Seriously. Does it affect your community? Your neighborhood? Your future? Your taxes? Your Government?
Filed under: Charles Pointe, Economic Development, Harrison County Commission, TIF
Archives
-
Top Posts
- A resident of Charles Pointe shares the wonder of it all
- Has Wal-Mart buried Mom and Pop stores?
- Why Talk Show Host, Reuben Perdue, ain't the Man!
- Moved the Clarksburg comments in "About" here
- Smoking in WV
- Judge Drew Crislip expresses thoughts on election loss
- About
- Does Charles Pointe Matter to You?
- Clarksburg
-
Recent Comments
dadt on Bridgeport just look it up on Bridgeport Developer on Bridgeport Developer on Clarksburg dadt on Bridgeport
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme: Digg 3 Column by WP Designer
Charles Pointe got in on the new TIF statutory structure before the ink was dry on the books. It is done. White Oaks is marching down the same road. It is ironic that all these rabid Republicans are wholly dependent on government, and the taxpayers, for their intended successes. The whole thing amounts to nothing more than government subsidy for these private projects. The County Commission is going to have to make a formal, written public statement, as required by statute, that the project (in this case White Oaks) could not have been possible but for tax increment financing. This statement cannot be truthfully made. They’ve already broken ground, are lining up tenants with realtors, and have some active occupancy contracts. The beat goes on.
You can’t fault White Oaks, or even Charles Pointe. You can’t fault the County Commission. They’re all taking advantage of a situation that the State of West Virginia apparently created to be taken advantage of. Thank you.
corporate welfare at it finest how many more millions for jenny and co.?
If Charles Pointe were such a great idea it would prosper without all the government assistance. I am not anti-Charles Pointe or anti-progress…I am against how they are going about shoving it down our throats! Sucking money out of the County and the State, and most of all sucking the resources out of the City of Bridgeport and trying to put a knife in the backs of people who have lived in Bridgeport for 40+ years trying to make it a nice place to live and raise a family. Trying to steal our schools!! Trying to make Bridgeport proper the second rate side of town with the second rate schools!! Shame on the Mayor of Bridgeport and the School Board for jumping on the Charles Pointe bandwagon and “sticking it” to the people who voted for you!!
toni says it very well
Toni, good points, except for two. You say Rabid Republicans are wholy dependant on government. In the case of Charlespoint this may be true, but it could not have happend if our elected, Democrat commissioners would have had the kahunas to stand up and do the right thing. We keep electing the same people, people who’s first concearn is to be re-elected.
So why can’t we blame our County Commission? Are they elected to keep the status quo? You state they are just taking advantage of a situation that the State of West Virginia apparently created. Well if it’s not in the best interest of the rest of the county, then why do our commissioners “rubber stamp” it with their approval. In-fact, the state mandates that these applications go through the county commission(or a class II, I city council) so the public has a local voice in the project. Lets be honest, we elect people who ride the fence and look for where the next vote will come from. The Harrison County Commissioners stand for nothing and fall for everything.
READ some of the names in the “Re-Elect Ron Watson” ad in today’s paper.
We can’t lay the blame squarely at the feet of the Commissioners. As I recall, no one from the public stepped forward to ask question one about the Charles Pointe TIF.
Because investigative reporting would be, ahem, “challenging”, the Exponent-Telegram did nothing but puff about The Great Kingdom of Charles Pointe. This is coupled with the fact that there is no legal (and little factual) precedent for what has been done so far.
The Commissioners are interested in responsible development. Without more, without some digging into the chicanery that abounds at Charles Pointe and White Oaks, the TIFS seemed like good developmental ideas at the time. No one showed up to challenge the White Oaks TIF either. Even after Woody Thrasher made a public statement in the paper that they could have developed the site without the TIF, not one word of public outcry was heard. The Commissioners are supposed to represent the public. They did.
With simpleminded optimism i believe that they are currently in the process of waking up to what has been done: to them, to the County, and to future County interests. Bitching abounds, but no one has suggested any better alternatives. At least these Commissioners have some experience in dealing with the predators. And, another ray of light: I don’t think any of them are on the ol’ payola. There could be worse alternatives: Cutlip ran for County Commissioner, remember that? You want someone like that in there? Maybe the ad, paired with increased readership of this blog will nudge an intelligent, qualified and committed candidate to the forefront and it will all be academic. Literally. I don’t think the ad serves as a deterrent. Au contraire.
