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Ex-official wearing many hats

Former mayor and commissioner Peter Altman defends his multiple roles in the Main Street project.

By JODIE TILLMAN
Published July 19, 2006

Peter Altman is one of the developers of Main Street Landing. But his involvement in the project goes beyond that.

He also works for the company that would set up a special taxing district developers say is necessary for the project to make financial sense.

And the former city mayor and county commissioner hopes to sell some land he owns that would be in that special taxing district.

Altman sees no conflict in his multiple roles, and says nothing prevents him from serving in those various capacities.

"I'm a private citizen," he said. "I'm not an elected official."

Altman is a regional district manager for Tampa-based District Management Services LLC, a consulting company that specializes in helping developers set up special taxing districts called "community development districts."

District Management Services has filed an application for a CDD on behalf of Main Street Landing and two other downtown property owners: St.Petersburg developer Grady Pridgen's NPR of Tampa Bay LLC and Altman, who owns two lots where his former accounting office is located. Counting all three property owners, the district would encompass about 12 acres.

Lead Main Street Landing developer Ken McGurn is paying District Management Services to perform the consulting work, said Altman.

"Being an employee of the company, we had the ability to do this at a discounted price to the developers," said Altman, who declined to say how much because it was a private transaction. "We're not using taxpayer money."

District Management president Brian Lamb said Altman's knowledge of New Port Richey makes it an easier process than it would be otherwise.

"I don't see it as a conflict of interest," said Lamb. "He's got the relationships. He knows the process."

As for his property within the proposed district, Altman said it is up for sale. His idea, he said, is that Pridgen's company might need it for a parking lot or something else if Pridgen ever goes forward with his development plans in the city. Or he could sell it to somebody else, he said.

"I'm a citizen of the city," said Altman. "I'm trying to stimulate some activity."

[Last modified July 18, 2006, 22:49:53]