Sell Belle Isle?

Shollin · January-12-13, 11:22 AM

Some developers are pushing the idea of selling Belle Isle to private investors. Seems they have this idea of making Belle Isle its own commonwealth.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...ion_offer.html

**401don** · January-12-13, 11:29 AM

The city has so many urgent problems to deal with and 50 people, including ceo's of Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Economic Club, have nothing better to do than listen to this presentation? No wonder things are such a mess.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-12-13, 11:33 AM

Consider it is being proposed by the Mackinaw Center. The MC are a bunch of right wing nuts who won't be happy until there are no taxes or workers rights.

Shollin · January-12-13, 11:39 AM

I wasn't opposed to building a casino on Belle Isle, but this seems to far. How does a commonwealth help Detroit? Detroit won't be getting any tax revenue from it. It would be nice if Belle Isle had attractions to draw people to it like the aquarium and zoo. I wish they would've built the science center and planetarium on Belle Isle. Make a campus of attractions.

**Patrick** · January-12-13, 11:46 AM

Why can't these Ayn Rand types just move to Somalia?

**DetroitPlanner** · January-12-13, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Why can't these Ayn Rand types just move to Somalia?

No one would listen to them. Somailians are smarter than americans! LOL

**artds** · January-12-13, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Consider it is being proposed by the Mackinaw Center. The MC are a bunch of right wing nuts who won't be happy until there are no taxes or workers rights.

Bingo. I'm an evil suburbanite and a big fan of Gov. Snyder, but when I hear the words "Mackinaw Center", I automatically think "rightwing, tea-party bullshit" and I tune out. Those people should not be taken seriously by anyone.

**artds** · January-12-13, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Shollin

I wasn't opposed to building a casino on Belle Isle, but this seems to far. How does a commonwealth help Detroit? Detroit won't be getting any tax revenue from it.

Well, just to play Devil's Advocate here, did you even read the article? The "benefit" to Detroit would be the $1 Billion sale price.

Shollin · January-12-13, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by artds

Well, just to play Devil's Advocate here, did you even read the article? The "benefit" to Detroit would be the $1 Billion sale price.

In a city as large as Detroit, that billion dollars would help them get through what, 1-3 years? Like I said, they won't be getting any long term revenue. Plus, whose going to maintain the infrastructure that would be needed to support 35,000 people? This has no long term gain for the city.

**Gistok** · January-12-13, 12:19 PM

Sounds like they want to set up a Monaco type tax haven. The way things are going in France... I bet French would become its' official language!

**Gistok** · January-12-13, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Shollin

In a city as large as Detroit, that billion dollars would help them get through what, 1-3 years? Like I said, they won't be getting any long term revenue. Plus, whose going to maintain the infrastructure that would be needed to support 35,000 people? This has no long term gain for the city.

Charge $50 per head to get on and off the island!

**Lowell** · January-12-13, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by artds

Well, just to play Devil's Advocate here, did you even read the article? The "benefit" to Detroit would be the $1 Billion sale price.

For $1 billion? Not even 1/3 of the annual CoD budget? And all we get is this [maybe?] Ann Rand amusement park on our border? Is this the modern version of selling Manhattan for $24 worth of trinkets to the Dutch?

You just can't make this **** up. I so am disappointed with the lack of ambition in this fantasy. Why don't we get a 300 story world's largest skyscraper or even a climate control bubble dome? What tiny boring visions these dreamers have. It looks like they plopped Troy onto Belle Isle.

I notice the Detroit Yacht Club survives [surprise, surprise] and maybe the Detroit Boat Club gets saved. Sorry about Kahn's Casino and a few historic picnic shelters and bridges. Ah well, that's progress and I guess we should get out of its way.

**Lowell** · January-12-13, 12:39 PM

Good grief, this gets hilarious.

