To: Andre Horton, Erie County Council
Ask Erie County Council to NOT GUARANTEE the financing of a publicly funded hotel on Erie's Bayfr...
I ask County Council to NOT GUARANTEE the financing of a publicly funded hotel on Erie's Bayfront.
Why is this important?
As we are sure you have been reading about in the news, Erie County Council has been asked to consider an Ordinance guaranteeing upwards of $35 million worth of bonds to be issued by Erie County Convention Center Authority to fund the construction of a hotel at the Bayfront Convention Center. In addition, it is important to note that the county has already guaranteed the initial $100 Million Dollar investment for the development of the Convention Center and the Sheraton Hotel. County Council’s action on this matter is imminent and we ask that you take a moment to consider whether this guarantee is in Erie County’s best interests.
While the initial investment was controversial, and remains so now as the Sheraton doesn’t pay any property, county, or city taxes, the investment the public made has helped create a demand on the Bayfront for additional retail, entertainment and hotel facilities. Quite simply, the government has done its job. It has created an environment that now makes it attractive for private developers to continue to develop the Bayfront.
Now, the Scott family, the largest hospitality developer in Erie County, with a proven track record is proposing a $150 Million Dollar Harbor Place project. This development includes entertainment, retail, office, residential, and the very hotels the Authority is looking for. Also, it is important to note that a privately developed hotel would pay taxes, and the proposed publicly funded hotel would not. In fact, upon completion Harbor Place development would pay approximately $4.8 Million dollars in taxes yearly. Now it is time for private developers, not government, to continue to develop the Bayfront. If the 200 room publicly funded hotel is approved, Harbor Place development will be in jeopardy. The county tax payers should not have to take on the burden of financing another hotel, when a private developer is ready to take this on.
I ask County Council to NOT GUARANTEE the financing of a publicly funded hotel on Erie's Bayfront.
While the initial investment was controversial, and remains so now as the Sheraton doesn’t pay any property, county, or city taxes, the investment the public made has helped create a demand on the Bayfront for additional retail, entertainment and hotel facilities. Quite simply, the government has done its job. It has created an environment that now makes it attractive for private developers to continue to develop the Bayfront.
Now, the Scott family, the largest hospitality developer in Erie County, with a proven track record is proposing a $150 Million Dollar Harbor Place project. This development includes entertainment, retail, office, residential, and the very hotels the Authority is looking for. Also, it is important to note that a privately developed hotel would pay taxes, and the proposed publicly funded hotel would not. In fact, upon completion Harbor Place development would pay approximately $4.8 Million dollars in taxes yearly. Now it is time for private developers, not government, to continue to develop the Bayfront. If the 200 room publicly funded hotel is approved, Harbor Place development will be in jeopardy. The county tax payers should not have to take on the burden of financing another hotel, when a private developer is ready to take this on.
I ask County Council to NOT GUARANTEE the financing of a publicly funded hotel on Erie's Bayfront.