Two updates since the post below!
– The all-volunteer Lakewood Planning Commission voted to exclude the Gravelly Lake Drive from the tax incentive. But it is up to the Lakewood City Council to make the decision. You can read more in a post here.
– The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is asking the City Council to rethink its plans to extend the tax incentive to the area with many small businesses and the former library site. You can read the chamber’s letter to the Planning Commission here.
SAVE LAKEWOOD’S SMALL BUSINESSES
The Lakewood City Council is considering a tax incentive that would encourage apartment buildings instead of local businesses and the library site along Gravelly Lake Drive south of the mall. We will be speaking out about this at City Hall at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 21.
Why this matters:
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This incentive gives landowners and developers money to replace independent small businesses with apartments.
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There are plenty of empty or trashy lots in Lakewood. Why push out our local shops that are run by our neighbors and not big chains?
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The former library site has been public land for decades. Why create an incentive to hand it over to private developers?
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You pay taxes. So should others.
Here are some of the businesses and buildings targeted by the box apartments tax incentive:
We don’t oppose housing. Of course not. We just think it should be done right. Small businesses make Lakewood unique. We should add housing without losing what makes our community special.
Lakewood should be more than a place to get your car oil changed. Independent small businesses should have a home here too.
Take Action:
Attend the City Council public comment hearing:
Monday, April 21, at 6:00 PM
Lakewood City Hall
Speak out or just show up in the room. Numbers matter! We need the council to know that you want to save Lakewood’s unique character.
Email City Leaders Today:
Let them know we support small businesses AND smart housing solutions.
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Protect Lakewood’s Small Businesses
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The Fine Print
If you’d like to know more about the tax exemption and this issue:
Here’s how the city describes the tax exemption: https://cityoflakewood.us/multi-family-tax-exemption/
If you’d like to hear more about the city’s plan to attract thousands of new apartments, you can watch this hearing: https://www.youtube.com/live/PCVLtIN_OY4?si=NFYprStFDAhsY8E2&t=3202
You can hear how and why the city thinks the Clover Park Shops, a small business incubator, is “underutilized;” https://www.youtube.com/live/PCVLtIN_OY4?si=g1vVwmV9ZtnSpZ_O&t=3840