Actually, the James Norman - Tom Gamec way. This link. The lessons, transparancy and open citizen-voiced decision making for things that will be relatively expensive for citizens in the long term can be done largely under a hat, or openly with referendum, and while the latter way is temporarily inconvenient, it is the easy way while engendering resentment and disdain is the hard way. That is the big lesson. Sub-lessons, anticipate and be realistic to possibilities of failure and downside risks. Have a mature view of the cyclical nature of the housing market. Don't bite off more than you should chew. Can chew is not the case, should is the word.
Long term, will it prove wise or over ten-twenty years, still look like hubris and rose colored glasses were over abundant? Either way, I may be writing less about it - especially if the new administration and council adopt new views and ways and means. The inconvenient but ultimately easy way might emerge. Treating people like mushrooms makes many resentments and angers, but more than that it raises doubts about the wisdom of those in public service leadership roles. And that is about lessons apart from being vigilant to quell conflicts of interest, something with its own kinds of doubts and disdain. Bad decision making can be influenced by conflicting interests, but the problems are separate and bad decisions can be made wholly without the other taint. Often conflicts of interest accompany or drive questionable decision making, and Ramsey arguably has had its share of that and one can continue to question using contaminated land for housing instead of other less vulnerable though possibly less profitable uses. Remediation steps can be taken but ultimately why do it that way at all? There is no shortage of other sites for homes and yards where children grow and play.
It's been built, the link page shows a visual history of it happening - without your ever having voted for or against it - and nothing short of an act of terror would undo it - and then only the positive aspects would be undone, with the bills still to be paid year-by-year at over a million taxpayer dollars per year. The bills will not change whether time judges it as having been wise or foolish.And speaking of foolish, and lessons to learn, you cannot push on a string. It would be easy enough, without any referendum, by further pushing attempts to make the annual debt service payment level two million or more, trying to push on the Town Center, but -- was there a lesson learned?