‘Portland Loos’ — what a terrible idea. Just another bond proposal that would be an unnecessary burden for the property taxpayer. Especially at an estimated cost of $400,000 per unit and an estimated $12,000 each to annually maintain. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, most small business owners have closed their restrooms to the public due in part to the need to continually clean them after their use.
There are two federal court buildings and two state court buildings that already are available for public use. You just have to pass through security screening to gain access.
Most hotels already have restrooms available for public use. Seasonal or not, porta-potties should still be available for the unhoused population.
There are plenty of restrooms throughout Anchorage that could be accessible to the public if only we can find a way to encourage private businesses to allow their use. Maybe a reduction or waiver of the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility bill would be an incentive. Or a property tax break would be another incentive for public restroom use.
The Municipality bends over backward to encourage new downtown development by giving 10-year property tax exemptions for the big players like Mark Begich and his investment group with the Aviator Hotel Project. Or Derrick and Terrence Chang (Peach Holdings LLC) with the Key Bank building and Block 41 (4th Ave. Theater and adjoining properties). So again, the little guy bears the burden for the whole municipality’s property taxes.
I for one do not want Anchorage patterned off of what Portland does. I’m sure there are greater minds than mine that can come up with a workable incentive. I just want to know where they keep the machine that sucks the common sense out of some Assembly members’ brains.
— Leo Brandon
Anchorage
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