PS: The same thing is happening right now with Home Rule. Public ignorance? Public apathy? With Home Rule, when Jim Christie is the Potentate of Harrison County, when he is buying schools with Bridgeport’s money, when he is fulfilling the promises of annexation to White Oaks, and fulfilling other promises to local developers, when he gets slap-happy TIFing the Charles Pointe CED, individual buildings at Charles Pointe, readjusting current TIF parameters, selling all kinds of bonds, cutting more deals on building permits, “rebating” more taxes–and doing it all under cover of the coveted HOME RULE– boy won’t the blogosphere light on fire? At least empty verbal catharsis feels good, and heaven forbid won’t embarass anybody. That’s all Folks!
Toni,
I couldn’t agree with you more. From what I have experienced, very few people are willing to have their name associated with any opposition to these groups or stand up and oppose anything from school bonds to TIF applications. Behind closed doors and at their monday morning/lunch meetings, they complain until they are blue in the face but refuse to get involved publicly. Most of them are worried about the possible financial ramifications of getting involved so they sit back and complain in private while the ship gets steered in the wrong direction.
Therefore, I agree that apathy is our number one enemy and I agree that we can’t lay the blame squarely at the feet of the county commission for the reasons you stated, but I do think they failed the county miserably by not policing these TIF applications better in order to make sure they complied with the statute in all ways and were limited in scope in order to protect the taxpayers of Harrison County. Frankly, I don’t think they really understood them completely either. I do know there were a few who publicly opposed the TIF applications including one local accountant who correctly questioned some of the numbers in the application, but the opposition was nowhere near what it should have been considering the sentiment of the public.
Regardless, the commissioners(Angotti, Watson,Fazzini) knew full well of the public opposition/concern surrounding the TIFs but really didn’t do enough to ensure the TIFs were “responsible” development and for that I find fault in their actions. I also agree with you that it could have been worse(ie Cutlip) but we still need a new direction for Harrison County in both the commission, local city councils and board of education, and hope that qualified candidates step forward who are willing to stand up to the special interests that are ruining our community. I know it is hard to say NO to your friends, business peers and neighbors as this is a small community, but you cannot do things to benefit your friends/business peers at the expense of the rest of the county and then later on defend your actions by saying no one showed up to oppose the applications. These guys(Angotti, Watson, Fazzini) were chosen over other candidates like Cutlip for good reason and were entrusted by us, the people, to do the right thing and not cave in to special interests, but they failed.
One last comment, your view of “HOME RULE” is right on target and more people should oppose the application as there is no confidence in the current leadership in Bridgeport to “do the right thing”. FYI, the Charles Pointe School might be a done deal before the Home Rule application can be reviewed and approved as the HCBOE has already applied to the SBA for funding for the new school saying it was at the top of their “needs” list ahead other schools like Lumberport Middle which is a SHAM. The people of Bridgeport and Harrison County need to oppose the application for the Charles Pointe school by contacing Dr. Mark Manchin(Governor Manchin’s cousin) of the SBA.
Mr. Manchin’s email:
mmanchin@wvsba.state.wv.us
Also, contact your local legislators and other members of the SBA and let them know of your opposition to this school. The SBA website is
http://www.wvs.state.wv.us/wvsba/ and every effort should be made to contact each member including Governor Manchin and plead with them to deny funding for the new school as it wasn’t their greatest need; it was their greatest want! Special interests will win again if the SBA approves funding for the Charles Pointe school and the taxpayers of Harrison County will lose as a new bond will be floated soon to take care of the real “needs” of our county schools while the SBA money is wasted on a school where no one lives, needs or wants it except for the individuals that will benefit from its construction/location.
Charles Pointe and White Oaks matter to me.
The majority of my high school class as well as those in the years before and after have moved away from Harrison Co. (Charlotte, DC/Baltimore, Pittsburgh, various Florida regions). Many of the rest currently are trying to find jobs in other states. I’m so glad that there is some expansion to the Harrison Co. area with White Oaks and Charles Pointe, including the new hospital.
For those who have moved after college:
1. There are few available jobs for our majors or specializations. Specifically, there are absolutely none for mine. Some of the dreams of White Oaks and Charles Pointe would easily change this.
2. I would not send my future children to any Harrison Co. schools. Bridgeport schools were falling apart 15 years ago when I was in school. Simpson and Johnson need torn down (especially Simpson), and the high school’s facilities are beyond sub-par. Harrison Co. needs new schools. Renovations won’t do. Period.
3. West Virginia needs to join the 21st century. Everyone protested the change of the state motto to “Open for Business,” but this is exactly what the State needs to do.
For example, I live in an area that is also developing, like Harrison Co., but I can walk out my door and shop OR enjoy a walk in a large park preserve with public park facilities OR easily get to work. I can also take a short trip on public transportation to unlimited other activities. Technically, I could live without driving and do so as much as possible (and I do not want to give that up).
