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A group of disgruntled taxpayers in Hampton, Va., has formed an action committee to target politicians they think have given developers sweetheart deals at the expense of the community.
And among their first targets are those who have aided Baltimore developer David Cordish to the tune of more than $15 million in public funds.
Ironically, after a Reporter exclusive on May 16 detailed how Mayor Irene Elia and a delegation of City Hall officials were blown off by the developer when they went to meet with him in Baltimore, City Administrator Al Joseph finally admitted as much to the City Council on May 21.
Previously, Cordish had been described as a "preferred developer" by Elia.
Joan Childs, a Virginia-based community activist, has announced the formation of the Hampton Taxpayers Association, a group dedicated to cleaning up local government there.
At issue is the Power Plant of Hampton Roads, a $130 million project that broke ground this past November following a six-year delay. Despite the fact that the project was sold as a complex boasting "themed restaurants, high-quality retail and entertainment venues," thus far only one tenant has signed on for the 550,000-square-foot complex--a Lowe's home improvement store.
Near the site, Kmart also has announced plans to build a super store, but critics in the Chesapeake Bay community point out that a home improvement store and a Kmart hardly are upscale retail locations.
Hampton has pledged $5 million for Cordish to use in attracting tenants to the complex, something critics of the project find ridiculous.
"If the place is any good, why would you have to pay people to locate there?" one Association member asked.
An additional $11 million in taxpayer dollars has been earmarked for infrastructure improvements at the site, including the construction of a four-lane highway.
But a poll conducted by the Virginian-Pilot newspaper shows the project has at best lukewarm public support, despite the strong political backing. Just 51 percent of those responding said they would be "likely" to visit the complex, should it ever open.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Hampton Mayor Mamie Locke referred to what she apparently believes to be Cordish's successful development of the Rainbow Centre Mall in Niagara Falls.
"We were particularly impressed with Cordish's track record in developing projects unique to the area," she said. "They have demonstrated a personal commitment to the communities in which they work."
Locke might do well to talk to city officials here about that. When it closed last September, Cordish Co. spokesmen promised the all-but-deserted Rainbow Centre Mall would be up and running as a "family entertainment complex" by the start of this year's tourist season. Recently, an Elia-led delegation traveled to Baltimore to discuss plans for the facility. Cordish shunted the hapless group off on associate Joel Weinberg, and the Falls group even was forced to pick up its own lunch tab at the posh ESPN Sportszone restaurant, located in the developer's Power Plant complex.
Last week, Joseph admitted Cordish wanted no more to do with city officials, instead preferring to deal with the state-controlled USA Niagara Development Corp. He is the latest in a line of local players in future development to do so.
"You've got an out-of-control mayor and city council who are constantly threatening to sue people and break contracts," a source familiar with the situation told the Reporter. "Under those kinds of conditions, a person would have to be stupid to invest anything here."
The establishment of USA Niagara Development is seen by many as the first step in wresting control of the city--and particularly the South End--away from local politicians.
"For more than 30 years you've had a completely inept local government screwing up the gateway to one of the world's great natural wonders," a highly placed Albany source said. "It's gone beyond the point where this is an embarrassment to Niagara Falls, to Niagara County. Now it's an embarrassment to the entire State of New York."