A few years ago two local contractors approached the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) with a proposal to buy two lots in the southeast corner of the Business Development Area in order to build affordable housing. They were told that residential housing was not one of the usage mandates for the BDA, so that plan never materialized.
Jump forward to 2013 and the EDA is now going to give those same lots to the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) in order to build… residential housing. I applaud the intention of the EDA and I am fully aware that affordable housing is needed in Cook County but there are two sides to that coin. Along with affordable housing we need decent paying jobs.
I propose that if the EDA is going to give this asset to the AEOA, an asset that was developed at taxpayer expense, that they make the transfer conditional on the AEOA using only Cook County contractors and material suppliers for any development on these properties. Yes, it might cost a bit more, we all know the cost of living is higher in Cook County, so doesn’t it make sense to keep as many of our local tax dollars local as possible?
There should also be a requirement that certain efficiency, design and durability/ maintenance goals be met.
Chris Norman
Grand Marais
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