Latest news with #KurtWilson
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Motel at center of trafficking ring shut down; other residents left searching for place to stay
People staying at a motel in Roswell that was shut down have until Saturday to find another place to live. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The city ordered the Economy Hotel to shut down this week. It's the same motel where six people were arrested for running a child trafficking ring and police rescued two sisters. Channel 2's Bryan Mims reported that nonprofits have stepped in to help provide these residents shelter. The Drake House has been working with the city this week to get those families and other people safe places to stay. Police, fire and the nonprofit are at the hotel Friday, working to get the remaining people out. A city spokesperson said most of those who had been staying at this motel have been moved into other places. On Tuesday, the Roswell mayor and other city leaders announced they were shutting down the troubled motel. Mayor Kurt Wilson says it has 'extensive life safety violations' and chronic criminal activity. He says it had fire alarms that didn't work, ceiling material falling, wiring exposed and emergency exits blocked. As Channel 2 previously reported, six people were arrested for running a child trafficking ring out of the motel. RELATED: City leaders shutting down Roswell motel where teens rescued from alleged sex trafficking 6 charged in connection to teen trafficking ring at Roswell motel Many families with children had been staying there long-term and needed a place to go. Police posted on social media that the public can help. They say the biggest need is for financial donations to help secure housing for the families, and you can donate to Drake House. The executive director said that the community has responded generously. They are working feverishly to relocate the remaining people. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
City leaders shutting down Roswell motel where teens rescued from alleged sex trafficking
The motel where a pair of teenage sisters were rescued from alleged sex trafficking is being shut down. Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson announced the closure during a Tuesday news conference. The mayor says the Economy Hotel on Old Dogwood Road is being shut down because of 'extensive life safety violations' combined with criminal activity at the motel over the last several years. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] He said the motel had unsafe structures, fire alarms that weren't working, blocked emergency exits and exposed wiring. Several people use the motel as temporary housing, so the motel is not being shut down immediately. It will officially close on Saturday. Wilson says that the city will provide support and relocation assistance to those who will have to leave the motel. TRENDING STORIES: Earlier this month, Channel 2's Michael Seiden was the first to tell you about two sisters under the age of 16 who police believed were trafficking victims being rescued by police. Six people, including motel employees, were arrested and charged in the investigation. 'In my community, we don't ignore it, and we're going to eradicate it,' Wilson told Seiden after the arrests were made. 'If you're a business and you participated, a real estate owner, and you're participating in it, we're going to shut you down.' This is a developing story. Get the latest updates on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4:00 p.m. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roswell moves forward with $93.4 million in bonds for ‘transformational projects'
The City of Roswell announced Tuesday that it was getting ready to issue a second round of general obligation bonds to fund a series of transformational projects. A general obligation bond is "a municipal bond not secured by any assets; instead it is backed by the issuer's power to tax residents to pay bondholders," according to the U.S. government. For Roswell, the new bonds to be issued are a second, and final, round for the projects. The city said they plan to issue $93.4 million, adding to the $86.2 million they released in 2023. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] City officials said Roswell residents 'overwhelmingly' approved the funding back in November 2022 to support 'long-overdue improvements' in the city's recreation, parks bicycle and pedestrian paths and sidewalks, public safety capital projects and the construction of a downtown parking deck. 'This second tranche is about finishing what we started—delivering on our promise to the voters,' Mayor Kurt Wilson said in a statement. 'These investments aren't just for today. They are generational projects that will shape the Roswell we leave to our children and grandchildren.' TRENDING STORIES: Rent report says Atlanta is the 25th most expensive city in US Only hours left before parking prices increase at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Gwinnett County Solicitor General launches Special Victims Unit The city said they expect the bonds to be closed in July 2025, allowing them to then be used for advancing 'vital public safety improvements, expand pedestrian infrastructure and enhance the parks system' in Roswell. Here's a list of some of the projects to be funded by the second tranche of bonds: Improvements to Riverside Park and Don White Park as part of the River Parks Master Plan Construction of new Fire Station 27 in East Roswell Expanded sidewalks and bike paths Renovations to the new Public Safety Headquarters Activation of Roswell 911 Center The city said they were leveraging the bond funding in a responsible way to ensure a maximum return on investment, with estimated impacts on property taxes in Roswell averaging $69 per year or $5.75 per month. For full details on the projects funded by the general obligation bonds, head online here. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roswell greenlights $14.5M parking deck in historic downtown
