University of North Dakota

[HoustonCajun]

Some similarity to what is going on at UL. Interesting public/private partnership involved in development of retail and housing.

At North Dakota what comes after Memorial Village Phase I?
https://blogs.und.edu/press-releases/202...l-village/

Meet Memorial Village Phase II.
https://www.grandforksgov.com/home/showp...5078670000

Before these was the Pollard Center (indoor FB/300M track facility).
Phase I is football-centric (offices, attaches by walkway to Pollard).
Phase II is a new softball facility (MVII attaches to MVI via skyway).
Both I and II have public/private spaces with retail and housing.

[ZoomZoom]

If there is money to be made, private money wouldn’t need government money.

Taxpayers have been keeping downtown propped up for decades. Northgate Mall, same thing for decades until they’ve quit reconfiguring crossovers with 49 coming.

Drive Congress street between the thruway and Ambassador. Drive Ambassador between I-10 and the river. Lots of empty business locations. Discretionary money has moved across the river…and isn’t coming back. Drive the Plaza Village and a few other neighborhoods that were new and had young couples in the 70’s.

It’s like a crazy uncle…everybody can see it but nobody acknowledges it.

[VObserver]

If there is money to be made, private money wouldn’t need government money.

Taxpayers have been keeping downtown propped up for decades. Northgate Mall, same thing for decades until they’ve quit reconfiguring crossovers with 49 coming.

Drive Congress street between the thruway and Ambassador. Drive Ambassador between I-10 and the river. Lots of empty business locations. Discretionary money has moved across the river…and isn’t coming back. Drive the Plaza Village and a few other neighborhoods that were new and had young couples in the 70’s.

It’s like a crazy uncle…everybody can see it but nobody acknowledges it.

That's what zoning ordinances and other city planning tools like special taxing districts are for; trying to force private money into economically unfavorable locations that fit with whatever the local government deems favorable for their planning goals. Private money always follows the path leading toward maximization of economic benefit for the investor, regardless of government incentives or prohibitions.

[ZoomZoom]

That's what zoning ordinances and other city planning tools like special taxing districts are for; trying to force private money into economically unfavorable locations that fit with whatever the local government deems favorable for their planning goals. Private money always follows the path leading toward maximization of economic benefit for the investor, regardless of government incentives or prohibitions.

Bingo. And the taxpayers’ money, via LPTFA, is used like downtown’s personal piggy bank.