I think its universally understood that theyve degraded downtown greatly

Note: I thought about the jounge or politics boreds, but thought this was more about the city than politics and the Jounge would get this to more folks. If I'm wrong on this one, I'm sorry.

Dude is spot on re: the Hub

(C&P from Nextdoor)

Michael Ulmer
Clemson Historic DNA

I have stated here previously that I worked as a civil engineer for 40 years, a great portion of this time in construction. I have seen these pony shows from developers many times. One speaker Monday night mentioned that previous, potential developers of this property performed their traffic study on Christmas Eve. What about the Core’s study? Case in point, “store visits every 3 weeks.” “An average increase of 2+ seconds at traffic lights.” Laughable!

Commonality among developers is they will lie like dogs to make a fortune from destroying your town. The plan for 1,325 beds will further decimate Clemson’s traffic. Our traffic patterns, due mostly to limitations from the lake will not allow a single additional dense project. ZERO! NONE! Perhaps, rather than dredging the lake we can fill it and create alternative traffic routes. This sounds no more insane than what you are attempting to do. Has CC obtained a copy of Core’s study and had an independent group look at the parameters that led them to these absurd findings?

An example: when Harris Teeter built a store on Augusta Street in GVL just across from my house, they too had a traffic study. They claimed it created, “Zero Impact” on our traffic. I simply raised my hand and asked, “who solicited this study and who paid for it.” One of the developers meekly said, “we did.” An audible laugh… for something sadly not amusing. After completion of this store, you cannot imagine the radical measures GVL is now debating to remedy the marked increase in traffic and the continuous collisions occurring at this very intersection. The least of these remedies includes, running traffic through a bank parking lot. I am not kidding. And guess what, just like The Hub, once done, it will be too late.

Next door to the aforementioned Harris Teeter, Chick-Fil-A bought a tract of land and this same process ensued. They could only provide around 200 ft. of drive-through, which was woefully insufficient. Traffic would have piled up and down busy Augusta Street.

The residents formed and fought against it. CITY COUNCIL DID NOT APPROVE IT! Chick-Fil-A sold the track to a bank and moved on. No hard feelings. No law suits. No threats to the mayor and CC. No Chick-Fil-A. This my friends - is strong leadership. Also, this should be an enormous red flag regarding the developer you are in bed with. And there many similar examples to this level of leadership everywhere, just not here.

Stick with me here. I have been an avid skier most of my life and adore the NC mountains. I encourage everyone to refer to the link below. Developers built a large condo development atop the ridge of Sugar Mountain. The Hub will be its sister property. Every North Carolinian loathes this property, including those that allowed it to happen. And those that did now live in disgrace.
Cut and paste this link:
https://carolinapublicpress.org/17499/the-view-from-the-top-the-battle-over-mountaintop-development-in-wnc/

I’ll close with what I consider the most profound statement made in the past ten years. It was discovered, during discovery, of the law suits swirling around the plagued Boeing 737 Max-9. In an email a Boeing engineer stated that the Max-9 was, “designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by the monkeys.”

Again, I am so proud of Lillian Boatwright, Alesia Smith and Catherine Watt. Great job ladies. I encourage all residents to vote out of office the mayor and every councilman as a dire point of for survival of Clemson.

We can remove them from office, but sadly cannot wash away their path of destruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9R3bu-lKOA&t=7430s

wilbur82®

All-In [47836]

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Joined: 11/15/99

Clemson CC Mtg re: The Hub more local than the OP

Apr 6, 2024, 8:50 AM

From the same guy:

The Hub Tragedy,

The city of Clemson is owned by the voting residents. Not the mayor. Not the city council, (CC). In fact, they are elected to protect every aspect of the city, especially from predatory developers.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the (CC) meeting on April 1st. I so desired to speak at this meeting, but my jeopardized immune response persuades me to refrain from close crowds. I hope that every resident will watch this meeting, at least the comments of the CC and mayor at the very end. Clemson has a you tube channel. I have provided a link to the meeting at the end.

