Dixon-Funk Letters
The following exchange of letters shows the current status of the trolley project.
The key points of this letter from the Mayor to David Funk, of the Charles Street Development Corporation, are as follows. Comments are in italics.
Mayor: The idea of an additional special taxing district is dead. Try, instead, to get the money out of the existing special benefits districts along the route of the proposed trolley. The special benefits districts will either have to decrease the benefits they now give or increase the assessments to accomplish this, but the people won't notice what is going on.
Mayor: The not-for-profit institutions along the route should show their support of the proposed trolley by contributing to an escrow fund for its construction. David Funk says that this might not be possible because of the "financial difficulties" many of these institutions currently face.
Major developers should do something to show their commitment to the trolley. David Funk says, in his letter that they have received "contributions or commitments from developers in excess of $50,000. The project will cost close to $300,000,000.*
*I would tend to put in $300,000,000. as it is more realistic a cost to consider since new lines will have to be put in and the essential services are going to have to be moved. Some of service lines (sewage, water, gas, etc.,) are exceedingly old and I think that while the Federal Government may give the city some money to pay for the movement of these old systems, that there will be additional costs to be considered. Christian Wilson
The entire letter is here:
Letter from Shelia Dixon to David Funk
This is the response from David Funk.