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Source: Bismarck Tribune By ONDINE BAIRD Bismarck | Posted: Thursday, February 4 In response to Robert Verke’s Feb. 1 letter about the establishment of a Quiet Rail Zone in downtown Bismarck, I’d like to say that I’m happy that our city’s current leaders are siding with the wishes of the downtown residents and business owners and are using the Tax Increment Finance Fund as it was meant to be used: to improve and preserve the historic downtown. Let’s make no mistake about it: Our historic downtown isn’t just for a handful of businesses and residents who work and live here. Downtown Bismarck is here for the entire city to enjoy. Across America, downtowns are the vital heart of the city, tying together our various neighborhoods. Our entire city’s history lives in the downtown and it is our job to make sure it is preserved and protected for generations to come. Our city forefathers had the incredible foresight in 1976 to establish the TIF Fund so that our historic downtown wouldn’t fall to the same conclusion as many other downtowns would — into blight. Let’s just imagine, if you would, the tax dollars it would take today to save historic buildings that require much needed improvements. Or what the city would have paid in today’s dollars to fix the subsurface in-fill problems in the city’s sidewalks. Much more than what was gathering interest in our local banks for 30 years. Our downtown is experiencing a surge in private dollars invested, thanks in large part to the state-funded Renaissance Zone and the CORE programs, which are funded by the TIF Fund. In addition to the more than $13 million in private investments, over 120 new jobs and dozens of new businesses have been created in Bismarck, all due to Renaissance Zone and CORE. The next step in seeing our downtown grow is to get more people living downtown and attract yet more businesses. To attract residential and expand commercial development, it is imperative that we establish a Quiet Rail Zone. If we want to continue to see our beautiful, historic downtown grow and prosper — let’s respect the wishes of our forefathers and use the TIF Fund to the best of its ability and to do the most good for our entire city.
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