A couple of notes on the property value issue on the homeowner who had disputed that development due to concerns. The bar is not open yet. No one knows the true impact, and there is a possibility that it could go either way in the appreciation / depreciation once that has happened. Additionally, my understanding was that a lot of the concerns expressed by those neighbors were related to concerns of a walking path (Safe Routes to School, I beleive) that was being proposed to run immediately along side their homes. There are some valid safety concerns related to a walking path close enough that would allow people to look directly inside your windows, that could cause property depreciation. There is a chance that people walking to & from the bar may travel on that path as well as any random individual, not just kids going to school.

That’s not to say it can’t happen. Just that it’s important to understand where the hurdle is. A comprehensive, Complete Street overhaul for College was one of the approved projects to be funded by the transportation tax. Since that failed to pass, the City’s got its work cut out for it to find someone willing to whip out their checkbook.

Which is all to say that, while nice and maybe a little encouraging, getting DOT designers out to the site and then getting back their recommended plans is not the problem. Design and engineering are the easy part. This one’s gonna take politickin’.