A little self-promotion of the current issue of the Times: My column this week breaks a little news. A Florida developer has a plan to turn the old Donaghey Building into condos. It hinges on purchase of the Metrocentre parking deck across the street and Sharon Priest, of the Downton Partnership, is hopping mad at City Attorney Tom Carpenter for raising some questions about the deal (which calls for the city to get nothing in return for its equity in the deck).
This deal may make sense. But I’m happy whenever questions are raised before, not after, the city does one favor or another for a development project. Too many parking deck/tax abatement/etc. deals have been announced and approved in LR with hardly a word of prior notice. A good deal can stand abundant scrutiny.