Fiscal 2023 DIF Account

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First Official Black Helicopter Conspiracy Theory

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Are the Woosox setting the stage to access some of  the $110.6 million in federal stimulus money the City will be receiving for businesses that have been effected during the pandemic?

 

Two things happened this week.   First this post in the Worcester Business Journal

Polar Park construction delays limit WooSox revenue in inaugural season

 Steinberg said the limited capacity caused by the delays is forcing the WooSox to sell fewer tickets than they would have expected.

Now the second thing

Worcester Mulls What To Do With $110.6M In Stimulus Funds

 

 


 

Comments

Anonymous said…
The way this project has unfolded I do not think the aren't already asking the City for a hand out.
There are long established businesses and owners of rental properties throughout the City who have struggled thru the pandemic that are more deserved of this type of assistance. Not that the pandemic did not adversely effected the WooSox attendance but they are playing in a brand new $175 million ballpark the City built for them and have artificially low lease payment like $70,000 for the first year. With the money I have heard they are making the City would be crazy to spend more money on the WooSox.
June 26, 2021 at 11:07 AM
Anonymous said…
A bigger issue from the Business Journal post is the "tentative" timeline of the development. "Tentatively" the first construction is one of the residential units which will is not anticipated to start until September, and probably will take 15-18 months to complete.The rest of the development also has tentative commencement dates, all of which are years after they were supposed to have been completed. Logically there is no possible way this project will not cost the taxpayers considering the ballpark has increased from $100 million to $175 million. I wish the City would either admit that the project will not be self sufficient or show us how it is.
June 27, 2021 at 8:31 AM
Comment sense said…
I agree, but there is still something else to consider. I thing Wyman Gordon abandoned the two properties 30 years ago. Since that time there has been very little interest in those two properties. I think at one point Wal-Mart had some interest. The only other idea was some indoor sports complex. So you have to consider if it's worth taking money out of the City's budgetfor a residential complex, stadium and two hotels.
June 27, 2021 at 8:51 AM
Common Sense said…
Have you guys heard anything about the new hotel that was planned
at Union Station? They've being saying it'gonna to be built for five years, but no shovels in the ground.
June 27, 2021 at 9:08 AM
Bill Randell said…
10 years ago or maybe longer there was a mixed use project that was interested in Wyman Gordon, but could not get a zone change....

5 years ago plus, the Slots were interested in the Wyman Gordon parcels.

June 27, 2021 at 9:54 AM
Anonymous said…
There is a difference between a proposed residential complex, two hotels and an office building and an actual residential complex, two hotels and an office building. By your second email questioning the hotel at Union Station which was PROPOSED 5 years ago with no shovels in the ground, it is clear that just because a press release or press conference occurs, that does not mean there will be any development.
The difference between the lack of proposed Union Station development and the lack of proposed Polar Park development is not having a new hotel built at Union Station does not effect the payment of bonds.
With regards to taking money out of the City budget for the bond payments, I disagree. The construction of the ballpark, leased to a private company with owners deep pockets, was conditioned on not relying on existing tax revenues. Now that it is built the conditions should not change.
June 27, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Common Sense said…
I think the City worked out a TIF with the hotel developer already, but I understand your point. Is there really a need for three more hotels in Worcester? With Zoom video conferencing I would think less people are traveling for business trips. I think the owner of the Beechwood Hotel said he was barely breaking even. The developer of the project across from Polar Park is well known to hold off on projects until he feels market conditions are right. It reminds me of Tony Kwan and his Franklin Street apartments he never followed thru with. Maybe in 5 years we will find out if the politicians in RI were right not to bet the store on the stadium.
June 27, 2021 at 2:02 PM
Anonymous said…
You bring up an interesting point about the TIFs the City Council approved. I believe they have start dates and end dates. If the developer does not meet the original dates of these TIFs are they valid or can the City Council change them.
June 27, 2021 at 5:28 PM
Common Sense said…
I'm not quite sure. I think there was an issue about the TIF Unum got for their building at the Mercantile Ceter. When Unum decided to vacate the whole building the City was going to terminate or modify their TIF. Also, there was an issue about the TIF and the DIF that the former Worcester Common Outlets got which eventually became a disaster. I think the whole TIF thing has gotten out of hand. It was created to lure companies in that would create 100+ jobs. Now there being given to developers to build apartments.
I'm pretty sure Mr. Cliff Rucker has never asked for a TIF for his hockey rinks or other developments. The City is also gonna have to borrow around $300 million for the new South, Doherty and Burncoat high schools. I think the whole TIF program should be re-evaluated.
June 27, 2021 at 8:53 PM
Common Sense said…
I'm interested to see if The City is going to follow thru on the promise to use Polar Park for concerts and other events when the Woosox are out of town. We're not gonna get 30,000 people to see a Billy Joel or Journey concert like at Fenway, but there might be a niche market. You would look for concerts that would draw more people than the Hanover can handle, but less than the DCU can support.
June 27, 2021 at 9:16 PM
Anonymous said…
John Henry will use the stadium for concerts like he does at Fenway. I believe the city only has so many event opportunities per year. Outside of that John Henry can use it to generate further income.
July 2, 2021 at 10:44 PM
Anonymous said…
The WooSox will use the ballpark for every possible use they can that does not hurt the field because it is in their best interest, their profits. They have already announced a wine tasting, an event that once again competes with existing businesses.Hopefully the City will get parking revenues on these types of events.
July 4, 2021 at 6:14 AM
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