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Former governor makes plea to City Council Wilder makes pitch for tax exemption Date published: 6/11/2008
BY EMILY BATTLE
Former Governor and Richmond Mayor Douglas Wilder came to Fredericksburg last night to ask the City Council to make the 38 acres in Celebrate Virginia on which he hopes to build his proposed United States National Slavery Museum exempt from city real estate taxes. The exemption would cost the city $42,745 a year. It would be valid for three years. "I know cities need money," Wilder said at the beginning of his remarks to the council. He went on to say that the country needs his proposed museum to accurately and completely tell the story of slavery in America and said the tax exemption would help the museum get built faster. "Either you want the museum here or you don't," Wilder said. "Clearly, paying the kinds of monies we would have to pay [in real estate taxes] wouldn't help us in that direction." In a June 4 letter to the city asking for the exemption, museum Executive Director Vonita Foster wrote that the museum hopes to start construction within a year if the exemption is granted. Foster asked that the exemption be retroactive to 2002. But last night, Wilder didn't want to make any promises about when construction might start. "I can't guarantee that we will open anything this year. I can't guarantee we will build anything," Wilder said. "But I will guarantee you between now and the next time we speak that you will see something going up on that site." He acknowledged that his time commitments as Richmond's mayor have made it hard for him to make progress toward the museum's $200 million fundraising goal. The museum's most recent tax return listed assets of $17.7 million, but nearly all of it--roughly $17.4 million--is the value of the land, which was donated by the Silver Cos. The land is assessed on the city books at $7.6 million. "All we need to build is money," Wilder said. He said previous corporate pledges have been cut as the economy has suffered. He said the city's tax exemption could help keep the project moving. "I don't believe anybody's going to go broke because of it," Wilder said. "If we are successful, just consider what those revenues are going to look like."
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 6/11/2008
My statement referring to “time of sale” was incorrect. The land was donated to the Slavery Museum. At the time of the donation the value of the land was claimed to be 15M.
Assessed value is based on best use of the land under current zoning. When first assessed the Slavery Museum tract was considered under R-1 zoning—one of the least intensive zoning classification. When last assessed it was done under its new zoning PDC, Planned District Commercial—the most intensive zoning. It should be pointed out that the value placed on the land at the time of sale was 15M. It is also correct that the 1M loan was paid back w/interest by a Celebrate VA Special Tax District.
We don't need the museum here.We don't need too many more recreational destinations here as long as we have homeless people, teachers barely making it, and homeless shelters with waiting lists.We need to fix the problems before we sit down, relax and watch the rich man getting richer. I am proud to say that I am an African-American woman who doesn't support this project.I bet that,if they could,they'd pick that land up and move it elsewhere anyway.Do something more constructive to benefit everyone.
If Governor Wilder wants the city to cough up more money perhaps he needs to hire a staff who demonstrate professional courtesy to Fredericksburg City Government and the Free Lance Star when asked about the project. It would also be nice if the museum's director did not send her husband out to write letters to the editor at the Free Lance Satr accuses area residents of being racists. Surely that would make a difference in area support for the museum.
for this museum. If they get a tax break who makes up that difference. You want a for profit museum, pay your way. Shall the good citizens of Fredericksburg be required to volunteer to build and staff the museum too. Get with it. Wilder, chip in a few of your own dollars to pay the taxes if this means so much to you. How is this museum going to benefit Fredericskburg anyway? One more building in an already over built area. What a great idea! Today's politicians are going to be ruin of our country.
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