January 24, 2005
Looking Back/ Looking Forward
Hindsight is 20-20.
The mission of the DDA is:
"to correct and prevent deterioration in business districts".
The law's definition of the DDA district is:
"downtown area zoned and used principally for business".
In 2000, the DDA annexed huge area to their taxing district. This annexed area is overwhelmingly residential, all waterfront and hardly deteriorating in any sense of the word. The North Shore Drive lakefront area and the riverfront are the hottest, richest real estate in town.
In 2003, the city attempted to REzone the North Shore Drive peninsula
(Dyckman southbound to the North Beach) to be an unprecedented zone they named "traditional resort neighborhood". This would have changed the completely residential neighborhood to allow business development. It was roundly rejected by the residents.
Hindsight has me wondering: Was this an attempt, 2 years after the expansion of the DDA district, to bring the newly annexed DDA area into compliance with the law?
Hindsight should also help the council know where DDA's billboard plan for the Interstate will lead if allowed. In 2003 DDA invested $60,000 in advertising banners that were in stark violation of the sign ordinance. The council got them out of their jam by changing the ordinance to fit the banner plan. Has this made DDA more cautious or attentive to the law? No. The new billboard plan is also in stark violation of the ordinance. Hindsight says they will ask the Council to change the ordinance again.
It's time to focus our attention in the present to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Posted by Elaine at January 24, 2005 07:11 AM