The Access Corridor Review Board is set to take up Tousis's $4.2 million project on Thursday. The committee, which is advisory to the city's Plan Commission, is stacked with opposition.
Opponents include Alderman Jim Spangenberg, who has publicly fought the project for several months, Dave Namowicz, president of the Douglas Avenue Business Improvement District who has been quietly angling against the project, and Mitch Wemmert, owner of Mitch & Marty's gas station, which competes with Tousis' Better Day BP on Douglas Avenue.
Other members of the committee include: Chief Building Inspector Rick Heller, Aldermen David Maack, Jim Kaplan and Michael Shields, Linea Anthony, Randy Aukland, Steve Joosten, Frank Smith, Kelly Jensen, and Mark Madsen.
The three opponents could cause problems for Tousis's proposal, but they can't outright kill the project.
The Access Corridor board focuses on projects in the city's main corridors - including Washington Avenue and Douglas Avenue - and determines if they're a good fit for what are, essentially, the welcome mats to Racine. Members will vote on Tousis's project, but the Plan Commission, chaired byAlderman Greg Helding Mayor John Dickert, doesn't have to take their recommendation.
The same goes for the City Council and the Plan Commission. The council, which has final say, can go against the Plan Commission, though it's rare, particularly if the commission votes against a proposal.
So in that sense, Access Corridor could sway the Plan Commission, which could sway the council, which will decide if the West Racine grocery store, restaurant and gas station move forward.
That sets up a showdown between Tousis and three of his critics - public or otherwise - at Thursday's meeting. Should make for some interesting exchanges.
The three opponents could cause problems for Tousis's proposal, but they can't outright kill the project.
The Access Corridor board focuses on projects in the city's main corridors - including Washington Avenue and Douglas Avenue - and determines if they're a good fit for what are, essentially, the welcome mats to Racine. Members will vote on Tousis's project, but the Plan Commission, chaired by
The same goes for the City Council and the Plan Commission. The council, which has final say, can go against the Plan Commission, though it's rare, particularly if the commission votes against a proposal.
So in that sense, Access Corridor could sway the Plan Commission, which could sway the council, which will decide if the West Racine grocery store, restaurant and gas station move forward.
That sets up a showdown between Tousis and three of his critics - public or otherwise - at Thursday's meeting. Should make for some interesting exchanges.
People with vested interests should not be able to kill a good project for the community.
ReplyDeleteMaybe all three of the opposition should hop on a boat and head to Michigan. The trait that all three have in common is their belief that they own Racine and nobody should be able to do what they don't want anybody to do.
ReplyDeleteWhy would city hall let these people, who have a vested interest in Tousis failing, vote on something so important to West Racine?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, prior to any board member regestering and opposing vote to the West Racine Grocery Store plan, they should be required to furnish at least one alternate idea accompanied by an associated business plan. The empty corner in question has been nothing but a weed farm for the past dozen years, and a negative vote for an income producing/job creating/tastefully constructed grocery store, is a positve vote for the continuation of a No income producing/No job creating/ugly weed farm. Get the self-serving small-minded politicians out of this debate, and let the "community" and their
ReplyDeletecommon sense prevail.
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ReplyDeleteWhy would the city let these three fools decide the fate of a good project. These guys don't like anybody or anything. They just cranky Racine screw balls. Go Tom! Good luck kickin em in the ass.
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ReplyDeleteIt is because of crap like this that makes people mistrust government. Why does Racine always destroy business? If Tousis was a member of an "oppressed group" the mayor would be falling all over himself with our money.
ReplyDeleteThe Three Stooges or Dumb Dumber and Dumbest. Which one is it?
ReplyDeleteSomeone should call Vince McMahon, maybe they could have a cage match to decide this.
ReplyDeleteThose on Douglas Ave should consider looking at the image all those empty storefronts presents to visitors.
Wait till Namowicz's and Mitch's BID crashes and burns. Every big business on Douglas Ave is against you taking their money. Your building is a hunk of garbage and if you want to improve it, use your money not ours. Losers.
ReplyDeleteUntil Racine rids itself of lame alderpersons and mayors, Racine goes down the tubes. Bad decisions, bad business moves leaves Racine left in the state it's in. Just look around, empty storefronts, run down homes, this city is a memory of what it used to be due in large part to our lame so- called leaders! Re-election time can't come soon enough!
ReplyDeleteWe alrwady know what's going to happen Thursday. The Good Ole' Boys club will kill it dead. Sad fact but it's true. Everyone on that commitee with the exeption for Shields, is part of the same insider network. Bye Bye
ReplyDeleteBTW. Mitch is just mad because Tom has been kicking his butt up and down Douglas Ave since he opened across the street. I am sure he'll get payback Thursday.
ReplyDeleteJIM SPANGENBERG KILLED WEST RACINE! VOTE HIM OUT DISTRICT 13!
ReplyDelete"Wait till Namowicz's and Mitch's BID crashes and burns. Every big business on Douglas Ave is against you taking their money. "
ReplyDeleteTypical Douglas Ave business attitude - gimme gimme gimme - but no one wants to pay. Why should the city invest anything on Douglas Ave with this kind of attitude?
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ReplyDeleteA bad decision is to have a gas station on that corner.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Namowitz or Wemmert, but I suspect they don't care for Tousis. Are they mean spirited or do they know Tousis for who he is. He's no angel either.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I would like the project to continue.
Just kill it Dickert? Why would we want anyone to dish out $4.2 million to revitalize West Racine? We don't need an outsider to fix the area we have Spanky and Wilson and their highly maintained facilities! No need to let this happen.
ReplyDeleteThe West Racine Grocery will be nothing more then a "Stop and Rob" this whole project simply is not go for West Racine IMHO Tom if approved will pull shady deals and bring a Hooter's lite to the area.
ReplyDelete"HELDING FOR MAYOR 2011"
ReplyDeleteSeems like a OK plan. Good luck Gus and Vicky. I am sure you'll do just fine.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Dave Namowicz is the simple fact that he heads the Douglas Ave. Bid and by my estimates maybe pays in $100 per year and that is a generous estimate, yet he complains about what everyone wants to pay in. Why don't you do all the paying Dave and we will let you pick out all of the colors of the light poles. You already lied to everyone on Douglas, we are on to you. Also, Dave would like to see HWY 32 extended further down Douglas past his theatre so he we be able to make a nice little profit. Stop using your connections and relationship with KN to make yourself money. If you want the BID pony up all the money or shut up.
ReplyDeleteThe city wants to move Hwy32 so it can repave Douglas with an 80% state DOT contribution. It has nothing to do with any theaters.
ReplyDelete"In my opinion, prior to any board member regestering and opposing vote to the West Racine Grocery Store plan, they should be required to furnish at least one alternate idea accompanied by an associated business plan."
ReplyDeleteWhy? A bad idea can be a bad idea even without a good idea to compare it to. The "take what we can get" mentality will do us no favors.
Our City Government is a joke! Dickert and Spanky MUST GO!
ReplyDeleteDave - why are you opposed??
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ReplyDeleteWow 8:26. Unless you are Mr. Niemiec or Mrs. Namowicz you'd better be dang sure of facts and really, is this the forum?
ReplyDeleteI like all of Tom's Trolls on this subject. Guess it pays well
ReplyDeleteHow did Dave N. get hooked up with Wispark? Did RCEDC help him out? Sure looks like the building on 4 mile turned out to be lucrative after looking like laggard for all those years.
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