Carefree merchants have signed petitions asking the town not to build new council chambers, reports Sonja Haller of The Arizona Republic.
Carefree citizens packed a town hall meeting last week, objecting to town leadership’s plans for a community theater and new council chambers, while excluding proposals that could revitalize the town center.
More than 100 citizens sought answers on negotiations with developer Ed Lewis, who has proposed a $90 million luxury condo project, and an Arizona State University satellite operation in Carefree.
Lewis told the crowd that Carefree leadership, often singling out Mayor David Schwan, abused and were rude to ASU leaders during talks to bring programming from the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to Carefree.
“The town is in a slow state of decline,” Lewis said. “I can’t afford to build without more people on the street and more enthusiasm.”
A study that Lewis’ Butte Companies commissioned showed $2. 3million in tax revenues for the town within the first five years because of the condo project.
Councilwoman Melissa Price gathered more than 30 building owner and merchant signatures that called for continuing negotiations with Lewis, working with ASU and using the town’s money wisely, which does not include a new council chambers.
