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March 21, 1977 Mayor and City Council City of New Brighton New Brighton Minn. 55112 Gentlemen, Steve Thompsen 1860 15th ave. NIPT New Brighton, Minn, 55112 Since I will be ou of town on March 29, I am writing to you to express my view on the HRA proposals. Like most people, I agree that the downtown area could be more attractive. I do not, however, believe that the HRA proposal is the best way to accomplish this goal I believe that the plan is too ambitious. It covers too large an area and calls -for development over too long a time span. We are asked to accept definite dis ruption of homes and businesses and, in return, we are offerred purely speculative economic and asthetie benefits. Why must so much land be taken away from private Ownership and placed under government control just to beautify a few square blocks of downtown New Brighton? x also do not understand why so much land must be developed right now. I realize that some land within the area is scheduled for park and open space use, but I do riot believe that enough land is being left undeveloped. There is nothing wrong with having a couple of vacant lots that do nothing more than provide homes for some red -winged blackbirds and, perhaps, a pheasant or two. y `-hermore, even if we assume that all of the land will eventually be developed, „ith or without the HRA, how do we know that the use which we artificially encourage in 1977 is the one which we will want in 1997? I also object to effort to convince the people of New Brighton that all of this is I, It just isn't so. If left alone, the area will continue to provide increased tax revenues and will continue to bear its share of the burden of increased government costs. Under the HRA proposal, these increased revenues will not be available, acid someone else, like me, will have to pick up the tab. The only ones who might benefit are a few businessmen. I have nothign against the businessmen --I have and will continue to support them with my patronage. But I see no reason why I should be asked to support them with my tax dollars. I find it interesting that none of them has asked me to do so. I hope that you will consider these comments along with the others which you receive on the 29th, and I hope ypu will tell the HRA thanks --but no thanks. ,f f Sincerely,/ fl ✓�, Steve Thompson, f,