The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel weighs in on the Fountains of Franklin-Fox property kerfuffle.
[Fountains of Franklin developer Dave] Hintzman contends that the Foxes never obtained the approvals needed for their various ventures, and that they’re interfering with his ability to lure investors and retailers to his planned Fountains of Franklin shopping center next door.
He contends that the city is dragging its feet on enforcement in deference to hometown developer Mark Carstensen — a frequent contributor to city causes and candidates — whose Shoppes at Wyndham Village, at Highway 100 and W. Drexel Ave., is competing for similarly upscale tenants.
...
Hintzman sees Carstensen’s hand in the lack of a resolution, saying he’s repeatedly photographed the rival developer’s Cadillac Escalade on the Fox property.
The Foxes say Carstensen has been helping them “to understand our rights.” They’ve known him for years, they said, and he’s looking out for their best interests.
Carstensen did not return a call for comment.
What could possibly be suspicious about that? (And "Carstensen did not return a call for comment" is one of the most common phrases used in MJS stories about Franklin).
The Journal Sentinel story emphasizes the emotional wear and tear this experience is having on the elderly Foxes, building to this crescendo:
The Foxes, meanwhile, say they’re stressed beyond their ability to cope. He’s been taken to the hospital with chest pains, she said, and she cannot sleep at night.
“They’re going to kill us,” said Verna Fox, 74, standing on the stoop with her husband.
“We had a very peaceful life here until a year ago,” said her husband, who believes he’ll die if he retires. “We just want to be left alone.”
Pretty much covered all the bases there. And, earlier, Mr. Fox's service in WWII is mentioned (“I never thought, when I was in Europe and calling out artillery fire, that I’d ever have to come home and defend my own property.”)
Who can't empathize with the Foxes? It's an easy story to spin: Evil developer and predatory local government looking to toss longtime hardworking residents out on their ears. (Or even kill them, apparently.)
But, emotion aside, this difficult situation begs some equally difficult questions if viewed dispassionately:
- Would a 45 year-old businessperson be given the same wide berth (i.e. allowed to operate and claim for tax purposes businesses without city approvals) if he or she was in the Foxes position?
- Related: Are developers from outside Franklin watching this and taking note of the fact that they would be dipping their toes into unpredictable, emotion-ruled waters if they tried to propose something significant and far-sighted in these city limits?
- If the Fox case is any indication, why should anyone in Franklin, from homeowners building patio additions to commercial locations altering their services, feel bound to seek permits and or approvals from the city? (Am I a sucker because I got all those permits to rebuild my basement after the flood?)
- I'm not Dr. Phil, but I knew from day one that the Foxes would not want to budge regardless of financial offers (I made a few inquires and the writing was on the wall). Why didn't Dave Hintzman realize this? Or, if he knew this, why didn't he take it as seriously as I did? (Anyone with parents or grandparents knows what stubbornness is all about, right?)
- Has a truly generous offer been made to buy the Fox property? If so, without regard to sentimental attachment (which is the wild card here, I'm guessing); at 74 and 78 years of age, wouldn't a generous buyout of their property - - which is located on a busy arterial road heavily trafficked by dust-spouting trucks from the quarry across the street - - represent a wonderful culmination of the Fox's years of work? And what says Mr. Fox can't go on happily working in a new - - better - - location?
- It is to developer Mark Carstensen's distinct advantage if the Foxes, against all logic, decide to stay put and hopelessly bisect the Fountains of Franklin, which rivals his Shoppes at Wyndham Village. Can he possibly be "looking out for their best interests," or, indeed, the community's best interests?
- A successful Fountains of Franklin (with a viable site plan) is advantageous to the city of Franklin. A bisected site plan will be just another inefficent boondoggle created simply to salvage a developer's investment (which we seem to specialize in here). Shouldn't city administration pitch in to help create a mutually satisfying solution? I.E., shouldn't we be seeing the mayor's vehicle at the Fox house now and then?
Nothing clear-cut about this particular situation, I'm afraid.
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