Now is the time to subsidize Homeowners, not Businesses

The Daily Herald Editorial board suggests that a focus is due on empty stores during the upcoming local elections, (Editorial:The election focus on empty stores, 2/25/13). Empty stores or excess business capacity in many municipalities is the result of a reckless mindset of 'build it and they will come'.

During the 1990's many municipal boards catered to the developer crowd through zoning changes, TIF districts and special treatment to overbuild their districts in a beggar thy neighbor attempt to attract business. Now a structurally high vacancy rate always exists, especially during tough economic times.

Arlington Heights is the poster suburb for this economic condition. The excess, unproductive capacity here has translated into high tax rates to homeowners and businesses alike. Aspiring candidates can do very little about vacant stores which is why you hear vague answers to such questions.

It is dubious to cite the amazing job to fill The Arlington Theater as an example of a successful approach to fill vacant space.   The Arlington theater was closed due to mismanagement. Consider how quickly the theatre will re-open under competent ownership.

No amount of business tax give away, streamlined applications or increased business network will change the fact that homeowners are financially stressed. Now is the time to stimulate homeowner demand by combining tax subsidies and increase free village services to them with schemes to spend locally.

Once homeowner demand is stimulated local businesses will succeed and empty stores will naturally disappear. Expediting new business applications through Village Hall with no increase in homeowner demand only hastens the time the new businesses will fail.