What do empty promises look like?

Monti, Monti, Monti...what have you done?

MONTI'S: Everyone sells out?

Tony Wall's 3W Companies, one of the many developer scums prowling the streets of Tempe eyeing land for the next yuppie mega fortress, has made a supposed "genuine promise" that nothing will come of the historic Mill Ave. cornerstone, Monti's La Casa Vieja since it's land sale. That would make this the first instance a developer has ever been honest about their intentions, history being made folks! From the Republic:

Much like recently approved plans to preserve - but still develop - the Hayden Flour Mill, Wall said 3W Companies intends to create a mixed-used building that incorporates the restaurant, or at least the historic part of it.

The original house is at the north end of the building. The rest is additions tacked on over the years, and those likely will be demolished.

...

The Monti's land was sold late last year after months of negotiations. Neither Wall, nor Monti would disclose a purchase price.

...

Monti said he was dedicated to finding a developer who "would do it right."

"Over my dead body would this building be harmed," Monti said. "I needed to find people who understand the tradition and respect my family's contribution and honor the Hayden family heritage."

Monti said he believes he found that developer in Wall and 3W Companies. But the process will be slow. It's still too soon to tell when the actual redevelopment will start.

"It'll be years, not months," Wall said. "Though I wish it were sooner. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

In the meantime, Monti's will stay open "for the foreseeable future," according to Wall and Monti.

And while, it will close down during construction, Monti's plans to continue catering, and reopen the restaurant inside the new project.

3W Companies' is a partner on another major project in Tempe: University Square is a $500 million, city-block-size project on University Drive just east of Mill Avenue.

I don't know about you, but after reading this article it seems clear that preserving Monti's is the last thing on 3W's agenda! Wall makes it perfectly clear that he wants to get moving on destroying most of the Monti's building, and somehow incorporating it into another of his company's tributes to unjustly acquired wealth. Obviously, Wall and the assorted developers are scum due to sit in one of the circles of hell, but how far up her ass was this reporter's head? Oh, wait, it's the Arizona Republic's Katie Nelson, duh. The last thing to expect from her is one single critical thought questioning development here in Tempe. Hell, it would be no surprise to anyone if it is revealed she's been in their pocket all along.

Finally, Michael Monti, owner of La Casa Vieja, through inheritance, deserves the biggest "F U" out of all of these scoundrels, largely because he is the only one who has professed to having any actual principles. Developers are ruthless, it's their thing; most journalists are cowards, that's their thing; but Michael Monti should have been different. See, Monti is also one of the top dogs of Arizona Chain Reaction, a business organization that encourages Arizonans to "shop local" for the benefit of sales tax revenue that, in theory, will enhance the community, and also emphasize the unique character of independent business over the Wal-Mart style big box commerce. Well, mission accomplished, Monti! You've now done your part to further soil what's left of Mill Ave., and when I say what's left, I'm being generous. What's left of Mill Ave., is the last dangling turd, on the verge of dropping into the toilet bowl. Then a nice big flush, say goodbye to what was once an interesting place to live and enjoy the city, and you've done your part now by rolling out the red carpet to big money who will do whatever they can to destroy the best parts of what made Tempe the city it was.

It sure has been a nice long shit, so take your time whiping, Michael, it's worth millions.