Elk Grove Mayor Acknowledges Challenges, Opportunities Amidst Recession In ‘State of City’ Address
Facing the most challenging economy since incorporation in 2000, Elk Grove Mayor Patrick Hume recognized the challenges he and fellow counci...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2009/03/elk-grove-mayor-acknowledges-challenges.html
Facing the most challenging economy since incorporation in 2000, Elk Grove Mayor Patrick Hume recognized the challenges he and fellow council members face in the annual ‘state of the city’ address delivered last night.
Sponsored as a dinner event by the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, the sold-out event was also broadcast via the city’s webcast for those interested, but unable to pony-up the $50 admission fee.
“As we look at these issues, we’re mindful of the fact that troubling economic times hang over everything we do and will drive many of the decisions we have to make,” Hume said. “It’s a reality faced by many of our neighbors struggling to pay bills and put food on the table, as unemployment reaches double digits and word like furlough and layoffs become far too familiar in the vocabulary of our daily lives.”
Hume went on to say that while the city faces economic perils, he noted they are committed to providing services Elk Grove citizens have come to expect. Hume noted that the city had built up a rainy day fund that “we will try our best not to tap.”
The speech also acted as an opportunity for Hume to cite some accomplishments over the last year as well as recognize some failures. Among the accomplishments Hume pointed to are the construction of the Sheldon and Grantline Road interchanges, the opening of the new library, the new Strikes bowling alley and the streamlining of city services processes.
Among the biggest disappointments Hume noted was the halted construction of the Elk Grove Promenade. Construction of the South Elk Grove mall stopped last summer as its developer, Chicago-based General Growth Properties, teeters on bankruptcy.
“We do know that given the level of investment already made, there is good assurance that a mall will one day grace the site,” Hume said. “And, fortunately, there is a development agreement in place that rides with the property.”
The mayor said that although the development of the Promenade has stalled, the area around the mall is not “lifeless.” He pointed out that other developers continue forward with plans for two hotels and 100,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
Hume noted that while current economics conditions are cloudy, the future prospects are bright. “The clouds will part eventually, then the sun will again shine and we will harvest the fruits of our labor,” he concluded.
Sponsored as a dinner event by the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, the sold-out event was also broadcast via the city’s webcast for those interested, but unable to pony-up the $50 admission fee.
“As we look at these issues, we’re mindful of the fact that troubling economic times hang over everything we do and will drive many of the decisions we have to make,” Hume said. “It’s a reality faced by many of our neighbors struggling to pay bills and put food on the table, as unemployment reaches double digits and word like furlough and layoffs become far too familiar in the vocabulary of our daily lives.”
Hume went on to say that while the city faces economic perils, he noted they are committed to providing services Elk Grove citizens have come to expect. Hume noted that the city had built up a rainy day fund that “we will try our best not to tap.”
The speech also acted as an opportunity for Hume to cite some accomplishments over the last year as well as recognize some failures. Among the accomplishments Hume pointed to are the construction of the Sheldon and Grantline Road interchanges, the opening of the new library, the new Strikes bowling alley and the streamlining of city services processes.
Among the biggest disappointments Hume noted was the halted construction of the Elk Grove Promenade. Construction of the South Elk Grove mall stopped last summer as its developer, Chicago-based General Growth Properties, teeters on bankruptcy.
“We do know that given the level of investment already made, there is good assurance that a mall will one day grace the site,” Hume said. “And, fortunately, there is a development agreement in place that rides with the property.”
The mayor said that although the development of the Promenade has stalled, the area around the mall is not “lifeless.” He pointed out that other developers continue forward with plans for two hotels and 100,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
Hume noted that while current economics conditions are cloudy, the future prospects are bright. “The clouds will part eventually, then the sun will again shine and we will harvest the fruits of our labor,” he concluded.
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Not that it matters, but I still haven't found one person who "voted" or was "asked" about wanting an outdoor promenade. Everyone I know wanted a Roseville Galleria style facility. So it would be comfortable in both the hot summers and cold, foggy winters. I bet it would have been open and plenty of stores would have been trying to get in if they had.
Hmmmm...same here, I've not found any neighbor who either cares for any outdoor mall, and I have been regularly polling them.
Everyone around me in north Elk Grove is neither interested nor cares about the stalled project. If it does or doesn't develop, they don't seem to have much opinion either way.
I personally find the project about as repulsive as every other large format retail project that Elk Grove exclusively prefers, but that's just me. It's a matter of scale. Pretty soon, three or four retailers is all we will have/need here and everyone will be happy with that. OK. That's just how we prefer to do things these days. The cheaper the merchandise, delivered on massive scales, the better. This is the pattern in every community in the US, and Elk Grove should be no different.
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