Business owners talk ‘legacy Westover,’ council gets Dave & Buster’s update
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WESTOVER - For the second time this summer, representatives of the Westover Business and Property Owners Association appeared before city council to request the creation of a working group aimed at spurring investment and reinvestment in the city.
Specifically, representatives of the group said they would like to discuss ways the city could support "legacy Westover," which they defined as everything between the interstate and the Westover Bridge.
Currently, a majority of the significant development investment taking place in Westover is occurring in the portions of the WestRidge footprint annexed into the city.
Joe Panico, representing the newly formed association, said Westover's established businesses are competing with newer development supported by modern infrastructure, better access, newer buildings, and development incentives.
"We're not asking council to take any weight from any of those areas in any aspect. What we're trying to ask is the same economic development philosophy now be applied to the legacy of Westover," Panico said. "We propose a council study on the creation of the legacy Westover development and redevelopment zone, and to consider a meaningful [business and occupation tax] reduction, potentially 50%, for all qualifying businesses within that area ... We're asking this council to study the actual financial impact, compare it with the current sales tax revenues, and determine what level of relief can be responsibly implemented."
Anthony Colasante, proprietor of Colasante's Ristorante & Pub, said his family business has been a city mainstay since opening as Westover Pizza in 1969.
"For locally owned businesses, B&O savings is not a tax break. These dollars go towards new employees, training, equipment, building improvements, signage, maintenance, reinvestment - everything here in Westover. All the new growth that came in, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, we've endured all those," he said. "We don't discourage that. We welcome that. They all have new buildings, modern infrastructure, better parking, greater visibility, significant surrounding investment. We want that growth for the legacies of Westover - the businesses that have been here forever."
The first step, Panico said, is getting everybody together.
"We're asking you guys to help create a working group between city council, the administration, city attorney, Westover business owners and property owners, and any other affected property owners so we can come together and take some of these concepts and see if they're workable," he said. "We don't know if they're even feasible entirely, but we have to have that discussion. We want to have that about how we can all benefit. I think it's going to be a win-win for the city and the businesses if we can get this together."
Speaking of new development taking place in WestRidge, Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said the final inspection prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy for the new Dave & Buster's location has been scheduled for Monday.
A representative of the entertainment, dining and sports-viewing chain said opening day has been set for Sept. 21.
The company is currently in the process of hiring and training 150 employees to staff the 21,754 square-foot facility.