“VALUE ENGINEERING” SEEKS TO BRIDGE GAP …
|| By FITSNEWS || This website weighed in repeatedly against the government subsidization of a private developer’s downtown Columbia, S.C. “revitalization” project: But government didn’t listen …
We also weighed in repeatedly against the government subsidization of a private baseball stadium proposed within this broader renovation project … but again: Government didn’t listen.
The stadium was originally supposed to cost $35 million – but before construction even began its price tag had jumped to $37 million ($30 million from City of Columbia taxpayers, only $7 million from the private investors).
Now sources tell FITS the project – the brainchild of Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin – has come in “way” over budget.
“Design team won’t say publicly how much, but only that it is ‘way’ over budget and they are trimming and asking for value engineering from all sources,” someone familiar with the process tells FITS.
Wait … what’s “value engineering?”
“That is construction lingo for ‘how can we cut money out of job,'” our source explained. “Only way to do it is to cheapen things up. Decide what you can do without.”
Way to go, Columbia, S.C.
Seriously … can South Carolina’s capital city do anything without completely screwing the pooch?
And bear in mind this is one of two government-subsidized baseball stadiums in the city … well, three now that we think about it.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Building stadiums is not a core function of government. Nor is the higher education racket that effectively doubles as a modern-day slave market for talented athletes.
48 comments
Damn! Sounds like the cost of my hot dog and beer just went up.
I’m sure you’ll pay what ever you must to support the leftwing destroyers of America…You’ll pay until you’ve dried up every job in the country…and we cannot pay for you to live in leisure any more.
Boy, I’ve gotta have my brew!
And don’t forget the crack…you gotta have that…as long as I pay for it…
No thanks, I heard you’re a cheap date.
You won’t have money for hot dogs and beer if you own property in Columbia. Your taxes are going WAY up to pay for all this
Calm down, Mom…I’m not going to lose my house. If I can afford a $9 Corona at the Township, I’ll be fine, but not too happy about it…
But your property taxes will greatly increase to pay for this mess.
Haha! Don’t worry, Mom. You’ll still get that trip to Fla. this summer, but we might have to drive down. Tell Pops ‘night!
g’night, John Boy.
OR, atleast go WAAAAY up exponentially to cove the necessary water/sewer rebuild when the Feds take over. I worked for the Bombers and then later when they came to be the Greenville Drive. Top NOTCH organization with an ownership group that knew what to do. Much nicer park for MILLIONS less tax-payer hornswoggle too!. The team owner doesn’t even have 1000 likes on his Columbia Pro Baseball FB page.We the taxpayers need to demand “Show us YOUR money/Full Accountability” from this same owner. BUT ask for that ON his FB page and you get :”blocked”. What does Columbia Pro Baseball have to “hide”? Nothing BUT “NO MONEY” probably!. Back to Columbia Gov-Co. Everyone should DEMAND to find out what and how much Benjamin, Davis, and Runyon stand to gain personally if this goes through especially in merchandising, parking, rental space, etc.
LMAO – thanks for the laugh!
This will come a surprise to absolutely NOBODY. City administration in this town is one part clueless, 99 parts corrupt. This won’t likely be the last time they move the budget goalpost.
No prollems! Da bigga da cost overrun, da bigga da kickback!
Mayor Bojangles gone habs sump of dats.
Build it as cheaply as possible, that way when no one comes they can claim they should’ve built it bigger, and 50 years from now, they will build a bigger one.
Columbia = Detroit = Federal government
Liberal – especially those who vote on race-hate only – do it every time…
As a taxpayer in Richland county, I really hope that this development is a success. Given the idiots in charge here in Columbia and Richland County, I’m not holding my breath. I just hope the powers that be can keep that dump Sandhills going to keep as many cockroaches out there as possible.
If you consider dumping in billions of public dollars into a shrine to a Democrat god…it already is a success….and that’s ALL it will ever be…
As a taxpayer in Lexington county I really hope that this development is a complete failure. A high dollar development surrounded by the shittiest neighborhoods in Columbia… yeah, that wouldn’t be my first choice of a place to live when you’ve got quality new developments such as the Saluda River Club that have lower taxes and lower fees.
While they’re at it maybe they should look at putting in more student housing around USC, if the other 15 developers think that putting in 200-500 bed developments will be money makers why shouldn’t a 16th or 17th developer follow suit.
Ben Carson is going to launch his campaign from Detroit. So what’s your beef? Will his, and your, liberal buddy Al Sharpton be there? HAHAHA…how does it feel to always be wrong? So dbag Cruz has an epic fail by launching at nutjob Liberty U. (like I told you before it happened) and now Carson, who has no chance, will launch in a city you decry. How do you feel now, Charlie Brown? And you just got the PI$$ slapped out of you again. How about you go “blog” about that.
