Douglas redevelopment not a done deal

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 12:50 p.m.

Commissioners, acting in their capacity as the Douglas County Redevelopment Agency, met Thursday with an advisory panel they created to discuss redevelopment plans.

Officials have been exploring use of redevelopment to install sewer, water and other infrastructure to serve a commercial area near the Carson-Douglas line. They also have talked of using it to provide infrastructure to several north and west Carson Valley areas.

Advisory Panel member Tony Prestigiacomo said some residents agree with those ideas - but others are skeptical about a lack of details, having their neighborhoods declared blight zones, and redevelopment impacts.

Commissioners said they're happy people care, but it's too early to get answers.

"A lot of these questions we won't know the answers to until we ask the questions, and that's why we're here," said Jacques Etchegoyhen. "We're fighting over what color the eggs should be, and we haven't decided whether we're buying a chicken, an ostrich or an emu yet."

"We can't rush in and do financial analysis because we haven't identified what we're going to do and where we're going to do it," added Kelly Kite. "It's not a fact of going too fast. It's a fact of we don't know what we're going to do."

"There's been a lot of hype, misconceptions and concerns," said Steve Weissinger. "I think this whole process is perceived as being a done deal, and it's still in its infancy."

"This is research and development," agreed Don Miner.