The Brief Roswell approved a $14.5 million contract with Winter Construction for a 395-space parking deck, funded by a $179.6 million bond package. The parking deck will feature a design that blends with Roswell's Historic District, including a brick façade and landscaping to integrate with the environment. The project is part of the Green Street Activation Plan, aiming to enhance pedestrian connectivity and support local businesses by alleviating congestion. ROSWELL, Ga. - The City of Roswell has approved a $14.5 million design-build contract with Winter Construction to develop a 395-space parking deck in the heart of its historic downtown district, with completion expected by summer 2026. The decision was made during a Special Called Mayor and Council meeting on March 26. What they're saying "The City of Roswell is thrilled to take this important step forward by awarding the design-build contract for our downtown parking deck—a project made possible by the incredible support of Roswell taxpayers," said Mayor Kurt Wilson. "This has been a true team effort, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our hardworking City staff for their expertise and professionalism, as well as to our elected officials for their vision and leadership." What we know The deck will be built at the corner of Green Street and Highway 9, directly across from the new Southern Post development. Funding comes from the $179.6 million bond package overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2022, which included $20 million earmarked for the parking facility. Winter Construction, an Atlanta-based firm with more than 60 years of experience, was selected from nine firms that submitted proposals. The company was recognized for its top-scoring technical proposal, strong interview performance, and the lowest cost among finalists. Past municipal projects by Winter Construction include parking decks and civic buildings in Woodstock, Snellville, Forsyth County, and East Point. Local perspective The new parking structure will reflect the architectural character of Roswell's Historic District. The design features a brick façade, tower-like stairwells, metalwork, and varied exterior wall depths for visual interest. Full façades will be constructed on all four sides—a rare approach for parking structures—and large openings will allow natural light and ventilation throughout, even on subterranean levels. Planned landscaping and greenery will soften the structure's visual footprint and help it blend into the surrounding environment. Attention was also paid to the building's proximity to two key visual anchors: the classic Greek Revival-style Mason's Lodge and the modern Southern Post development. The design aims to strike a balance between Roswell's historic charm and its evolving identity. Dig deeper The parking deck is a cornerstone of the City's Green Street Activation Plan, which is intended to enhance the pedestrian experience and improve connectivity downtown. As part of the plan: Green Street will become a one-way, southbound road. A wide, brick-paved, multi-use trail will be added. New lighting and landscaping will be installed to improve safety and aesthetics. Plum Tree Street will be converted into a brick-paved trail providing direct access to Canton Street. Big picture view In 2021, a city-commissioned parking study found that a well-located parking garage could alleviate congestion in the historic center, encourage longer visits, and better support local businesses. The city hopes this new facility will do just that. "This parking deck is more than just infrastructure—it's an investment in our City's future, supporting economic growth and enhancing quality of life for years to come," Wilson said. City leaders are also considering new parking policies to better manage downtown demand. Community meetings on shared parking costs, economic development, and operational strategies are expected to begin in spring 2025. The City of Roswell says the project reflects not only a focus on practical improvements, but a broader effort to create a more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant downtown for residents and visitors alike. What we don't know The exact completion date has not been released yet. SEE ALSO: Parking vs. Preservation: Roswell's Old Methodist Church in jeopardy Parking and traffic concerns fuel opposition to Roswell's pedestrian-only Canton Street plan The Source The city of Roswell provided the details and images for this article.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Pierce County city raised the cost to build bigger homes. 1-bedrooms got cheaper
Some builders are upset about a change the city of Sumner just made that charges them per bedroom, instead of a flat fee, in an effort to help develop the city's parks. Local governments in Washington state can charge builders one-time impact fees to help pay for services that will have to increase to keep up with that growth, such as roads and schools. Sumner charges developers a park-impact fee to help build more parks for the additional residents new homes bring. The City Council voted 6-0 at its meeting Jan. 21 to change that fee to charge per bedroom. The Building Industry Association of Washington said in a news release that the fees are 'astronomical' and that the change is 'stifling housing affordability.' Kurt Wilson, a local builder with Soundbuilt Homes, said in the release: 'People need homes first. Then we can talk about how to fund new parks. Once people own a home, they may be able to afford an incremental tax to build more parks.' City spokesperson Carmen Palmer said the change is part of a new state requirement, passed by the Legislature in 2023, that says such fees have to 'reflect the proportionate impact of new housing units, including multifamily and condominium units, based on the square footage, number of bedrooms, or trips generated, in the housing unit in order to produce a proportionally lower impact fee for smaller housing units.' Sumner chose the per-bedroom approach. Other local cities chose to go by square-footage, she said. 