From a planning standpoint, I somewhat studied land use in school, and this is by far the best way to plan a community, with less sprawl and more multi-use areas. Google “sprawl” if you don’t know what it is. Smart multi-use planning is how it used to be done but was lost throughout the past several decades. This is why areas in or near major cities with a community feel are still so popular (i.e., Georgetown, Shadyside). Across the world, communities are again being developed by this planning method with much success.
I’m am definitely not saying to completely destroy residential areas. However, Harrison Co. could use some diversity, especially when such a wonderful opportunity for smart development is placed in our laps. Could you imagine waking up, dressing, putting the kids on the bus. Then crossing the street for a cup of coffee and bagel, walking a couple blocks for work, stopping at a market on the way home with fresh meat and vegetables to cook for dinner, then taking the kids to the park? All without having to drive? All without cement and skyscrapers, but instead nestled within rolling hills? For me, it’s idyllic.
Harrison Co. has the opportunity to become one of THE leading areas in West Virginia. It has such beautiful nature landscape that I long for every day. Such natural beauty coupled with a more modern mindset could bring in a new era of community living to us all.
Maybe it gives some of us young, smart former-Harrison Co. residents a reason to come home, because there sure isn’t anythng keeping us there now (besides family – but that isn’t always enough).
I know it’s the reason I’m keeping my eyes on the Harrison Co. developments. Even with White Oaks and Charles Pointe, 99% of Harrison Co. doesn’t change….but that 1% could be a new beginning for so many of us who need a change to bring us home.
sunny,
I appreciate your comments. They are so “idyllic!”
If it were just as easy as you say. I made a decision to stay here after college (and grad school). I had offers for employment out of state, but that is not what I wanted…others do, and I say do what ever makes you happy. You, sunny, obviously felt you should leave the area, good for you. But, when you leave you lose your voting rights here. You are obviously so far removed from the situation here that you don’t understand the problems at hand. No one is bashing development, or multi-use planning, and most of all NO ONE is saying “KEEP OUR OLD SCHOOLS!” We want new schools! We just don’t want a new school where one doesn’t need to be. We expect our elected officials to take note when we vote NO, and do what is right for the greater good, not just their wealthy friends. Surely, you understand the reality of money constraints for public education. In this situation, it furthers the argument against the Charles Pointe school, since it is the least needed. The citizens of Bridgeport who have spoken out against the Charles Pointe school would love to tear down Simpson and build a new school, but on the site and in the block where Simpson exists now. We would love to tear down Johnson and build a NEW Johnson near where it exists now! See, sunny, many of our kids DO WALK to Johnson and Simpson NOW, because these schools are located in neighborhoods where children live NOW and by the way, I know people who walk their kids to Simpson and then walk down the hill to Almost Heaven for pastry & coffee (sounds like something you said)…if they build a school at Charles Pointe everyone who attends school there would have to be driven to it NOW, since less than a handful of students live near the site…much less GREEN… everyone driving out to the school where no one lives wasting all that fuel. In the future, there may be a need for a school at Charles Pointe, but certainly not now. Sunny, if you lived here you may have read the newspaper or spoken with someone knowledgable on the subject to let you know that the only reason that the powers that be want a school out at Charles Pointe is so they can use TIF (google tax increment financing, if you don’t know what it is) money to run infrastructure into their residential area, because without the school they have been forbidden to do so.
I do agree with you that multi-use would give some diversity to Harrison County. The choice would be welcomed, but it is certainly not right for everyone. Since you mention future children, you may not relate to living with your kids in a residential neighborhood with little traffic except for those who live in it and the peace of mind that offers a parent who may not feel the same if there is retail and other businesses just across the street with shoppers and employees driving in and out, largely people you don’t know.
And as far as Georgetown or Shadyside, I hope that never happens in Bridgeport, most of us live here because we don’t want to be in or near a major city.
Any opposition to Charles Pointe has been because of the way the developer and his political connections have swindled the taxpayers, not opposition to development, multi-use for otherwise.
Just thought you’d like the opinion of a young, smart CURRENT resident of Harrison County who has the benefit of actually knowing what the issues are and are not.
Incorrect Statement- the TIF bond has already been approved and the job has already been awarded. The job was won and awarded to a local Bridgeport company.
“Sunny, if you lived here you may have read the newspaper or spoken with someone knowledgable on the subject to let you know that the only reason that the powers that be want a school out at Charles Pointe is so they can use TIF (google tax increment financing, if you don’t know what it is) money to run infrastructure into their residential area, because without the school they have been forbidden to do so.”
sunny, I heard where there is a perfect place for you. The Univ of Michigan.
