[shutout]

Not sure why the issue has to be so black and white. There have to be "funding" scenarios that wok for both sides. My issue with the city based on the article is that Nenshi comes across as a jerk and is not interested in having any type of relationship with the Flames group. Like it or not there is an economic benefit and a social benefit to the citizens of the city to having these facilities for concerts, events, sport teams.

Why does the land have to be given away? Why can it not be leased?

If the city provided the land in the West Village on a 50-75 year lease they would not be giving anything away. Work out the particulars around property taxes and lease payments and that is what the city provides.

Not unreasonable for a project like this to be given property tax breaks for the first five years. Three years no property taxes and an escalating increase of 20% over the next five years. The lease payments for the land can be based on the usage of the facilities. Add $10 to each ticket for each event depending upon the number of concerts is about $15M.

Plus if the developed area is expected to have restaurants and bars in the area than you charge a percentage surcharge on all tabs that goes to the city. Make it a user tax for those that are going to use the facilities.

If you want to reduce the infrastructure requirements that the city needs to pay out you make sure that the development is only allowed to have a parkade that has one way in and one way out onto 9th Ave and that it has a maximum capacity of 5000 vehicles. Everybody else needs to take transit, walk, or take a cab. Because it is so close to downtown there are lots of parking opportunities and cab rides are $5. The city can also get a percentage of the parking rates that are charged for the events, along with a percentage of the parking rates that will be charged for the daily parking permits sold.

No city handouts. No valuable land given away. Make people like Muta or myself pay for the facilities that we want and need in the city. If you never use them, then there is nothing out of your pocket for them. But there needs to be some sort of partnership in a project such as this. Refusing to work with the Flames is just ignorant.