Guest Opinion
By Richard Robbins | June 15, 2024
Barbara and I have lived in Traverse City since 2018, and we moved here permanently in 2022. One of the things that attracted us to TC was the positive energy and balance between growth and planning in the city.
We recently completed the City Academy and could not be more impressed with the approximately 150 full-time workers in this city of around 16,000 residents. Our city workers make our tax dollars go further than in any city we have ever lived in. They are dedicated to the success of our city and furthering the quality of life that we all have come to know and love.
Having moved into retirement after 43 years of work, I followed many great leaders and their advice. I watched an interview with Lee Iacocca at a young age, and the interviewer asked him what made him successful. His answer (paraphrased) was that he was right 60 percent of the time, and 40 percent of the time he was wrong. For the 40 percent, he corrected himself quickly with the advice of smart people he surrounded himself with who guided him in the right direction.
Hold that thought.
Since our permanent move to Traverse City, we’ve come to appreciate the city’s appeal, which is a result of years of dedicated work. The success we enjoy today is a testament to the groundwork laid over the decades. The strategic and forward-thinking redesign of Front Street and Eighth Street, in particular, required extensive planning, hard work, and vision. These efforts have transformed our city, opening up new possibilities for the neighborhoods to the south and east of the downtown area.
It’s crucial to note that none of this progress would have been possible without the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF), specifically the DDA’s two TIF Districts and the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Authority.
Cities are not a one-and-done effort. In our recent visits to Front Street, we see the improvements of years past showing their age. We see cracked, uneven sidewalks and tired walkways, and the number and variety of storefronts could use inspiration. Small-town downtowns are always “living on the edge,” with outer city development and online shopping always lurking as an alternative to consumers. The downtown merchants know this. That is why they are so supportive of the DDA and TIF. As citizens, we should be as well.
A misunderstanding exists among some in the city and even some city commissioners. The renewal of the DDA and continuation of TIF 97 do not equate to an increase in your taxes—meaning if we abolish the DDA and do not extend TIF, TC taxpayers will not get 15 percent back in tax rebates. Your taxes will remain the same. The money from the DDA will go into the general fund, and the regional share ($1.8 million a year) will no longer be available for investment in the city.
The DDA has discussed several current future projects, such as a new riverwalk design that creates a multi-use capability, the continuation of greenspace development where appropriate, and the continuation/extension of the current heated sidewalks downtown. Because of these big plans, some in our community and on our city commission want to discontinue the DDA and TIF. They mention specific projects and line items in the proposed budgets and future project lists as “too expensive,” “unnecessary,” or “too grandiose.” Because they don’t like the plan, they are looking to defund the DDA.
Enter Lee Iacocca. The DDA and TIF plan may need to make some adjustments. However, city staff, DDA, public officials, downtown merchants, and hundreds of citizens participated in public meetings over the years to create the plan collectively. Leadership requires recognizing one’s limitations and that you’re often mistaken if relying solely on your own. City leaders blocking approval have forgotten this and are listening only to a few.
Let’s say the current DDA plan is only 60 percent right. That’s pretty good, considering it’s a 30-year plan. In subsequent and future years, smart people can make it come to life to fit their needs best. Nothing is locked in.
Progress only happens once you take a step in some direction, evaluate the step, make course corrections, and continue to take steps. A “let’s do nothing,” or worse, reject millions and embrace an “us vs. them” approach gets us nowhere.
It’s time for us to hold our city commission accountable and encourage them to take a step forward. Merely saying no, without presenting a solution-oriented approach, is not leadership. Let’s trust our committed city workers, business leaders, and skilled citizenry to correct the course as we go, even if it doesn’t align perfectly with our personal views. They have proven themselves in the past; let’s trust them moving forward.
Let’s stand together in support of the DDA and TIF, as they are crucial for the continued development and revitalization of our beloved Traverse City.
Richard Robbins is a recently retired resident who grew up in the Detroit area. He and his wife Barbara have lived all over the United States before selecting Traverse City for its beauty, culture, bike trails, and walkability.
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