After Macys closed,a group with plans to open an entertainment center purchased the building. Their plans changed and they began marketing the building for sale for what I understand is an astronomical number. Learning now that the City of College Station purchased it, citizens deserve to know how much and why.
I am guessing that they will make the argument that it is a high visibility location that they are "protecting" from the wrong type of development or that they are planning to build a recreation center of some type at the location. Either way. this needs to be transparent as it represents multiples of million of dollars carried by the tax payers.
Both cities are showing strong over reach with recent large purchases of private property. Bryan spent millions purchasing the old Nutrobolt building after no one else would buy it. They also purchased / saved the failing country club on Briarcrest by purchasing it and making the tax payers responsible. These properties are now OFF the tax roles and being paid for by citizens. As you drive around and notice all the TAMU, COCS, Bryan, Brazos County buildings, please be reminded that for every government building that exists, we that pay property taxes have to carry more of the load.
How about we focus on improving core services, reducing crime, and lowering the tax rate for a change?
Fundamentally it is time to ask, what is the role of government?