My heart was with you all as I watched it live, and I was so proud of the residents of Clemson. One right after another stood and spoke from their hearts, passionately attempting to persuade CC to reject yet another impending disaster. (Is it true that another Bixby is planned for College Ave.)? Surely not?

All I was able to glean from this meeting was that the only council members representing this panel with any semblance of courage to do the right thing was every single councilwoman; Lillian Boatwright, Alesia Smith and Catherine Watt. I tip my hat to you all. There is certainly truth in the adage, if you want something done, or undone, ask a woman. You three deserve accolades from our city residents.

I was so deflated by the mayor’s comments. He, and others, referred to the dire financial consequences for Clemson if this project does not get approved. How on earth can the future of Clemson hinge on student housing tax revenue?????? Clemson has been here for over a century without this revenue and survived very well indeed. And I suspect the taxes have not been high. So, what is causing this voracious appetite for student tax revenue. We look to you for an answer to this specific question.

The mayor made particular reference to this frivolous law suit, seemingly anxious about it. The fact that these developers, while suing our city, were allowed into a CC meeting is weak leadership. Having a vote on this project under duress of legal proceedings is perhaps the most corrupt event I have witnessed in all my years of construction. And construction is teeming with corruption.

We need strong leaders that will not cower at the first draw of a bayonet. Also, ones that do what is best for the residents, and most importantly, are not submissive to the University, its president’s family and frivolous legal threats. At best, I think this is a major part of the issue here. We deserve so much better.

I believe that councilmen Bob and John’s polling of the residents on this proposal to be exceedingly flawed. Also, Bob, please do not diminish the citizens you had Monday night, as you did. Most residents I speak with have long given up on CC and the mayor, believing they do not care, even a little about their rights and wishes. Catherine and Alesia’s comments alluded to this and were spot on.

In my opinion, not a single comment the councilmen stated made ‘town’ or financial sense. They are focused on the tax revenues from the student housing. They claim, “Your taxes are low due to them.” My taxes on a residential lot in historic Clemson were $2,200 last year. My taxes on my very small $600K house in the city limits of GVL were $1,800 in 2022. These taxes do not seem low by any stretch of reality.

Drive no further than the city of Pickens. You will find low taxes and a city that is vibrant and on the upswing. Need I say which direction they have us screaming towards. Clemson did FINE prior to going into the student housing business and our town was awesome, accessible and very nice to visit. The city government has surrendered our town to those who will profit enormously, ($15M/year was mentioned), and to students living quarters.

If you need high density student housing to pay the taxes of our city, then something is dreadfully wrong here. And the residents have many questions. A few to start;
1) What did you do before you allowed the students to take over our town?
2) Why do we now need student housing tax revenue simply to survive?
3) What are you doing with the tax dollars?
4) Could it be, the many 1,000’s of added bodies now in town are consuming more than the tax revenue they provide?
5) If not, this is absolutely a government issue.
6) Why do you think it ok to surrender the town to student housing? We do not!

Also, impact fees were discussed several times, hinted as revenue. Impact fees are not revenue. Rather, they are fees to compensate the city for the current and future costs that will absolutely land on the city with this development. And they are typically never enough.

They are transforming the town of Clemson into a dormitory avenue, a massive student union. The M.E. professor commented, ‘residents can’t go downtown anymore.’ Why? Just as he said, “it is overrun.” You cannot find a parking place… EVER! I watch who is getting in and out of these cars along College Ave and it is students living in these massive complexes. So apparently, they do not provide sufficient parking for their own housing. And students will park along the city streets with the Hub’s 1,325 beds and only 600+ parking spots. Do you know of a student that comes to college without a car these days?

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Clemson City Council Meeting re: Keowee Trail

I'd give away 4 Publix for one Harris Teeter.***

Or Lowe's Foods***

Clemson CC Mtg re: The Hub more local than the OP

Thomas Wolfe was right - you can't go home again

Was the project Approved on Mon nite?***

4-3 in favor

Re: 4-3 in favor

No doubt real estate developers are scum of the earth, worthless lying POS

When all the profs are replaced by AI and

Ratteree Drive.***

Truth:

The Clemson mayor and CC is as bought and paid for

blwing chunks thanks***

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