I received an interesting e-mail last week, here’s how it read:
Greetings,
Our office has moved. Our new address is 820 East 15th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. Please update your records to reflect the new address.
Thank you,
Amanda True
Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority
If that address looks familiar that might be because it’s the same address where I’ve observed the darkened windows of the Highway-to-Highway project office. I don’t know what kind of omen KABATA’s move into the space previously occupied by a project apparently killed by the governor represents, but it does seem to suggest that H2H really is dead. Don’t worry, however, your tax dollars are still under use to advance the Knik Arm Crossing. Here’s the text of a letter sent to some Government Hill property owners:
The Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) is progressing forward with the Knik Arm Crossing Project. Our records indicate that you are the owner of the above-mentioned property. As part of this project, KABATA’s contract right of way negotiator, HDR Alaska, will be contacting you soon to discuss purchasing this property.
Before KABATA can make an offer to purchase, we are required to obtain an appraisal of the property’s value. State and Federal law require that KABATA give you or your designated representative an opportunity to accompany the appraiser during the inspection of the property.
Brian Bethard, MAI, of Black-Smith, Bethard and Carlson, LLC, a professional independent fee appraiser, plans to inspect the property soon. He will contact you soon to arrange a time that is convenient to you and the appraiser. Mr. Bethard may be contacted at 907-274-4608 or bsr@ak.net.
We are enclosing the Acquiring Real Property for Federal and Federal-Aid Programs and Projects booklet for your review. If you have any questions about the right of way acquisition process or schedule, please feel free to contact Vivian Dietz-Clark at 907-644-2085 or Vivian.Dietz-Clark@hdrinc.com.
Sincerely,
/s/
Loran Frazier, PE
Chief Engineer
As you might guess, this has caused some consternation amongst the neighbors on Government Hill and was a subject of last week’s community council meeting. I know how I’d feel if my tax dollars were being employed to take my home to benefit a non-permitted project that seeks to hoover up hundreds of millions in additional public monies…
Regards,
Patrick
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Copyright - Patrick Flynn, All Rights Reserved
Good project ,wrong time (maybe buy the Right of Way). Get h2h back on track.
Comment: Matt Burkholder – 18. September 2011 @ 6:44 pm
Patrick:
Unfortunately, I feel the Bridge Project remains a poorly thought out concept. Questions remain regarding the economic viability of the project, little has been completed in determining the potential costs of both the approach from the Parks Hwy to the north and the south approach from either the Gambel / Ingra or A / C corridors. Also, it now appears that the State of Alaska will be on the hook for all project losses in both construction and operation.
I was not aware an actual right of way has been determined nor has the project been cleared for right of way property purchases. However, it appears that KABATA is pre-determining the right of way through the proposed purchase of private property located on Government Hill. I have to say this is a novel approach of determining the right of way and a method that undoubtably will be tested in the Courts with a higher cost passed back to the Citizens of Anchorage and Alaska to pay.
Lastly, I have not seen any analysis of potential property value losses that could occur within the Municipality of Anchorage with the construction of the Bridge. One would have to conclude that if constructing the Bridge was to allow for greater access to lower valued land than the existing property values within Anchorage will in turn decrease in value. I have not seen any population forecasts that indicate there will be a mass increase in the Anchorage Bowl population with the construction of the Bridge. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that if more land of less value is available, the currently developed land will decrease in value due to the surplus of land.
Thanks,
Douglas W. Johnson
Comment: Douglas W. Johnson – 23. September 2011 @ 1:09 pm