Trueblood, you proposed knocking down half the 19th century buildings in the area, keeping the ugliest building in the entire downtown, and creating parking lots everywhere. Please at least read a book on urban design before you delve into amateur planning again.

I can't afford to go to the Armory either, so why should I have to pay more in taxes for something I can't even afford to go to?? I say let the owners of the Armory buy their own parking lot!! If I owned a business I don't see the city buying a house to tear down to give me more parking! Plus I knew someone who used to live in that house in the downstairs apartment, it was cute and she liked it alot. Is it rented out right now? if it is someone is going to lose their home because of a parking lot!

If we are going to do something to improve the deficienies of developing an entertainment district in the west Milwaukee St. area, why do it piecemeal, why not develop at overall startegy that doesn't appear to just favor one business and one prominent family?

Here's a link that has ideas to further the whole area while still protecting the residential area on the south side of Court St.

http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2007/nov...

It all about vision, and it appears that vision in Janesville died with Ken Hendricks and the only reason his visions went forward was because he had the money to bypass the Janesville status quo!

Oh no, I guess I lost my secrecy with this post.

Wait'll B'moon hears about another architectural "treasure" going down!

There are other similar venues in town that have had parking issues and the city in both cases (Holiday Inn & Pontiac Convention Center) made the local business owners purchase more parking on their own dime. Why is this case different? Why does JPAC get to count on-street parking into their capacity? It seems a little fishy to me.
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I am just saying.

woodsman: a tax increment finance district works this way. The city creates the district. Developers come in and improve properties. The properties are assessed at higher values. But the tax INCREMENT (increase) is used to FINANCE (fund) improvements only in or to the benefit of the district.
http://www.wisctowns.com/incremental_fin...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_increme...
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The benefit to developers is in the funding made available, which can include loans, no-interest loans, and grants, as well as direct spending that creates a desired amenity -- in this case a bus facility. The Armory project was possible because of TIF funding in the beginning and has already resulted in improved parking on the adjacent streets. In other words, this funding structure has allowed the creation of a brand-new successful business and employer in downtown Janesville. The only direct cost to the taxpayer is in the loss to the general fund of the TIF income from the increased value of the improved property, but at the end of the district lifetime, that will return to the city's control. The idea is that without the TIF, the development could not have occurred, and the assessed value and tax revenue would not have increased.
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The city has created over 20 TIF districts since the 1970s, which have improved the downtown (Main Street), industrial parks, and commercial zones, along with incidental residential development. Kenosha used a TIF to develop condos where the Chrysler plant was located. A TIF will almost certainly be used to redevelop the GM site if and when the time comes.
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In the present case, every year, the TIF basically has its own little budget. This is money that cannot be transferred to the general fund. Thus the city must use it for improvements within the district. The money comes from taxpaying property owners within the district, who will benefit from the improvements. It does not come from taxpayers outside the district, even though we all benefit when there are successful businesses creating jobs in our city.

Hey--let's paint every downtown biulding emerald and pave the streets yellow--the downtown will be revitalized just like we have been told for 30+years--and they can visit the wizard! (shoud work--shoud'nt it?)

Speaking of the ice arena...if there is a group of people willing to put money towards a new one, why shouldn't the city HELP towards the cost. Am I the ONLY resident of Janesville that thinks that if the city can help businesses in Janesville bring more business to Janesville and more people spending money in Janesville, not only should they do it but I think they have a responsibility to do it?

Answer me this; Who put the monies in the TIF in the first place?? Where does it originate from?

janesvillean...at least there are two of us that understand this!

Once again, THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE DISTRICT, not the city's general fund. The money cannot by law be used other than in or to the benefit of the TIF district. This DOES NOT increase your taxes. This WILL be paid for by the additional tax generated by the Armory.
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For all its location near our poor benighted Fourth Ward, it seems to be a success that people outside of Janesville well appreciate, and tour bus access seems like an appropriate enhancement of one of the few really bright spots in Janesville's downtown economy.
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woodsman, perhaps your comments are being removed because not only are you wrong, you're being abusive.

Don't forget about demolition cost to,45k and another to tear it down,there's 100k down the drain. How long to re coupe that to pay the tax payer back? The tax payer has NEVER recouped for the ice rink,business people these people are not.

WHY YOU ASK! Is because us tax payers can't afford anymore ventures that only lead to another dead end street ,at this time,anyway. In your way of thinking,the city tax payer should be spending more tax payer money to help "ALL" the businesses in town,right? Where does it end,when people have had enough of this so called unlimited funds that they seem to think we have. This town IS headed to be a ghost town just like DETROIT if a stop isn't implicated soon.

Or if the city sees an opportunity to help a private business, as long as it's good for not only that business but other area businesses as well, why shouldn't the city help out?

