had a good growth spurt and
has lagged in recent months. While I think it is to be expected that a new concept in housing will
take some time to be fully accepted in the community, it is now very important that potential new
residents receive some incentive to invest in this type of housing. The benefit of tax abatement will
be to the community,the current and future residents of Somerset and the City of Ames as Somerset
-grows to be the showplace that was anticipated when it was started.
When the tax abatement issue was discussed at the last Council meeting, I heard Councilman
Quirmbach raise an issue regarding the cost of housing in Somerset. He seemed to hold the opinion
that housing could be constructed for less than$100,000.00 in Somerset. I must take issue with this
perception. It is not realistic for any new construction to be done for that amount of money in this
community and in this economy; it is even less possible in Somerset where the Architectural
Guidelines add substantial dollars to the already high cost of construction. Any savings because of
the smaller lot size is more than offset by the additional costs of the Village. Please be realistic
about the cost issue.
As a resident of the City of Ames and of Somerset Subdivision, I speak in favor of tax abatement
for Somerset.
Sin c,�i ely
Deb; Krauth
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