In a Feb. 3, 2008, Daily News article, Rick Kelley said: “My involvement in the garage block is as a member of the same investment group that owns Buckhead Square Shopping Center. Our group will build a mixed-use development and also guarantee its portion of the developer assessment bonds.”

Tommy Gumm, owner of master developer Alliance, was one of these investors. During the time period that no development has taken place downtown, Buckhead Square has gone from 60 percent vacancy to being fully occupied. Additionally, three shopping centers and five restaurants have been built, representing more than $25 million in new investment.

Further, there also has been $50 million in new investment in medical facilities. The master development agreement is dated June 1, 2008, and was signed by Alliance on July 18, 2008. Alliance has funded no development in the TIF area due to a supposed bad economy.

Apparently, we are to believe the only area in Bowling Green where the commercial market is not flourishing is where we have spent $80 million of taxpayer money to stimulate development.

Alliance applied for a building permit for the Block 12 garage three months ago. In a presentation to the city commission, Alliance said we will just see a big ugly concrete box for about two years.

This permit was denied. Alliance is scheduled to be paid 9 percent of the total cost of Block 12.

We are told the majority of TIF income for Block 12 will come from the hotel. Why is this being approved without being contingent on a building permit for the hotel?

We built a ballpark on promises and now we are stuck with annual payments of $1.6 million for 30 years.

Jim Bullington

Bowling Green