Can somebody email Malloy about the blight? You are all right; it’s embarrassing and disheartening to see abandoned buildings and lots in the middle of downtown. We’re a vocal bunch and I think he’d like to know that this- more than Trump!- is the hot topic we are talking about. I like the “blight code” idea, too.

It would reinvigorate downtown Stamford, and lead to more housing, more job opportunities and more vendors competing for our business.

Staying revenue neutral — that is, not raising taxes in total — start reducing the millage rates on Stamford’s buildings, and increasing the millage rate on Stamford’s land values. The Hole in the Ground is roughly the same size as the Marriott property; the Marriott creates jobs, serves meals, provides hotel rooms and meeting spaces, while the HITG serves no one, creates nothing. And we penalize the Marriott for its building and garage. The HITG’s taxes and the Marriott’s taxes should be the same! Raise the HITG’s taxes, lower the Marriot’s taxes.

Entrepreneurs would flock here, because we would not penalize them for building a good productive building. Good productive buildings would house people, and employ people, and create venues for vendors eager to meet needs and wants.

Lower Bedford Street would be redeveloped into taller mixed-use buildings, supplying much-needed middle-income housing and affordable housing and a variety of vendors who meet the needs of residents. (I don’t think we need another Rodeo Drive East, and hope that Bedford Street would become a lively place for middle-income and working people, as well as for elderly drawn to downtown living by an affordable, walkable and even scooterable community.

Why penalize the people who are redeveloping existing buildings (e.g., on Long Ridge Road). I’d rather set up the incentives so that more of that sort of thing happens, rather than less.

At the same time, I’d like to keep more of the economic value of the land for use in Stamford, to meet Stamford’s needs, rather than watch it leave town into the pockets of REITS, corporations, family trusts, pension funds and endowments. Recycle the land rent here, and use it to make Stamford a healthy community with a lively economy.

What stands in the way?

1. We need the enabling legislation for so-called two-rate or split-rate property tax; Stamford is not the only CT city interested in this option.

2. We need to charge our assessor with valuing the land under condominiums, residential and commercial. Greenwich’s condos do not float in the air, and neither should Stamford’s. This will also nudge some of the older sprawling low-rise condo associations to realize that their buildings are an underuse of land which is very well-located, and to make good decisions for the future.

“September 6th, 2144 at 1:20 pm”

I am hugely in favor of the blight code mentioned above for Bedford St. If the Lodatos want to charge extravagant rents, which end up keeping people away, they should have to work on the properties’ fronts for appearance sake.

As for parking, though, I can’t think of much that can be done for Bedford St. I’m fortunate enough to live within walking distance of downtown, so I’ll go to Target for a few items now and then - but if I need something bulky or a bunch of little things that I can’t carry at once, I’m more likely to drive up to Norwalk and go to WalMart. I don’t have to pay for parking there, there are a couple of supermarkets there so I pick up non-perishables on the same run.