PILOT, not the refueling convenience stores. But the Payment In Leu of Taxes. Also TIF’s Tax Increment Financing need to start being reeled in. Knox County Commission is set to vote on another PILOT on Monday for redevelopment downtown on the old Supreme Court building site. All for a redevelopment. Downtown is booming in redevelopment. Why waste more crony capitalism on a site that will redevelop with out some crony capitalism?
City Councilwoman Seema Sigh Perez gets it. There is a new Tru by Hilton Property about to open on Pratt Road off of Merchants. The city and county were recently asked to reject an appeal of a unanimous Board of Zoning Appeal decision to increase the monument sign from 6 to 10 feet and increase the wall sign about three times it’s permitted size.
The Board of Zoning appeals had approved the request unanimously, BUT when Scenic Knoxville appealed it to City Council only Perez backed the business all other council members voted to punish the business with smaller signs.
The four candidates for City Council Third District James Corcoran, DeOssie Dingus, Seema Singh Perez and Jody Mullins
When I wrote about the decision, I reached out to Perez and she said that she should have explained her vote at the meeting. but her comment to me was, “ It bothers me that Marriot is getting a TIFF worth millions to raise their profit margin, but a sign that will help make this business visable therefore help it suceed, is too much?!”
Seema gets it. Why can the other elected officials NOT get it?
What follow-up is done to ensure all the promises are kept for these approved PILOTS & TIFS?
When the Big Metal Shed on the Hill aka Knoxville’s daily paper got a capital crony deal, there was an assurance of so many new jobs. I am pretty sure with all the job cuts over on the bloody knoll, there is a likelihood the commitment was not kept, in my opinion.
lets slow down this capital cronyism.