Who is supposed to run all these homeless shelters everyone thinks are better solutions?... Here's another scenario. Couple "A" comes from out of town on a tour bus to the Armory. They have a GREAT time. They go home and tell their neighbors, couple "B". Now couple "B" thinks about coming to Janesville, something they might have never considered before. So they come and go the Armory and decide to make a weekend of it and they stay at one of our hotels and then visit a restaurant or two or a store or two before going home. Look at that...money spent in Janesville because of that one tour bus and word of mouth. Why does everybody think it's so wrong for private businesses to ask the city for help once in awhile? That house is NEVER going to sell. Put the land to good use.

I am sick of the city spending, spending, spending. They cant take care of what we got now. I have holes in the road in front of my house. How did they get fixed the city filled them with gravel and left them. I have seen people biking with their kids wipe out because of this gravel in the road. Hey I have an idea council fix the s#%t that we have and quit buying more stuff that we cant afford to take care of.

Ths Blains own the Armory. Yes as in Blains Farm and Fleet. I think that they have plenty of money to buy the house themselves and provide their own bus parking. I am sure thst they can afford this. Is this the way the city keeps scratching every big buisnesses back when there are lots of people without jobs in need and cant get any. Hey I know why not buy the house fix it up and help provide shelter to someone who lost their home and has nowhere to go. Why when we can do our best to help millionaires get richer and then maybe they can scratch the councils backs maybe with some Farm and Fleet gift cards.

This place would make a much needed homeless shelter,or something in that order,rather then another parking lot!

Most of these people in charge of this town are suppose to be business people,of some sort,but just how much business expertise do they really have? Seems "EVERY" business adventure they have tried here in town,has "NOT" made any money for the city,just cost money for the tax payer,am i wrong? I don't think so!!

"every ticket and meal that is sold there is taxed and the city benefits from that"...
How? So they can buy another building, tear it down, and pave it over? To generate tax revenue so they can buy one more building, tear it down, and pave it over? Little more money there to buy another building, tear it down, and pave it over. Do I see a pattern here?
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"Wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round"

You folks are forgetting one thing. Yes the Armory is private. However every ticket and meal that is sold there is taxed and the city benefits from that. If buses find it hard to find parking in the area they will never promote the Armory as the place to come to see a dinner show. When outsiders consider doing a bus trip they usually go along with what the director of entertainment suggest from the bus company. Now you pessimist are trying to bring this all down and not look at the positive and bright side of this. I feel sorry for you folks. In the end you folks are the loser as no tax money is generated from lost bus groups. The cost of running this city then comes out of your pocket.

If we taxpayers are going to provide tour bus parking for the Armory, a private business, I hope we are entitled to an appropriate lease rate from that private business. That's how things normally work in the world of commerce.

I'm all for removing downtown "eye-sores" and helping businesses who are investing in our "core". More of this will help turn JVL's economy around! "Stop Urban Sprawl"

It is nice to get my blog removed,for telling the truth about our leaders of this town! I feel like we should say nothing about the way they waste our tax money,because when their is deaf ears that are not listening,why waste our breath,they have "NO" interest in our opinions anyway. I still think they have an agenda for the corn exchange too,pretty sneaky crap going on behind closed doors on the hill,and "NOT" in the best interest of the tax payers.

Wow the city council wants to spend even more money, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE! Come on people there is A big parking lot that the city owns right now on High St next to the Armory they could easily make that work for their parking woes, it's ample enough and resurfacing and stripping it in the rear of the lot for bus parking would create what they are saying they are after for far less dollars (our hard earnes tax dollars). Enough is enough, everyday if it's not about spending money we don't have it's about more job losses the two can't happen at the same time, lets fix what we have for now (quit buying buildings to tear them down only to build parking ie: see the corner of Court St. and Parker Dr.)live with thoughs, when this economic downturn turns around then and only then, should we be thinking about these types of things that yes may be nice, are not necessary right now! When we have less of the pie to feed ourselves right now we can't offer more of it to others, think about it that way!

After all, I really doubt I could afford to see a show there at $60.00 to $125.00 per ticket, depending on the performance.
Not that I wouldn't like to, but I just think it was too early to try establishing a high priced joint like The Armory down in the 4'th.
Start parking $750,000 Illinois tour busses down in that neighborhood and your going to see a whole bunch of resentfull citizens.

Anyone know who owns/manages the Armory Dinner Theater?
I can't see how it would be fair to Janesville taxpayers to have them foot the bill on a new parking lot for a privately held business.
Isn't like them tour busses are going to stop all over town and drop a ton of money.
Tour bus drivers are on a tight schedule. They don't drive around aimlessley, just waiting for a passenger to yell "Stop! I want to empty my wallet here"
Let the owners of The Armory buy that house and pave a lot on their own dime.

"Funding for the project would come from TIF No. 9", the article says. A TIF is a redevelopment district where the additional taxes generated by new development are spent only in or to the benefit of the district. I suppose they could gold-plate the sewer grates, but expanding the parking lot seems like a better investment of the money.

Um, tour buses bring people that want to spend money to Janesville. Once again, the city does need to spend money occasionally and if it's spent towards something that will in turn bring more money to Janesville, it's a good thing. I'd rather see a parking lot there than a house that will never sell and does nothing for the area.