After hearing from residents both for and against the project, members of Berlin’s town council voted 3-2 Monday to approve the annexation of 90 acres just south of the former Harley Davidson building. Mayor Gee Williams said developments like the one proposed for this site would help fund the town’s infrastructure improvements.
“I’m worried that if we don’t start accommodating them we’ll be forced to raise taxes,” he said.
Developer Blair Rinnier plans to build nearly 800 “garden-style” rental apartments on the site. The first phase will consist of 144 units that could be complete in about a year. Additional units would follow based on demand.
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The Mayor states:
ReplyDelete“I’m worried that if we don’t start accommodating them we’ll be forced to raise taxes,”
Of all the ridiculous things to say...when it comes to development for a city or town, the annexation of a business is generally a very profitable and smart move. When it comes to residential development, they are generally a drain on town services without providing much in the way of return.
With the lottery money flowing to the town...and them already having the highest tax rate in the county along with a surplus slush fund..."raising taxes" is the first thought in his liberal pin head!!! Give me a break!
I smell section 8
ReplyDeleteUgh. "Garden style" apartments reek of those monstrosities that litter Glen Burnie MD and parts of Salisbury. Projects are more like it. I find it very hard to believe the developer when he says they aren't subsidized. Does he actually think people believe not one person in the apartments isn't going to receive some form of renter's assistance.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he will hire the right people to run it and not use the current hiring practices being done under his sister Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Town Council looked at the hundreds, maybe thousands of apartment units currently being built in Salisbury. Did they ask, where are the people going to come from to fill these units, where will they work, and what will happen to those units if they don't come, or come and leave? I just don't see how these can work and we have certainly destroyed the nature of this area.
ReplyDeleteLOL-A quick Google search of the reviews of the current apartments owned/managed by this company show they are maybe just a step up from being labeled "Projects."
ReplyDelete4:55 is right. One needs to look at Decatur Farm for proof.
ReplyDeleteYou're America's Coolest Small town, you don't want a Dollar Store on a hot corner because it says low end, but you'll settle for these vinyl covered boxes? You deserve better.
ReplyDeleteHow about they concentrate on their current properties before building another? HVAC? Kitchen Cabinets? Certified Employees? Quality Pay? Parking Lots? Inventory?
ReplyDeleteThey have no plan. Troy has to go along with the majority until he gets his big check from the town on the Tyson property. Gee is a bully and pushes people around when he doesn't get what he wants and influences Dean and Elroy. At least Lisa and Thom took a stand. This will be remembered in the next election. making everyone turn toward rt 50 is the craziest crap I have ever heard. What if they are going to Assateague or to Pocomoke or to Uncle Willie or the landfill. I read the agreement. All the town got was a 1/2 acre land for a park and some streetlights. Who is going to pay for the additional headaches of the police calls, EMT calls, and fire calls. Who is going to pay for the trash, etc. Don't give me the same old line that the new taxes it brings in will cover the cost. It never does. The assessments go down all the time. Again no plan. They have promised the police dept a new building now I hear that was told to be put on hold due to the Tyson plant. The fire company has explained to them numerous times what they need. The public works folks will need more items to work with to care for the 1/2 acre of land that they will need to drive out and cut the grass, etc. The electric department will have to maintain the expensive streetlights they want....on and on it goes. down the drain!!!
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