It's been a cool summer in Duluth -- at least for business. With great fanfare, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson announced the city's refusal to help the city of Superior develop Clough Island. Then the city has gone to court seeking eminent domain to take property away from the Voyageur Motel. While waiting for the decision, bids on the parking ramp designated for the property came in $1 million over projections. Meanwhile, the Duluth Economic Development Authority has failed to reach an agreement with the University of Minnesota Duluth to create a business incubator in the Tech Village.
A couple of weeks ago, the city organized a charrette that came up with all sorts of nifty ideas to improve the downtown area. Unfortunately, those are just ideas. When it comes to nuts-and-bolts development, Duluth continues to struggle mightily.
We agree that Duluth should not pay for Superior's development, but everything has a price, and if Duluth can make a badly needed buck, then the idea may have merit. If not, would a quiet phone call to Superior Mayor Dave Ross have been sufficient? Why do Duluth politicians have to wear their anti-development sentiments on their sleeves?
The city's budget fundamentals continue to deteriorate. The solutions lie in raising taxes, cutting spending -- or economic growth
The last is not a sometime thing. The city does not have to cave in to either the Voyageur or UMD. However, it does need to figure out how to reach solutions without appearing to be the bully. If the local economic climate is to heat up, a new approach is needed.