You’re just a Dumb@$$….plain and simple. I’ve frustrated you, and you are not sure how to approach that. You’re all over the road of ignorance….and you’re showing your lack of tact in trying (so hard)….
Actually, GT, it has more to do with most of the high-value property being off the tax rolls (unlike Greenville and Charleston). It doesn’t help when USC buys up land as investment and sits on it…. and pays no taxes. Then, the city has to pay a fortune for streets and infrastructure for all the students who pay no taxes. Add in all the government buildings that AGAIN pay nothing to the city, and you find that Columbia simply doesn’t have as much money coming in as Greenville or Charleston. Apples and oranges. Not to deny the corruption, but there are reasons that it is so much more noticeable than the corruption in other cities.
Your F*#king Mayor was runnin’ Ho’s at a junket that appeared to be influence-peddling… He was not tested for DUI after all-but killing a poor woman after his victory throw-down…
Blind allegiance to corrupt politicians…leads to collapse…
You’re some ignorant MoFos to think anyone believes the Spin Bull=S#!t you vomit up when your gods are caught being horrible…
Value Engineering sounds like structural collapse in waiting if you ask me. Charleston and Greenville both have nice minor league facilities, did anyone ask them how the did it?
Wouldn’t put it past Charleston to spend plenty of taxpayer money on theirs.
They had the Speaker of the House – hell yes, the money was funneled there.
They didn’t allow thieves and crooks to get involved in the projects.
Interesting….but not accurate.
I know how they did it. Look at your wealthy, where they they typically live? Look at income levels. Now I am a “little” out of the game with research, but I remember a time in the past couple years, that Greenville paid a buttload of taxes that were “spread” around.
I am of the strong opinion most of them went to Charleston. SC is a Repubican state, in 2012, I lost confidence in the Republican Party. I looked at the numbers. I followed them daily as if I were a Wall Street Banker. I don’t have that kind of time now, and lost desire. It is disgusting.
Who holds the purse strings? Therein lies your answer.
Speaking of screwing the pooch
http://www.wistv.com/story/28803876/man-accused-of-inappropriate-relationship-with-a-dog
It’ll be closer to $50 million by the time it’s done, and for the 200 regular season ticket holders they’ll have their choice of seats.
If they go cheap on food product they may have to call the toilet seats.
Projects like this are nothing more than money give always, everybody and their family is involved, they are all corrupt. In the end it’ll be pretty facades over junk buildings. Nothing will last and the thrives will be buying new 300s and rims…
It might make a decent place to put the tent city to house the seemingly ever-growing homeless population.
How about making the homeless the ground crew? Win win for the city.
I heard the bankers and bond lawyers made a fortune
Don’t forget the spook who sat by the door.
When? Did education become about sports? I am sure it goes all the way back to the Gladiators, but makes no sense to me. When I pay for an education, I expect my child to receive education, not based on sports performance, but academics. Unfortunately, most advisors only have time pro athletes, and depending on the college, which sport? Is it football? Baseball? Soccer? Wrestling? Or is it about learning?
Damn if I know, but it sure seems to be a waste of money unless you play sports.
Watch… the Mayor will try to pay for the stadium using water and sewer revenue… even though the sewer system is crumbling and the EPA is requiring Columbia to pay nearly a billion dollars for repairs. It’s the worst-kept secret at City Hall. That’s why Mayor is so defensive whenever Leona and Moe try to stop him from raiding the water-sewer fund. He has plans for that money!
they will use whatever taxpayer money, funds, available. We need to stop expecting more. Most of the people in office are in it for a game, not the people. Political favors that result in money gain or favor. It’s that simple. We are the pawns who keep voting their arses in office, and allow them to screw us over and over again.
Ever the petulant child, Columbia always seems to bitch and moan for what its two siblings Greenville & Charleston already have. Unfortunately, the banana republic that is Columbia will never progress until the collective IQ increases dramatically and the cronyism decreases significantly. If USC and the state capital weren’t there, it might resemble a city in Somalia.
No question that the three cities reflect the priorities and character of their respective Mayors. Smell that sewage along Columbia’s river front?
If it is Mayor T-bone’s “brain child” he was thinking with the “little head” again… as usual.
Just like Charleston’s baseball stadium, this one will flop even more. A total waste of time and money.
Atleast The Citadel gets to use the Riverdogs stadium.
The only home run that will ever be hit out that stadium is the one by the developers and their cronies
Hands off our Mayor’s cash cow.