The previous post generated some questions. What is the issue between public vs. private property. Why does the development need to be public property, or why does public property make this a necessity? Is the city’s plan to give the property to a developer? In this case the city will have to come up with the cash to pay off the FAA. Add that to the grant and the payoff to Price, the city is looking at close to $1,000,000. If the airport appraisal is realistic, the city would be better off purchasing I-44 property and forgetting about the airport. The airport property is appraised at $550,000 about $6800/acre. There is a listing for 100 acres in St. Clair for $1,500,000 at about $15,000/ acre. What’s the difference? Either the airport is undervalued, or the 100 acres is overvalued. The city needs to clairify the public vs. private property issue if there is one.
How is prime property worth 50% less than undeveloped property?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will buy it for 6,800.00 per acre and sell it for 15,000.00 per acre or just leave it a airport. I can do that because I'am so rich.
ReplyDeleteSimple. The airport sits on land the city already owns. The city cannot afford to buy land elsewhere. And no matter how you slice it, the airport is on city-owned land.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how you slice it, the city already owns the land the airport sits on. But it is obligated! The cost to repay the FAA will cost way more than the city could buy private land for. Why is that so difficult to understand?
DeleteWhere have you been for the last six years 11:51 AM? The Feds get all the money from the sale of airport property, and that includes everything attached to it. How much of your tax money are you willing to part with for a promise of a Chestefield type Mall.
DeleteThe city can't afford to be run into the ground by crooks.
ReplyDeleteI read this blog everynight just to see whats going on. Let me throw a real hanging curve ball to the anti-airport readers. What makes you think the airport is owned by the city of St Clair? Can they borrow money against it? Can it be taken away from the city? Does it have a lein on it? Does it have a written perpetual agreement? If you have a loan on your home , car, boat etc and you decide to stop making payments what happens? The loan department takes the loss but it is passes it on to the consumers. Yes the city has a written perpetual contract. Quit blaming the pilots they didnt cause these problems.
ReplyDeleteI believe the public vs private property selection is related to the city's establishment of a TIF district in that area to attract the magic development...
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