Meet and Greet with Shabazz Napier - Tomorrow, 6 pm

[UConn9604]

Fundraiser for the new Storrs Center - just received this E-mail:

What: Meet & Greet with Shabazz Napier
When: Friday, May 9, 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Where: UConn Co-op Bookstore at Storrs Center - One Royce Circle, Storrs, CT
Bring with you: $10 per person suggested donation to benefit completion of Mansfield's new Town Square; camera or smart phone to take a photo with Shabazz
Mansfield's new Town Square is nearing completion of the "horizontal" construction; however, additional funds are needed for elements that will help complete the vision for the Square, such as a shade structure, art sculpture, and support for future community events at the Town Square.

As part of a Town Square fundraising effort, the Mansfield Downtown Partnership and Storrs Center Master Developer LeylandAlliance LLC are pleased to announce a "meet and greet" with Shabazz Napier, a local basketball hero who is going on to play at the professional level. The public is invited to meet and take photographs with Shabazz Napier this Friday, May 9, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the UConn Co-op Bookstore at Storrs Center located at One Royce Circle. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person; however, donations in any amount will be accepted with 100% of proceeds to benefit completion of the Town Square.

Many of the businesses in Storrs Center are generously supporting this fundraising effort through donations or a portion of Friday evening's sales proceeds, including The Flower Pot, Froyoworld, Geno's Grille, Haru Aki Cafe, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Mooyah.

Parking in the Storrs Center Garage is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. The Dog Lane Parking Lot offers free parking with a 2 hour limit.

 

[SubbaBub]

This is a bit confusing. Storrs Center is a private development. Yes, there in some.public partnerships, but it's a private enterprise. What exactly are they raising money for?

 

[UConn9604]

This is a bit confusing. Storrs Center is a private development. Yes, there in some.public partnerships, but it's a private enterprise. What exactly are they raising money for?

The E-mail says that it's for additions to the Town Square park. Nothing wrong with private enterprises raising money -- I just hope 'Bazz gets a cut (and he can, now that his eligibility has expired).

 

[Pudge]

Sure. It is a Private Development.

But part of the entire 8 year process til groundbreaking was a continuing discussion with the (not-for-profit) Mansfield Downtown Partnership on how to keep components of the development open for community activities. There's no doubt Leyland Alliance (backed by several families very recognizable in business history - Watson, Grace, etc) and their Publicly Traded student housing REIT partner (Education Trust) could provide Art and portions of the ongoing community activity. (and no doubt they will as it benefits their development) This is the Mansfield group asserting their control over what is designated "Community".

 

[Dave Carlson]

This is a bit confusing. Storrs Center is a private development. Yes, there in some.public partnerships, but it's a private enterprise. What exactly are they raising money for?

Should the private developer:
(a) borrow money (that it may have to pay back, if it doesn't file for bankruptcy protection) and make the improvements with that money; or
(b) just ask people to "donate" the money, with no requirement to ever pay those people back or pass along any profits attributable to the improvements?

Before you answer (a) because (b) is so absurd on its face, google the word "kickstarter", which, as hard as it may be to believe, is a real thing.

 

[Pudge]

Now I'm getting confused.

Kick starter?

There are elements of this master-planned development that the Town insisted remain controlled by the Mansfield Downtown Partnership. It isn't directly funded by the Cash Flow of the properties - though you can bet the Developer will contribute significantly. This money raise for Shabazz will go towards these identified community parcels. The Mansfield Downtown Partnership, I believe, was the lead agency setting the path for all that came together. Professional an nerd inhabit that office.