Sophia Square: is a smooth landing possible? A “death spiral” is a situation that keeps getting worse and that is likely to end badly with great harm or damage being caused. Currently, Sophia Square has 24 available units out of a total of 202. This is an occupancy rate 0f 88.1% or a vacancy rate […]
Category: Issues
Maintenance is Carmel’s Achilles Heel. It is an obvious issue at Sophia Square.
With the elimination of the Clerk-Treasurers office Mayor Brainard has closed the door on any oversight. What we think is important is not as relevant as the actual tenant’s own comments. Here is a sampling: https://www.apartments.com/sophia-square-carmel-in/dxkz8qj/#reviewsSection So why do the tenants complain? Could we find indications of deferred maintenance from a quick […]
Sophia Square – The Promotional Plans
So what is the reality today at Sophia Square on Main Street? Next: We will explore this much-ballyhooed project less than 10 years after this high standard was set in Carmel Citizens expectations.
PART 2: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?
In Part 1, we described the delicate balance of municipal government finance – revenues, expenses and the tax base. We also discussed how any increase or decrease in one requires an offsetting increase or decrease in the others to keep thing in balance. Since first elected as mayor of Carmel in 1995 – nearly […]
PART 1: Just how does Carmel keep tax rates low while spending more and more each year?
A major talking point of Carmel mayor Jim Brainard and those councilors aligned within him on the City Council is how Carmel’s taxes have remained low, even as the city and demand for its services have both grown substantially. Even as they make this claim, the city budget — and spending — grows year after […]
$60 million courtesy of Clay Township: Carmel’s debt addiction keeps growing
“Where there is no accountability, there will also be no responsibility.” ― Sunday Adelaja The Carmel City Council has approved an interlocal agreement with Clay Township for the latter to fund $60 million in community projects. In the process, the agreement has raised several eyebrows and many questions. As reported on June 4, 2019 in […]
How Carmel’s elected incumbents can claim the lowest tax rate in the county, yet you end up paying more and more to the city each year
“There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.” – Robert Heinlein As Carmel property owners across the city opened their 2019 property tax bills, they discovered sizable increases over amounts owed in 2018. With the […]
Noblesville Levinson Building; Will it ‘create a Frankenstein of design that tries to please everyone’?
How high is it? – On February 12, 2019 Noblesville Common Council quietly passed Ordinance 07-01-19 allowing “The Levinson” to violate the existing Downtown District height ordinance restricting buildings of 4 stories or 50 feet. (Quietly, because nowhere in the Council Agenda or Minutes is the word “Levinson” used). The new Ordinance states: “the maximum […]
Your vote: Your right. Your obligation. Your community’s need.
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” – Abraham Lincoln “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, […]
Jim Brainard: deceptionis consilium
Six-term incumbent Carmel mayor Jim Brainard faced off against his primary challenger, Hamilton County Councilor Fred Glynn in a mayoral debate held at the Ritz Charles on Tuesday evening, April 15th. Both candidates are to be commended for agreeing to this debate and giving Carmel’s voters a glimpse into their respective visions for the city, […]