Highway 54 Project Faces Opposition
By: Nichole Berlie
Updated: July 10, 2007
A multi-million dollar project being planned along Highway 54 in Owensboro is facing some backlash from the community.
About 50 people showed up for a public hearing Tuesday night on the "Super-TIF" project.
Many people are worried the new project will take attention off of much-needed downtown redevelopment.
Zev Buffman, Executive Director of the Riverpark Center, says, "Human nature and politics are funny things. You focus on big projects and forget about other ones. You take your eye off the ball, but were still downtown."
Mayor Tom Watson says although the Highway 54 project could net several million dollars in returned tax money from the state, thanks to a special tax increment financing plan, that doesnt mean local officials are turning their backs on downtown Owensboro. Watson says, "Whether its an outdoor arena, a small hotel, conference rooms, theres a multitude of things that can happen down there."
The highway 54 project isnt set-in-stone yet - planners still need approval from lawmakers in Frankfort.
