Yes, contrary to Mr. Grim’s suppositions, there is indeed value in going back and examining the history of our city and especially the history of the development of City Center.
The decision to send a letter of default to the developer in 2014 was based on a recommendation of the city attorney, after consultation in executive session and authorized unanimously by the council (Wolcott, Hall, Winters, Williams, Villanueva and Tande), certainly not a unilateral act by Mayor Wolcott.
The city had spent something like $172 million in improvements to the barren former Luke Auxiliary airfield, as well as getting the avigation easements lifted, with minimal improvements by the developer for nearly 14 years; certainly nothing resembling a vibrant downtown.
The developer turned around and hit the city with a $100 million claim. The city manager forged a settlement agreement (not a court order) by which, yes, the city had to absorb about $800,000 in legal fees, but brilliantly got 20 acres of land essentially gifted for future “educational purposes.” That paved the way for Ottawa University-Arizona to establish itself in such a confident way, giving the City Center and Surprise an educational legacy, which is, frankly, priceless.
Not bad for an $800,000 investment that will benefit the city for probably the next 100 years. Sometimes you have to apply pressure to get things moving, which they certainly were not back in 2014.
Referring to the former mayor as a “bully” is once again the kind of personal attack that is inappropriate for public servants in office. Sounds like a personal ax to grind, what we call ad hominem in the courts.
As for the council rules under which Mayor Wolcott was censured, it is very interesting that council found it expedient to change that rule once the damage had been done.
Not only the Arizona AG and constitutional experts, but the editorial board of the Arizona Republic found the action ridiculous and flying squarely in the face of the First Amendment.
So it really was just a purely ad hominem, mean-spirited act, a triumph of scorn over substance.
Personally, I wish the present mayor and city council all the best in bringing about a truly spectacular downtown, however long it takes.
Luxury housing? I have watched the construction, and so far it doesn’t resemble what I’ve seen in the east or north Valley.
I am still waiting for the land bankers of the square mile to hire a world-class designer/planner to show us what is possible, to point the way to a future that will draw talent to our corner of the Valley, and encourage our young people to stay rather than move (or run) away.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Mankiewicz is a former city councilman.
