Check out this editorial in the Erie Times-News (Registration required.). I find it incredibly depressing. It deals with the recent closure of yet another manufacturing facility in Erie. Which is bad enough. But the newspaper's reaction is even worse.
After the understandable shock and anger at GAF Materials Corp.'s decision to close its bayfront plant, it's time for Erie regional leaders to step up. An aggressive community effort is now required to acquire GAF's valuable site. The region can't afford to sit back.
The Erie County Convention Center Authority, the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, the Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership must act with all deliberate speed. They must work with GAF to find out what it will take to acquire its bayfront property.
Well, why? Why is it so obvious that a host of redevelopment officials have to have their say? The announcement of the closure is still echoing in the breeze, and already everyone just KNOWS that the only solution is for the government to interfere. Why can't the company put the property on the market and sell it to the highest bidder? Isn't it even REMOTELY possible that the highest bidder might have a good use in mind?
That answer would appear to be that the property is just too valuable. It's waterfront, don't you know! But now I am confused. I thought that the government had to intervene when properties were really crappy. Brownfields. Small parcels that no one can develop. Sites in horrible neighborhoods that need "redeveloped." Sites that no one wants.
Well, sure. Let's say the government does have to intervene in such cases. Snap up all the property and give it to a developer with a government approved plan. See Pittsburgh's Forbes-Fifth corridor for an example.
OK. So tell me. What kind of properties DON'T require government redevelopment "assistance" and guidance? Which properties are good candidates for sale on the open market? So far, really nice properties and really crappy properties require "community action." Anyone know of any kinds of property that don't require this kind of intervention?
But keep reading the editorial. It gets worse:
But there is no time to waste. Convention Center Authority officials have already indicated they might be interested in acquiring part of the property for potential convention center and hotel improvements.
Yes. The convention center. You know the one. It's going to save downtown Erie. Once it opens. Yeah, that's right. It isn't even open yet. So how does anyone know that it needs to be expanded? Because ALL convention centers need expanded. If they are working, a bigger one would work better. If they are failing, the only way to save them is to expand them. And build a hotel. So even before they open, there is only one thing to do: Start planning to expand.
Look. I am not asking for much. How about you just try to let GAF sell the property. Give them, I don't know... 10 minutes. Ten minutes without discussions of "regional plans" and "regional efforts" and "guided development." Would it be OK for the place to be on the open market for that long?
Apparently not.
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