Bishop
Jensen

Answered by the candidate on Oct 23, 2026

Old Tri-Valley Building They dont plan to give the lot after post demo. It will be added to parks, or made a parking lot. That is what the city has discussed. The building should not be leveled. Historically used as offices and commercial space, this site has the potential to support a three-story mixed-used building with first floor retail and upper-level housing. The city will issue a General Obligation tax-abatement bond. The city will have everybody who owns property cleaning up the construction of capitalism. This building was built on privet equity held by a tax exemption for many years generating zero funds. This demo will cost roughly 1.2 million at minimum. The project will be bonded to our taxes if we don't gain new leadership, 100k is a 2% levy increase (24%) collectively this demo agenda project will increase taxes for years to come. Divided over eight years this alone will be a (%3) levy increase year after year for this one agenda when the city has had numerous opportunities to sell or donate the build - not burdening our property taxes without a return. Most who understand the demographic of the situation undstand the building is not heavily diminished. The lanes will be brought in due to MNDOT - further away from the structures. The area will not be developed post demo, creating a lot blight which the city already struggles with. The building has served the community for close to a century and could be redeveloped creating more modern scale retail space. This demo will lead to a bond practice Crookston has not experienced since the 80's. The plans is a zero return on investment to the city at large. This is defined as wasteful spending. Nobody minds paying for a reasonable outcome, the demo is unreasonable.