Cultural Crescent:
1) What is it?
2) What does it mean?
It sounds good, like a cold drink on a hot day. The Chamber has been ineffective in promoting these attractions to the point that they are not reaching their maximum potentional. I would assume the Frank Lloyd Wright hotel sits at the top of those attractions and has yet to reach it’s potentional as the city’s premiere tourist draw.
So who is responsible for this Cultural Collection, is it the Chamber? If so what are they doing? Is their work a secret? I have to make the assumption that they are sitting in that building feverishly working on ways to capitalize on these assets. Trying to figure the many different ways to bring both tourists and potentional businesses into this area to evaluate the possibilities of locating here.
I have long sensed a division between the Chamber and the majority of this community. While it is a given not all here are members of the Chamber, the Chamber never the less is responsible to work towards the betterment of each citizen living here, in other words, the entire community. That feeling is terribly lacking, and I for one think it was designed that way by the executive committee inside that August body that separates itself from the hoi polloi.
On a national scale, during the election of 2008 it was found that as a body, the Chamber blatantly opposed the election of Obama; they were decidedly Republican in their thinking…or could we just say…big business. I was naively under the impression that it was an organization that was unbiased. I was wrong.
Locally are they pulling their weight; are we getting our bang for the buck from this group? Next, do we even have the right to ask? I have found out that the Chamber receives it’s operational funds from their members. At one time it is believed there were slightly over six hundred enrolled, now it is said that number has been drastically reduced. I spoke to one new menber who will not renew their membership because they feel they did not benefit from joining, their only recuperation was a newsletter.
I am also told there is a lot of inside fighting going on in there. They acquired the property through a grant and I am told their first choice was to build new West of town, but political pressure changed their choice to better promote the new street scape and remain in the city core. It is further stated by anonymous sources that Robin Anderson the Executive Director hand picks her board to insure she gets what she wants.
The bad blood between the merchants that struggle on the Plaza and the Park Inn Hotel is very palatable and I feel the Chamber should take the initiative to settle this issue once and for all.
Although I am a great admirer of the hotel, I feel they should come to terms with the fact that facility will never achieve a positive cash flow that would enable it to stand on its own. Never. Lets look at the resturant; they failed to attract a tenant because they were delusional. They stated out wanting $8,000.00 per month plus a percentage of the gross. In addition the hotel wanted to retain the bar as their own. I said earlier they were delusional. (1) There is not enough seating in there to support that kind of rent even if you filled it every night and all your employees worked free and you were allowed to sell dope. (2) They will
never show a profit in there because they will not be able to compete with the Quarry or Chops restaurants. (3) they had to open it because the few guests that did check in expected some sort of food. It will become another loss area within that property.
The city should subsidize it the same as they do the museum. They should reduce the museum subsidie because the museum now has cose to a million dollars in the bank and no longer need it. Plus the hotel is drawing more tourists than the museum, and the museum is now firmly established and the hotel is not. Shift the financial support.
So where is the Chamber in all of this? It’s time to put on those red scarf’s and get to work; hit the street and help settle these problems. Two merchants pulled out and you and your main street coordinator just stood there and watch them go. We could get more benefit out of your current location if we drilled a hole in the roof and filled it with corn.
Peter Children
I’ve never heard of anyone heading to Mason City to see the Park Inn. Silly thinking IMO..
As for the mall, it was a boon at the time it was built, but that was over 30 years ago. Times have changed and so have shoppers spending habits and tastes.
Look around the country..most businesses are headed out to the burbs or outside of town in easily accessible areas. Shopping malls, although profitable in most cases in the 60s to the 80s have changed..
As for the Park Inn, there’s a lot to be said for some culture and preservation of historic landmarks, despite the costs. It’ll never really be a destination venue due to its location and small size, but worth preserving nevertheless.
LVS;
Let’s look at the undertaking you desire, making Federal a through street.
Removal of the biggest single business in retail sales downtown, Fareway. How many millions of dollars will it take to compensate them? While you may prove legally, a compelling state interest in the taking of the land, just compensation will not come cheap. A conservative estimate just for that transaction, $3 million.
The same holds true with the mall. Again, you will need a court to decide if there is compelling state interest, again, it will cost millions, perhaps tens of millions. Given current publications, my guess is about $15 million in compensation.
Now we come to re-construction costs. One bridge, close to $1 million. Re-working both ends of the loop, Delaware, ect, in the least $2 million. I rather doubt the state would want to again put forth funds. Federal is US 65, and the cost of re-routing all that traffic for construction would create hazards for neighborhoods.
Second, Federal would indeed revert to a Federally Approved Highway, and I cannot see anyone with a shred of common sense allowing a simple two way street to suffice for the existing four lane highway. Gridlock is inevitable.
The damage to existing businesses downtown would also be eligible to compensation for loss of parking, and business, thanks to the deluge of traffic which would come. The loss for them would be real.
So here is what we have, a conservative $20 million project, creating traffic patterns that will remove anyone who at one time used US 65 onto residential streets. Better open your wallet.
Observer-I didn’t mean we should tear down the Mall. You are correct that it is unreasonable. I just think these people are under the delusion that they can recreate the downtown area. It will never be the same as long as Federal Ave. is closed off. I remember very well the way it used to be when I was much younger. It was a social hub for the town. My Dad used to take us downtown on Friday nights and we would park in front of Raises Department store, get out and see all kinds of people. Good days that are gone forever. They will never bring back the downtown with a hotel a few resturants and some specialty shops. It is what it is but don’t ask me to subsidise private business.
Peter-are you smoking that funny crap again?? Why in the HELL would you want to subsidise the old whore house with my tax money or even the museum? It is bad enough that they used tax money to rebuild it (look at the costs of that) and ran other businesses right out of town. The GREAT Plan was all of the seniors would flock in in busses and support the place. What a crock of crap. Seniors don’t spend money. So now lets support it with local tax money and not fix roads or other infastructure, or better yet raise taxes so more people leave town. Wake up and get back on your turnip truck.
LVS
The tourists who come here to look at the hotel spend a lot of money here. And they bring it to the downtown area. The hotel may be badly run but it is what it is. These people will noy ask for outside help which goes to the point they nor the Chamber knows wat the hell is going on. How many people who are in “Wright on the Park” have every operated a business of this sort?
Peter-yeh right. The tourists spend a lot of money here. Bull Crap. Anytime and I mean ANYTIME I am downtown Central Park is empty. The only time someone is there is for a special function. The tourist and seniors take the bus from the musuem to the Park Inn and go in and look around and then get back on the bus and leave town. Many more people are attracted to our town by the Events Center. Downtown is dead and will remain so until these people wake up and make Federal a through street again. Even then it’s probably to late and they just need to accept it.
Maybe they could hold motorcycle races in the coliseum too!!!!
The error in this article has been corrected.
Whoa Peter. Time to call Roto Rooter. Yiour crap is obverflowing once again. Why is it that you try to use both side of the toilet paper to wipe with.
You have serious establishment issues. Judst because you screwed my wife doesn’t give you the priviledge of screwqing with the entire town.
I screwed hundreds of guy’s wives, which one was yours?
Thats funny peter, Dont know if you had any fun with her but you left a hell of an impression on her husband LOL
I dont believe in anything the chamber does in this city but with that said I think every consumer should go into a business and ask if they belong and if they do they need to turn around and walk out. That is the only way the chamber will change their pathetic ways.
Peter,
Robin Edgar runs an investment company, she doesn’t work at the Chamber…..please explain why anyone should listen to you when the whole premise of your article is how poorly run the organization is and you don’t even know who runs it but supposedly you you know everything about it……..