CooperGuy

The usual fall back when you have weak argument - you support this so you must be on the payroll. All I've said is that many of the Franklinton folks we've met with do not have access to the internet to post their thoughts on forums like this one. And they are very aware of the impacts, positive and negative. Of the opinions offered, the positives outweigh the negatives by a huge margin. Again, you or anyone else are welcome to come along and see for yourself. Seems a little odd that while you claim that property values decrease near racing venues (please provide some proof) a real estate company the size of ReMax would elect to sponsor the ARCA series (the type cars that would run at Cooper) for nearly 10 years - 2001 to 2010. Why would one of the largest real estate companies in the world support a sport that would be so devastating to their own industry?

By far, the majority of area residents seem to be pretty grateful for the opportunity for the creation on jobs, business development, and thankful that someone wants to clean up the area around Cooper. Unfortunately, most don't have the luxury of the internet so it's a little tough for them to post on forums like this. Our approach to gaining the opinion of Franklinton residents is a little different than yours. We'll go door to door (you are invited and welcome to come along) instead of basing the opinion of the entire neighborhood on a few contacts.

Claiming there is little support for the project from those in proximity to the stadium is an absolutely incorrect statement. There are of course some opponents to the project as there would be no matter what would be proposed for the stadium. In this case the opponents are a minority by far. Over 2000 petition signatures supporting the project have been collected directly from folks that live in Franklinton, just North of the stadium. The Southwest Area Commission (SWAC) voted unanimously in support. The Franklinton Board of Trade (businesses in the area) has also voted overwhelmingly in favor of the project. Residents that live closest to the stadium, apartment owners, and real estate owners have stood up at the local commission meetings to state their support. Don't believe that? I will challenge you or anyone else that claims the residents nearest the stadium don't support it to take a walk door to door and ask those same residents first hand. I'll be happy to go with you. This same offer has been repeatedly made to others proclaiming little support from people living near the stadium - no one seems to be willing to accept that challenge. Wonder why? The developer has maintained all along that first and foremost this is a jobs and economic development project for the Cooper site, and they are very willing to work with the neighborhood commissions for the benefit of the area. Consider that as indicated in the SWAC resolution supporting the project, the motion also calls for a good neighbor agreement that includes area residents and companies to receive first consideration for jobs and business. Does that sound like "status quo" for the area?