Yes yes, I know this is been all over the news already, but now it's official, with a demo permit submitted for the complete demolition of the Bonazna Inn on 4th Street.
COMMERCIAL DEMOLITION - STRUCTURE. DEMOLISH BUILDING, FOOTINGS, POOL AND PARKING LOT HAUL OFF ALL DEBRIS SLOPE LOW AREAS FOR SAFETY
So, full stop, this one pisses me off. Not a happy camper.
A big deal was made announcing this project being converted into The Breeze. It was floated that TIF financing would even be applied to it. And you know what? I would have been cool with Jacobs getting TIF financing to rehab a motel and convert it to workforce housing. But nope. The project was not even given a chance.
And don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the 245 North Arlington project, which is now mostly full, and the Glow Plaza and Festival Grounds bringing events downtown, plus his improvements to J Resort, formerly the Sands. The Gibson remodel is really nice. Much of the old character was retained.
According to downtowners I have spoken to, the ones who actually live downtown, they believe demolishing all the motels along 4th Street is an improvement, helping with crime.
But beyond that, I feel like the guy just has a giant dart board of ideas on his office wall and wherver the dart lands is his next big idea.
He went from wanting to build the world's tallest ferris wheel to wanting to construct gonadolas along 4th Street then switching it to a Zip Line.
He went from wanting to construct an amphitheater to installing a plot of grass and calling it a Festival Ground. And now soccer fields because they're a cheap way to utilize his plots of land that no one wants to buy or build on, because Jacobs paid too much for them.
The Festival Grounds, the Glow Plaza, the soccer fields...they are all part-time activations of downtown. What downtown REALLY needs is more residents, full stop.