Here's the scenario for the Commonwealth of Belle Isle that Lockwood and others want to see: Private investors buy the island from a near-bankrupt Detroit for $1 billion. It then would secede from Michigan to become a semi-independent commonwealth like Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Under the plan, it would become an economic and social laboratory where government is limited in scope and taxation is far different than the current U.S. system. There is no personal or corporate income tax. Much of the tax base would be provided by a different property tax — one based on the value of the land and not the value of the property.

Whoa even a Cabbage Patch for the wannabees.

It would take $300,000 to become a "Belle Islander," though 20 percent of citizenships would be open for striving immigrants, starving artists and up-and-coming entrepreneurs who don't meet the financial requirement.

Among the citizenship requirements are a command of the English language, a good credit rating and no criminal record. Mogk adds that such a scenario would make the island "a drain of talent and resources" at the expense of Detroit.

We need a naming contest for this Republic. Aynrandia?

**gazhekwe** · January-12-13, 12:44 PM

Considering the apoplexy Council went into just about leasing it to the State, it seems about as likely to happen as gold dropping from the skies.

**Gistok** · January-12-13, 12:59 PM

.... the Commonwealth of Puerto Richo...

Also... does Gerard Depardieu have a good command of English??

**Guideboat** · January-12-13, 01:10 PM

The rendering is indeed completely boring. You think there would be some fantastical architecture for this pipe dream. Dome? Hell, how about floating condos, golden monorails, and mosaic covered pillboxes to protect the citizenry.

What a wet dream for these people. It is amazing anyone even took the time to create this presentation. I can imaging DAC parlor games where members imagine even more crazy additions, laugh, and have another swig of single malt.

**gazhekwe** · January-12-13, 01:13 PM

OK, let them build it. Then set up a toll booth charging a good stiff toll to get on or off the island. Or close the bridge and let them have their fun.

**downtownguy** · January-12-13, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

I notice the Detroit Yacht Club survives [surprise, surprise] and maybe the Detroit Boat Club gets saved. Sorry about Kahn's Casino and a few historic picnic shelters and bridges. Ah well, that's progress and I guess we should get out of its way.

I wonder if they plan to keep the US Coast Guard station, too?

**Patrick** · January-12-13, 01:35 PM

This reminds me of that Seasteading bullshit created by Patri Friedman [[Milton's grandson), except that it is a natural island.

**Richard** · January-12-13, 01:40 PM

It looks like a cruise ship,surrounded by water and they want to put a lake in front of the conning tower.

No way in this world they are going to take US soil and make it a version of a sovereign nation,of course you could make it cash up front and once they sign the papers you could invade it and claim it back no refunds,gather all of the thugs and tell them have at it and save the costs of armament.Quick billion.

I think it is a ploy/scam and typical throw some wild scheme out there to raise funds and walk away playing off of investors get rich quick greed.

Buy some dirt and take it three miles out and make their own island.

**Wesley Mouch** · January-12-13, 01:49 PM

Money isn't Detroit's problem. Money will only perpetuate incompetence.

**laphoque** · January-12-13, 01:54 PM

I mean, if they want to build something like this why don't they do it within the vacant land at Brush Park? Never mind, they're being completely facetious and wasting everyone's time.

**Pickford-Bentler** · January-12-13, 01:56 PM

Where are the people who clean up the bathrooms, sweep the streets, trim the hedges, clean up the snow, patrol the island going to live? If they are not to be allowed on the island, then how is a meager land tax going to pay for them? Is electrical power going to fart out their ass and turn the lights on? Rand followers should read this: No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
John Donne

**DetroitPlanner** · January-12-13, 01:57 PM

This keeps getting more bizarre. It looks like the Mackinaw Center is being taken for suckers because this is simply a work of science fiction:

http://www.commonwealthofbelleisle.com/belle-isle/

**Pickford-Bentler** · January-12-13, 02:04 PM

No, you are wrong. Followers of Rand are wealthy because they are a million times more productive than all the rest of us mediocrities who infest and bring down the USA. One of them will be able to construct a 30 story high rise in about three days all by his or her self. I find it very sad that we do not prostrate ourselves before their greatness.