'Following our Housing Affordability Action Plan, this new fee structure incentivizes developing smaller units instead of large homes,' Palmer said in an email. 'Four-bedroom new build homes tend not to be the most affordable when they hit the market. People needing affordable housing look for smaller units and ADUs, and these new fee changes actually help those get more affordable.' A five-bedroom home used to pay the same fee as a tiny home, Palmer wrote, 'even though the overall cost of the homes, and their impact on infrastructure, would be likely different.' She acknowledged that the fees have doubled for a home with four or more bedrooms, but she pointed out that it's a different story for smaller homes. The fees for a two- to three-bedroom home saw about a 15-percent increase, and the fees went down for a zero- to one-bedroom home, she said. She gave the example that a one-bedroom house used to pay about $3,527. This year it will pay about $3,369. A four-bedroom house paid about $3,527 last year. Now it pays about $6,738. 'The new fee structure charges based on number of rooms, whether the new development is single-family or multi-family,' Palmer explained in an email. 'That means a 2-bedroom apartment pays the same as a 2-bedroom house; both pay less than a 5-bedroom house.' Council Members Barbara Bitetto, Pat Clerget, Pat Cole, Andy Elfers, Greg Reinke and Matthew Kenna voted to pass the new fee structure. Council Member Carla Bowman wasn't at the meeting. 'Parks are really important, especially as we start developing more concentrated, smaller lawns for families,' Bitetto said at the meeting. Her two grandsons don't have a large yard, she said. 'They need to get out and run, and so to have a park within a reasonable distance is really important,' Bitetto said. 'I think as we move forward and we need more density in our population, we have to continue collecting funds, especially on new development.' Council Member Elfers said that he had a good discussion with the Master Builders Association and understood that they were opposed to the new approach to fees. He also said he thought the change was fair. 'Parks are obviously important, and I think it makes sense to charge the fee based on the number of people that are going to use the parks,' he said. 'Having a big family, I understand that it adds more of a fee to a bigger house. Four-bedroom houses or three-bedroom houses pay a lot more, but I also know my kids use the park a lot more than someone with a studio apartment.' The city needs more parks, he said. With the move from a flat fee per house to charging based on size, he said the fees aren't increasing significantly. Palmer told The News Tribune that the city works hard to bring in grants for its parks projects, which often require matching funds. Impact fees help with that, she said. The fees can't be the only source of funding for a project, she said, according to state law. 'As we increase housing of all types, particularly smaller units or multi-family units that are more affordable, many of the new housing types do not have yards to enjoy or recreate,' Palmer wrote. 'This makes investment in new and existing parks an important part of building a community that is healthy.' Wilson, the local builder, told The News Tribune in a phone call that he wasn't aware of any projects builders are considering in Sumner that would be stopped by the change. 'I'm not going to stop building because the fees go up,' he said. 'We're just taking more people that have the American Dream of owning a home in Sumner' out of the market. He said Sumner is the first city in the South Sound that he's aware of to take a per-bedroom approach. 'It's frustrating to see the fee structure now disincentivizing, through higher fees, the construction of three- or four-bedroom homes,' he told The News Tribune. City staff at the meeting Jan. 21 told the council that Puyallup and Edgewood both base their fees on the square footage of a home. 'Across the board in the Puget Sound, we continue to see school, traffic, park, fire, these different fees either coming about that don't already exist, or being raised,' Wilson said. Those fee increases affect the region's housing crisis, he said. 'We're trying to provide attainable housing in the marketplace,' he said. 'That continues to get more and more difficult as regulations and fees continue to ratchet up.' Washington state, especially the Puget Sound, needs more housing, he said, noting that the state Department of Commerce projected in 2023 that Washington needs 1.1 million more homes in the coming 20 years. 'We're staring San Francisco right in the face,' Wilson said. 'Bedroom by bedroom is not the best way to do this.' The BIAW release said the group is asking lawmakers in Olympia to limit increases to impact fees and to make them more transparent. 'It's easy to say: 'Tax growth,' but in the end, it's exacerbating our housing crisis in the Puget Sound jurisdiction, as fees and regulations continue to restrict growth,' Wilson told The News Tribune. Palmer said the city did a budget survey last year and that 'managing growth' was one of residents' top priorities. 'We do not want to charge so much in impact fees that new development is not tenable, yet we also cannot give new development a 'free pass' to use all the services that existing residents are expected to pay for alone,' she wrote. 'We must consider the affordability of all our homes, not just the new ones.'