Chaz,
The job may have been awarded to bring the infrastructure into the residential section near where the school site has been proposed (I’m not sure if that has happened)…but if the school is built there then the developer can use TIF funds for this. If no school is built, the developer will have to use private dollars. Even if the job is completed now with private dollars and a school is approved in the spring and built, the developer can go back and categorize those dollars under the TIF.
Sunny….you should have learned the facts before your post. Please stay where you are and I ‘d suggest you retake your “somewhat studied land use” courses again. You obviously missed a few days study.
I CHOSE to stay here – incorrect again. The TIF financing can only be used for public infastructure. The roads leading through most of Charles Pointe will be public and therefore covered by TIF financing.
Concerned and Dickrod- grow up a little. You guys sound like you should be on a college football message board.
The main arteries through Charles Pointe will be covered through TIF. The road that would run through the school zone will already be covered even if there is no school.
Chaz,
Believe me if there weren’t a $$$ benefit to putting that school there, the developer and the mayor would not be fighting tooth and nail to get it. You are close but no cigar. The roads to retail (you would assume a public road to shopping) and residential areas were removed from the the TIF, call the governor he removed it!
The developer needs a new elementary school for this TIF’ed farm land. While the rest of the county elementary schools are consolidated and neglected, we (TAXPAYERS) will build the developer a new school to help the developer sell houses. Everyone loves a new school, right? In-fact lets move existing businesses to I-279 so people have to drive out of their way to go to work or take their children to day care (and possibly a school). Maybe if/when the hospital is finally built; this developer will be able to get things off of the ground. I mean, he has so much at stake being a developer, right?
(I thought a “developer” was someone who takes a calculated risk in real estate. Where is this developer’s risk?)
What a Joke! The Feds build a 4 lane through this property, the State of WV gives the “OK” to move UHC to this site, the Harrison County Commissioners grant the TIF, The Harrison County School Board builds the school(s), Bridgeport Council is on board with providing costly services to this site, now….. all we need is you. That’s right. If you think you were on the wrong side of the tracks before, now you know.
I can hear the radio ad now.
Buy your dream home @ Charles Pointe now, before your perceived property values go down else where. That’s right. We will crush the property values of Stone Wood and Nutter Fort by taking the hospital traffic out of their towns. Their businesses will surely suffer with out people traffic. While the children from these two towns and the City of Clarksburg are forced to be bussed to the largest elementary school in the state (1,100+), Charles Pointe will boast a 340 student school to educate your children. The towns of Salem, Lumberport, Lost Creek and Shinnston, uhhh, if you have the $$, we want you too. And if you are a resident of Bridgeport, then by all means, trade up. Newer and better neighborhoods, new schools, closer to the hospital, new fire station, what more can a home owner ask for?
In this small community that we call home, Harrison County, we have been duped once again. After 30 years of hearing that Bridgeport is the best place to live (it may be, I have friends that live there) we are now to believe it is Charles Pointe. What about the property owners across this county who pay property taxes now.
Will the Tax Assessor show a loss in value when these properties begin to suffer from this rush to help one property owner in the North Eastern end of our county?
Bravo, my two cents!
Now what are we going to do about it? We have to get people to this school bond meeting on January 7th at RCB. Go and tell the school board…no school at Charles Pointe, WITHDRAW your SBA application!! When they don’t …We have to contact our legislators and tell them NO, and Dr. Mark Manchin at the SBA and tell him do not approve the Harrison County BOE application for Charles Pointe! We have to start with this battle and then move on to the war…but if they win this battle, I don’t know if there will even be a war to fight. No one in Bridgeport wants that school at Charles Pointe and no one outside of Bridgeport wants that school at Charles Pointe…we have to ban together to stop this.
Please get involved and call your family and friends and ask them to get involved…it doesn’t matter if you don’t have kids in the system, this will affect us all.
Everyone seems to be an intelligent, educated, freeking athority on progress being made at Charles Point/White Oaks/YMCA/Schools, etc.
I have to go along with one of Mike Queen’s statements about “elected officials.” If you think it’s so easy, step in there and take it on and oh…… be prepared to work night and day and that includes weekends and holidays and to spend 50 – 60 K (or more) of your own savings to run for an office (so that you are in NO ONE’S POCKET) and certainly thicken up your skin to accept daily, constant ridicule for every thing that is not the way the big mouth town cryers want it!
The County Commissioners obviously have vision for a better Harrison County and they are working very hard to make this county one of the leading areas in the state. I dont live anywhere near Charles Point but I think it is awesome and I cant wait to see White Oak.
In this case, I dont think the loud few are going to change the way the silent majority think! Some people just like progress (and yes, I call this progress).
So put your big girl panties on and deal with it!
There is always going to be someone smarter, better looking, doing it better ….. stop whining and do your own thing. Stop bitchin’ about someone else, who got it right!