tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post3672461423085484113..comments2011-01-04T20:49:52.950-06:00KeyRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122444352271115764noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-12153054015964698322009-09-30T14:40:30.920-05:002009-09-30T14:40:30.920-05:00Anon:<br /><br />I know all about risk and the business of developing real estate and how the golf course proposals will work. You obviously don&#39;t.<br /><br />None of the $5 million you mention is to develop the developer&#39;s land. The land for the golf course will be deeded over to the City, who will spend $5 mill or more to turn it into a golf course. Sure, it makes the surrounding land more attractive, but the developers still have to risk alot of money to develop it.<br /><br />Developers put millions of dollars into getting raw land ready to sell lots, most often financed by banks. And, when they do begin to sell, banks take almost all of the proceeds so the developers sees very little until the loan is paid off. A typical loan structure calls for the bank loan to be fully paid off when 60% of the lots are sold. So, the developers take a huge risk because they are last in line to get paid.NotMyFlopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-83328201485704777452009-09-30T11:13:03.895-05:002009-09-30T11:13:03.895-05:00NOT MY FLOP,,, some one needs to teach you about RISK,,, taking 5 million dollars of taxpayer money to develop your land is not a RISK....using 5 million dollars of YOUR $$$ is a risk.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-25618038434920055802009-09-30T11:09:37.282-05:002009-09-30T11:09:37.282-05:00if a golf course is such a GOOD DEAL why use <br />5 million in taxpayer dollars to build it,,more evidence<br />on why Laredo never will progress,, idiot elected officials, easily manipulated by the special interest<br />corporate welfare puppeteers. I&#39;m against welfare<br />subsidy of all types, personal and corporate..<br /><br />and I&#39;m for personal responsibility and government providing the least amount of services as possible.<br /><br />stick to police and fire protection and leave entertainment, housing, and economic activity<br />to the private sector.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-18760414395991907152009-09-30T09:54:53.984-05:002009-09-30T09:54:53.984-05:00The Mines Rd. course being developed by the City is using river water, not treated City drinking water. This water has already been allocated via water rights for irrigation purposes. <br /><br />The water arguement against a golf course, at least the ones being proposed near the river doesn&#39;t, well, hold water.<br /><br />As far as residents with no running water, the state and county have come along way in getting utilities to these areas. Millions and millions of tax dollars have been spent to help these residents out who were taken advantage of by unscrupulous colonia developers that took advantage of a badly written development law (that has since been changed).NotMyFlopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-19841181793220204232009-09-29T18:49:43.648-05:002009-09-29T18:49:43.648-05:00Golf courses consume too much water in desert environments, which is what Laredo is. If they plan on using reclaimed water, then great. If not, it&#39;s immoral. There are people in Webb County with no running water. How can one justify spending water on green lawns for the enjoyment of a few and not for children who need to take a bath in the morning before school.<br /><br />The problem in Laredo is not the golf courses, it&#39;s the attitudes of the elected officials and quite frankly, a lot of the people. As the rest of the country goes green, Laredo is not doing it&#39;s fair share. One day the government ( or the environment) is going to force a lot of changes on the American people and believe me, Laredoans are going to be hard hit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-41442065646634119042009-09-29T16:09:29.600-05:002009-09-29T16:09:29.600-05:00Golf courses aren&#39;t &quot;good business&quot; - but they are necessary if you want to attract companies to locate here. Affordable, quality public golf is sorely needed in this town. <br />So, we will have a taxpayer-owned course; there is no way around that. It ain&#39;t about water parks, it ain&#39;t about making money - it&#39;s about making Laredo more attractive to industry.<br />Yes, the landowners are willing to donate the land free to increase the value of the surrounding acreage. No secret about that. And, frankly, nothing wrong with that. It&#39;s a risk these families are willing to take.NotMyFlopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-14430503747412962202009-09-29T16:05:50.026-05:002009-09-29T16:05:50.026-05:00golf courses are money losers but provide a beautiful landscaped back drop for developers to charge for <br />residential lots... too bad Laredo citizens are idiots and<br />don&#39;t realize they are being screwed by their own beloved elected officials.<br /><br />if golf courses were good business, why would they<br />need taxpayer subsidiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-89629500407929758242009-09-29T14:40:32.824-05:002009-09-29T14:40:32.824-05:00Why don&#39;t they just get out of the golf course business altogether?KeyRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122444352271115764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455651635125310995.post-39478071372426593602009-09-29T14:00:10.249-05:002009-09-29T14:00:10.249-05:00I&#39;m still curious where the County is going with this. I&#39;m not sure there&#39;s enough demand to justify 2 public courses. And the City seems to be way ahead of the game with the course they are planning out on Mines Rd.NotMyFlopnoreply@blogger.com