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Originally Posted by Beatle17

Again with the misdirection on funding. The money comes from a ticket tax (user pay) and CRL funding which has been used in numerous other construction projects . With the area development the tax base increases and covers the CRL funding (same as East Village which never would have started without the CRL funding). Once the "loaned" money is returned to the city, then the additional tax income reverts to the CITY (as the City puts zero dollars from operating income into the project). Without a project driving the area development (as Wilson states) nothing gets done in the West Village.

The only money that the City contributes is the field house $200M, which they have stated for years is needed but will never get built without a project like this. The city has studied for years about rerouting traffic in the area and knows it will be done but have committed no funds or plans to actually performing the upgrades, maybe this project will spur the 3 levels of government to get their infrastructure spending prioritized. The infrastructure spending is not the responsibility of the Flames to address, maybe talk to City Council about this one. The biggest drawback to getting anything done in the West Village is the Creosote cleanup, again not the Flames issue, and again nothing will be done in the area until it is finished.

This is not the Flames asking for a handout from the City or tax payers. It is the second largest construction project in downtown Calgary (after the Bow) ever and our city leaders need to take it more seriously.