HomeMy WebLinkAboutA050 - Letter from Somerset Developers restating their opinion on tax abatement 02i09/01 12:49 FAX 515 232 5521 HUNZIKER & ASSOCIATES , Z0002
February 9, 2001
Mayor and City Council
515 Clark Ave.
Amcs, IA 50010
Dear Mayor and Council,
After reviewing the report from Zimmerman and Volk, the Developers would like to
restate their position on tax abatement.
The report indicated a number of things that we think make the abatement essential_
1. Expanding the market potential by correcting the housing mix. This
will require some re-platting by the developers. This will likely also
require abandoning some water and sewer services,paying engineers to
redesign and lawyers to redraft abstracts and legal descriptions. The
Developers will likely do this in some areas. Any re-platting must be part
of an overall revamping of the subdivision.
2. What is subdivided must be completed immediately. The Developers
have started three single family homes on Camden, one on Kent and two
on Somerset Drive. We plan to finish out the balance of the vacant lots on
Camden in 2001. However, none of the adjacent apartment buildings are
scheduled to be started this year and likely won't be without tax
abatement. According to the consultant, it is imperative to get the
apartments built in close proximity to the single family horses and the row
houses so that the buying public sees that they are tastefully done and are
no longer afraid of them.
3. We must have similar facing structures. The consultant said it is
essential for the buildings that face each other to be of similar size and
quality. I think both the Developers and the City staff can agree that the
design criteria should be pared down. The Developers are concerned that
if very much of the design criteria is changed on what is already
subdivided, the newly built buildings Won't look like they belong with the
existing buildings.
4- Offset negative market perception by generating more activity on site.
The Developers have contacted the two farmers inarkets that operate in
Ames to see if they are interested in relocating to Somerset Village. The
Developers also plan on holding community events this summer to help
with the marketing and to create abetter sense of community. The
Developers are in the process of setting up a Somerset Web site, creating a
Somerset newsletter and Somerset resident directory. All of these things
hopefully will help to create a more positive feeling about Somerset. We
also will improve our signage on site to direct people to our clubhouse.
We have a full time staff person at the clubhouse that has been involved
with Somerset since it's inception.
02 09/O1 12: 50 FAX 515 232 5521 HUNZIKER & ASSOCIATES Z 003
5. Market Somerset, not simply dwelling units.
The Developers feel like this will be hard to do until we get more of the
Subdivision done, We are actively pursuing several businesses. Cost is a
major concern for prospective clients. We collectively need to make some
of these things happen sooner rather than later. The retail businesses
could have a profound impact on the pace of development.
6. Adjust the plan to recover the traditional neighborhood characteristics
The consultant gave the Developers a number of ideas on how to fit the
problem areas and expand our market potential_ The Developers have
already implemented some of the ideas and concepts from the consultant.
The Developers appreciate the time and efforts of the City Staff and the consultant. We
have a better understanding of what needs to be done to get Somerset over the hump.
Some of the issues are easily resolved and some will take a lot of hard work and
compromise by both the City and the Developers. One thing is for certain, for Somerset
to be successful, it must happen sooner rather than later. If the abatement is not b anted
the Developers will continue to build, we have no choice. However, the construction will
be at a very slow pace, it will be several years before enough of the Village is done to
achieve the objectives set forth by the consultant. The Developers will build until the
ground that is currently subdivided has been built out, then we will ask for the balance of
the ground to be converted into a suburban residential development.
if the abatement is ranted, Somerset will be able to recover many of the aspects lost over
the past tb.ree years. Both the City and the Developer made many mistakes in the
development of Ames' first village. The Developers are willing to make additional
extzaordinary efforts to make Somerset viable. if we work together, this can still be a
fantastic development. The City Council needs to get firmly behind this Subdivision. If
the City isn't willing to step forward for something it once believed in so strongly, it will
be very difficult for the Developers to make Somerset one of the premier subdivisions in
Ames_
Sincerely,
Chuck Winkleblack
Somerset Developers
02/09/01 12:49 FAX 515 232 5521 HUNZIKER & ASSOCIATES 0 001
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