Oleander:
I mean the 53.9% and the 58.6% over voters who voted yes on ballot items for this redevelopment during the 2016 Election. Not during some March election with low turnout, but during a general election where over 19K people voted in BTV. Not that it mattered because the opposition sued afterward because they didn't like the outcome of the vote that they pushed to make happen.
None of this changes the overall scope of the design. The housing provides a greater benefit than the retail or parking that you "progressives" seem to be so in love with right now. Also, if we are focusing on facts, none of the units in this project are going to be sold. They are all rentals.
Be honest, most of the people on here have been against this project since day 1 and there is nothing that the mayor/CEDO/developer could've done that would change your opinion. I'm just glad the voters of Burlington disagree with all of you. Can't wait to see this get built and I hope to see similar projects that will add to our downtown and actually do something to address the lack of walkable housing.
Am I supposed to be angry that the developer reduced the amount of retail space(that isn't really needed downtown) and replaced it with more housing(which is desperately needed)? There is still about 80,000 sq. ft. of retail in this project.
The problem here is that the CLC/Franco sued after they didn't get the result they wanted in the public vote and now this project has to build another 200 parking spots for gas guzzling cars. Digging holes in the ground to build parking spots makes housing more expensive, while encouraging people drive rather than walking, biking and using public transport. The whole point of building housing downtown is that people don't need cars.
Listen to the City Arborist. The new design looks good and is a place that people will actually enjoy visiting. Don't let a small group of people who oppose everything determine the future of public spaces that should be welcoming to everyone.
Also this...
http://www.thewinooski.com/index.php/2018/…
Ted Miles is absolutely right. We spent the entire election talking about how Infinite brought new people to the process with a message that resonated. If Infinite doesn't run, those people aren't showing up and Miro would've won by a single digit margin with over 50%. Stop bashing Infinite because you over rated Carina.
Anti-Bernie? I've voted for Bernie each time he's been on the ballot since I was 18. Questioning whether Driscoll should be Mayor has nothing to do with your support for Sanders or your support for real progressive political action.
You're right, I was wrong about that number, but if the Driscoll campaign is so locally focused why is it that she has SPENT so much of her money on DC based political consultants? Nearly $9000 to a campaign company called Convergence for...brochures? Pretty sure you can buy those at locally at Vantage Press
Re: “Burlington City Council Votes to Re-Redesign City Hall Park”
This plan went all of the way through a public process. There weren't any back room deals, there were a bunch of public meetings and design changes. The elected members of the City Council approved it. The citizen led DRB approved it. AND YET...because a few people are afraid of change it gets the boot in favor another committee.
We keep being told that Burlington needs for process and transparency and yet the same people who say we need it, don't seem to mind throwing all of it out as soon as the outcome isn't what they want. Good for them, it just sucks that our broader community will still feel unwelcome in City Hall Park.
Welcome to Burlington, where the most conservative people are Progressives.