Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Sure. Show me the component that benefits the public.
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I'm absolutely on the side of the city and taxpayers on this but for a smaller scale example:
The $14 million overpass across MacLeod Trail to Chinook mall was funded 50% by Cadillac Fairview and 50% by the City of Calgary (and taxpayers). I'm not aware of any arrangement for any sort of payback. There's obviously benefit to the city (fix pedestrian crossing issues across MacLeod) and a commercial benefit to the mall (funnel warm bodies directly into the food court).
Having a new arena facility and the resulting effect of redevelopment in the area does provide some tangible public benefit even if you remove the NHL games component.