Does this now mean that Mr. Levitt will be pushing for bike tunnels and ice rinks too since the city now seems to be rolling in dough?

WOW- he really needs more money to fix up his drecrepit stuff that he wont fix on his own because he is too cheap. Take some of the mucho money you earn from those towers and fix your properties YOURSELF.
When was it now in 2008? That the daughter was working on plans to fix the Monteray!!
WHATEVER!!

Bella- actually there may be help for you. Depending on what neighborhood you live in there is help. Not sure who to call on this. Start with a number of somebody in the Municipal building. Al Huelicks office maybe.

This seems like we're missing some imput from "the other side ". Maybe a member of the dda (or two) could shed a little light on the reasoning behind this award. There's got to be some explanation.

Few people realize how difficult and expensive it is to own an historic property in downtown Janesville, or any business property in Janesville. This was a good thing to do -- I'm really surprised it happened.

I'm with dkush21. I need a new driveway, insulation, and windows. Where's my grant? No, seriously - where is it? Does this city only give grants to wealthy real estate speculators who squander their projects? While a large portion of the city's population is looking at foreclosures because they can't afford to stay in their homes, often in need of repair? How about turning that TIF money into grants for regular home owners? Some of us could do a lot with $3-4,000, and it would make a lot of neighborhoods look nicer and give people a reason to stay in their homes. So tired of seeing the wealthy get all the benefits when they are the ones responsible for their own failed investments. And by the way, no one gives a hoot about "downtown". It's just not a priority right now for any of us.

If the city and Mr. Graft want to work out a tiff loan, fine. I don't feel it should be a community developement grant, two very differant programs, nothing in common.

I wish there were some way of preserving the smell of the men's room at the old Jeffris theatre. That is an odor I shall never forget.

does this mean GM is coming back?

Sigma40, any historic or aesthetic value to the old Jeffris Theater was pretty much destroyed a) when they cut the auditorium into two smaller screens and b) when the fire pretty much ravaged the front facade. I'm not aware that Grafft owned the property at that time. The demolition was required by the city for safety reasons, but Grafft wants to keep this portion of the structure for his redevelopment of the Monterey Hotel site.
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There's nothing really unusual with the city putting funds into downtown rehabilitation, so this hardly sets some kind of precedent.
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I'm less happy with the reduction in funds to two badly needed safety net programs given the vast reservoir of need due to our current economy. But where they money comes from is to some extent a separate issue.

Isn't his plan to gut the building and make it into a parking lot for the hotel? The facade is just to make the milwaukee street side look like a real building is behind there.
I say he can have the grant when he presents a solid business plan to re-use the hotel building. Until then, don't take the money from ECHO and Healthnet.

Its a tragedy that they tore it down in the first place. And didnt the owner get fined for not taring it down in time? Now they are going to give him money? Can I get some free money to re-shingle my garage?

Htc, Unfortunatly redoing the fascade is not going to increase the tax base. The inside has to be of some use and it is in shambles. Will he (graft) continue to develope the property?

Also , there were many other small business people passed over and the dda committee chose this one.

Why does this city always do things for adults wish list and always put kids wish list on the back burner that never gets done. These kids have been asking for a skate park for 10 yrs and you just shove them aside. Graff asked for money to fix his building and whamo you give him money. You built dawson baseball park for adults to millions of dollars and can not spend one dime on a kids park.

I would love too know how any council member can justify giving money out for this type of project right now. STOP THE HANDOUTS.

Tear the building down. Make a nice vacant lot, then build a nice building and donate it to Cozy Inn so elderly people don't have to climb up those stairs for a nice Chinese meal. The folks at Cozy Inn have been good citizens for a long time and they deserve a nice new place. Or, take the money and build the skate park the kids have wanted for a long, long time.

Read the article on the latest TIF district that is being dissolved. $1.67 million dollars being returned to taxing districts.

STOP SPENDING !!!!!!!!

This may make me un-popular but I think it's a good use of incentives. Building owner is contributing well over half the project. Tax base will increase and this could potentially spur additional development. Like it or not incentives are an important part of development.

“I would have a hard time sleeping at night taking money that would go to emergency rent assistance or emergency health care for a building project,Steeber said.” Are you sure its not your previous baised judgment, and poor decision making comming back to haunt you, or have converted from your evil ways, and joined the human race?

It would be nice to revitalize the downtown but is there a long term plan with goals? Why do you want put more money into that building? Like someone said before, tear it down and send the bill to the owner.

Here is a multi-millionaire that bought a building for next to nothing and now the city government in all of their infinite combined wisdom give tax payers money to fix it? absolutley preposterous ! This is the same guy who got Edgerton taxpayers to pay for new windows in the old Edgerton shoe factory building which he owns and now rents out. No wonder people don't like or trust government....

But the downtown need to be revitalized to bring in the businesses! LOL

This is another poor decision from our wonderful officials.

Priorities all screwed up again! This is a regular occurrence here in Janesville, isn't it?!
Since when do you take money from the needy and give it to the owner of this building to fix it up? Tear it down or let the owner take care of it! By the way, I need a new roof, carpet, driveway and other numerous things that I cannot afford right now to improve my property. Can you spare some money for me too?

So Grafft leaves a building looking like Hell and the City gives him money to fix it? What kind of precedent does that set? Can anyone tear half a building down, leave the rest looking llike crap for years and then get City money to improve it?

Do you think $4,000 mean more to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the unemployed or to a mulit-millionaire property owner who is apparently living off the government to a certain extent. Something about this just seems so wrong and unjust.

Anybody see anything out of place concearning this "grant" awarded to Mr. Graft? Even if the city manager has to get it from echo or health net.?