SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 3, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 10/7/14
In this edition:
*Homecoming
*Run For The Schools
*Center for Worker Justice
*Public/Private Partnership
*Did You Know?
*Homecoming
Homecoming
is the week of October 10 & 11. I love Homecoming! Even if you are not a
football fan, there are many great activities taking place. A complete list can
be found here: http://homecoming.uiowa.edu
I urge you to throw on some black and gold and have a good time!
Go Hawks!
*Run For The Schools
The
Run For The Schools is coming up on Sunday, October 19. There is still time for
you to register, donate, or both.
*Center for Worker Justice
Hopefully
you have heard of the Center for Worker Justice (CWJ). I have written about
this group in previous editions of Salvos. I am really pleased that we have
this group doing such important work in our community.
Whether
you know them or not, I urge you to visit their website at: http://www.cwjiowa.org.
In
addition, here is a 30 minute PATV video that tells you more about the good
work of the CWJ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1RN09mumbM&feature=youtu.be
*Public/Private Partnership
Johnson
County has been discussing a new Ambulance and Medical Examiner facility for
some time now. Both departments need additional garage and office space.
When
searching for a location, we have been targeting our current facilities
building at the northwest corner of Clinton and Benton streets. The county owns
about a third of an acre there already, and there may be an opportunity to buy
a bit more land to increase the size of the lot. (The current lot is large
enough, however.)
I came up with an idea a while back, and I think it holds great
promise for Johnson County. There has been very little press coverage of this
discussion, but I believe it is a critical decision.
Rather than simply building a building estimated at around $3
million, I suggested that Johnson County put out a request for proposals (RFP)
for a public/private partnership on the parcel.
Given Iowa City’s plan for the area, I think there is tremendous
potential to partner with a developer who would build a building that would
suit the county’s needs, and then put 3-7 floors of apartments and/or condos
above it.
Iowa City and Coralville have both done projects of this type. Jeff
Davidson from the City of Iowa City has been extremely helpful in answering
questions. From my preliminary conversations, it seems that Iowa City would
like to see this happen.
The benefits to a private developer are obvious – she or he now
has access to a prime lot in the River Crossings District. The site will easily
hold 50 living units. Just for easy math, let’s say our partner gets
$1000/month for 50 units. That is $600,000 annually. While I understand that
this is not purely profit, it is pretty conceivable that one could pay off a $6
million mortgage over 15 years. After the building is paid off, even more of
that becomes profit. I’m sure the numbers will work out a bit differently, but
you get the idea.
Iowa City envisions a 5-10 story building on that corner some day;
why not give the city what it wants? The market may not be there quite yet, but
it is coming. And we know it is coming. A new building is going up on the former
Mumm’s site. A new building is going up on the former Davin site. A new
building is going up on the former Sabin school site. Each of these is within
three blocks. Vacancy rates in Iowa City are less that one percent. By the time
something gets built, it will get filled!
Supervisor
Etheredge and I support the RFP. Supervisors Harney and Rettig are opposed.
Supervisor Neuzil is opposed, but chose to allow the RFP to go forward. So this
idea lives by the slimmest of margins!
The
benefits of this type of relationship could be many:
Cost
to taxpayers: Rather than spending $3 million to build, the county can get a
building for free or at very low cost. Why wouldn’t we try to save that money?
It is a no-brainer!
Riverfront
Crossings: A single story building in that area will be an albatross. We must
exercise some vision. In thirty years, do we want to be remembered for doing
just enough? Or do we want to be remembered as having had vision?
Urban
density: Iowa City does not need another single story building. That helps to
produce urban sprawl. We need to be going up, not out. Living units at this
site will be easily walkable and bikeable to every amenity.
Affordable
housing: I believe affordable housing is the most critical problem facing
Johnson County. This project would give us an opportunity to address that
problem. We have been given a tremendous asset – valuable land. Don’t we have
some moral obligation to put that asset to work addressing our biggest issue? Even
if we do not put any affordable housing in the project, increasing the supply
of market rate housing will help to keep rents down.
Increased
tax base: Every taxing entity (including Johnson County) would benefit
financially from several floors of housing, which would all be taxable. A
single story county building will produce ZERO new property taxes now and in
perpetuity.
So obviously, I see many benefits to this arrangement. I simply
cannot imagine why any of my fellow Supervisors are opposed. The two biggest
concerns I have heard are 1.) We do not want the problems associated with
managing a building; and 2.) The RFP process will delay the building.
I
think there are very simple responses to those concerns. First, I would never
suggest that the county do the property management. Either our private partner
would do that, or we would hire it done. Johnson County has at least 15
property management companies we could hire. That is what most rental property
owners do. So this argument is a red herring.
I
am also not overly concerned by the idea of a delay. I believe most Johnson
County taxpayers would trade a delay in the building for a multi-million dollar
savings. I have spoken with the Ambulance Director, and he is willing to put a
new building on hold in order to pursue this. He is our expert, and he believes
we can make things work for a while. I agree with him. And we are pretty
resourceful – we’ve needed a jail for almost 30 years, and we have managed to
adapt. A one or two year delay here would clearly be worth $3 million plus
future tax revenues.
As
you can tell, I am a big fan of this approach. I hope you are, too! If so,
please share your thoughts with the other Supervisors. Support for this project
could not be more tenuous! Unless you can convince additional Supervisors to
support this idea, it is over!
*DID YOU KNOW?
The University of Iowa has celebrated Homecoming annually since 1912.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:47 AM
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