The debate over urban renewal and eminent domain continues to simmer in Littleton.
Previously, that would allow Littleton residents to vote on condemnation and tax increment financing proposed by Littleton’s recently revived urban renewal authority, Littleton Invests for Tomorrow.
The group, Sunshine Boys and Citizens for Rational Development, wants to put in the city charter a right to vote on condemnation of properties selected for blight by the city’s urban renewal authority.
Now the Littleton City Council has voted not to use eminent domain or condemnation.
“Council wanted to send a message to the citizens … that under no circumstances was council going to condemn or use eminent domain as any way connected to the urban renewal authority,” said Councilman Randy Stein.
Paul Bingham, a member of the petition group, said his group plans to keep the condemnation and eminent domain language in the November ballot initiative. The citizens group also wants to prohibit the use of tax increment financing by the urban renewal authority.
Bingham said his group believes if a project is worthy, market forces will push it forward,
Part of the consternation is centered around the the blight designation of various properties and businesses, such as the Evergreen Motel, owned by Jim Donnelly.
Donnelly said he doesn’t trust the urban renewal authority, which has refused to take his property off the blighted list. He said he’s still worried about condemnation. It didn’t ease his skepticism when Stein, a developer, approached Donnelly last month about buying the motel.
“I’m thinking you’re on City Council, is that the right thing for you to be doing?” said Donnelly, who said he told Stein he’s not interested in selling his business. “These are our elected representatives, they’re supposed to be watching out for us. This doesn’t sound like he’s watching out for me.”
Stein explained his purchase offer by saying it’s his job to turn underutilized properties into successful businesses or developments.
“This has nothing at all to do with urban renewal or the authority or any inference that might be made by any member of the city that I’m trying to buy the property to silence him, because that would be completely incorrect,” Stein said.
He said the petition group has been misleading property and business owners by saying that the city and its urban renewal authority plan to take their property away.
Bingham said that’s not true, that his groups supports development but doesn’t think urban renewal is necessary to create smart developments.
Stein was critical of those opposed to urban renewal.
“They’re worried about anything in the city of Littleton changing from its current status. They don’t want any streets to change, they don’t want any houses to change, they do not want any businesses to change, they do not want prosperity to come to Littleton,” Stein said. “They want their city to remain exactly as it was in 1950.”
