MASON CITY – Big changes have been announced to the Renaissance Project that is poised to go ahead in downtown Mason City, with several older structures near Music Man Square now set for demolition to make way.
According to documents released in the last few days, a hotel from G8 of San Diego set for construction near the defunct Younkers retail store will move north some distance, closer to the south entrance of Southbridge Mall. Also, it was announced that some older buildings south of the Music Man Square will be purchased by the Mason City Foundation to build an addition that will house a convention center. Also, the Music Man Museum will remain in its current place to be remodeled, the documents say.
The list of changes are detailed in Mason City council packet that is available at www.MasonCity.net. The documents detail amendments to the development agreements between G8 and the City of Mason City and The Mason City Foundation and the City of Mason City.
Sources confirm to NIT that merely a confirmation of the nearly $10 million in private funds from G8 that must be injected into he project is needed for the project to move ahead. The Renaissance Project consists of an arena and pavilion in Southbridge Mall, along with G8’s hotel, a skywalk, convention center and major remodeling of Music Man Square. If all goes as planned much the project would be complete by the end of 2019.
Maybe they should turn younker’s building into a sport betting hall.
I am going to repeat this in case people are wonder who the elite are?
RE: Refresh my memory, who were the elite that got paid back then leaving the burden on the tax payers?
I’ll answer for him/her. Every scumbag property owner of real estate on Federal Avenue and in the Southbridge urban renewal area all got big money for their run down properties. I studied all the properties and the people paid dearly and got NOTHING in return.. Not only that 10 million in community development block grants that should have went into outside neighborhoods were gobbled up just to tear the junk buildings down.
If you want names go to the court house and look up the names of the owners. Most are dead and have left town.
The current project will churn 40 million dollars of tax money but in 10 to 15 years the downtown will still be ghost town.
The bullies are still pushing around the little people and you are one of them.
Thank you for answering that for him……you are spot on!
That mall was conceived and built back in the day by lies and deception to the citizens and taxpayers of M.C. It was a cash cow for the “elite” back then…..they took the money and ran leaving the financial debt to the taxpayers as usual when it was promised that NO taxpayer monies will be used or NEEDED! We all know that was bullshit! This financial disaster is following the exact same recipe ……just different “players”!
Refresh my memory, who were the elite that got paid back then leaving the burden on the tax payers?
Do your homework!
Wow, Sorry for asking! You just sounded like you knew what you were talking about and since you were posting about it thought you might be willing to share your knowledge but I guess not.
Educate yourself and do your own research.
Again sorry for asking, most people are not so bitter and are willing to share their knowledge on subjects they comment on. I see you are the exception to the rule.
Do some serious research on the history of city politics in M.C. over the last 40-50 years. You may find some credibility to many comments made already.
And you are nothing more than a gutless pussy yourself. We know you think you are cute and an all around tough guy for continually posting your non-stop bullshit, but even a dumb ass like you needs to wise up, Give it a break, we know you are a cool prick and love to start shit with the person you always attack. But enough is enough.
All I did was ask him to share his knowledge on the comment. I was curious to know who in the past was profiting from the construction of the mall and passing the expense burden onto the tax payers. Just wanted to know who took the money and ran
WOW, sorry I asked him to share his knowledge on the matter.
Research why they called Mason City “little chicago” back in the day!
Thank you for answering that for him……you are spot on!
Thank you!
That is what I was asking, great to get the answers with out all the drama, thanks again, much appreciated
Give the mall to Mercy and let them fill it up….thats the only way you’ll ever get people downtown again.
The last time there were significant changes to the plan, it had to be put to a vote, which is how we wound up with the G8 crooks again. Why don’t these have to be voted on?
Our crooked city officials and it’s followers are working WITH G8 and it’s gang to clean out the taxpayers bank accounts and fill their own!
You got proof they are filling their own pockets with taxpayer money? If not, shut up until you have the proof. I’m glad this project is moving forward. It’s one way for those of you who don’t shop local or support anything in MC, to finally contribute something. Your property taxes are now going to a great cause.
History “IS” repeating itself! Do your homework fool!
That’s your Proof? Weak!
“Do your homework” is an easy out for someone to say when they might not have any credible proof about which they speak. Ok, how about this; give us a hint as to who in the past has filled their bank account from city projects? I’m asking because I’d like to know, not to start something with you. If it can be proven to me who took what when and where, then I will believe it.
The larger question is why does MC keep electing the members of the clown car to the Council?
The entire project was and is a joke.
Amen to that!
That would be because only 10% of the registered voters show up to vote during elections. The fate of our city will not change until the majority of the registered voters care enough to get out and vote.
We are allowing the minority to run and control our city because the majority of the voters do not show up at the polls.
lets cut the nonsense and just forget all about it, and take it in the shorts for the millions already spent. Just remember all this horseshit when it comes to election time.
As you Trump supporters would say,We Won & You Lost So Get Over It!
What is funny about that is that is not the way they looked at it when Barack Obama was President.
They whined, bitched, made up lies and moaned for 8 years.
Trump supporters are such hypocritical idiots and dumb-asses.
Barack who??
Demonrats Do not protect women and children, they lie to minorities, they steal our health care, they cheat at our elections, they lie about the environment, they hate our troops, they hate our president, they are the party of illegals, criminals, and obstructionist.
Somebody is going to open a motel and a mall museum in the mall to repurpose it.
Yep! Pretty simple f@##ing concept ya think? Just another way to con and squeeze Mason City taxpayers for even more$$$. The “players” are tweaking their “get rich” scheme now. Wake up taxpayers your fianancial nightmares continue under the present day leadership and it’s team of con artists!
All of the “players” and their sponge buddies are scrambling to make sure their own personal pet projects are in the mix and personal bank accounts filled on taxpayers dime! …….. just as predicted!
It ain’t rocket science people!
For all of you that believe this is all on the up and up, read and remember that someone told you so:
All smoke and mirrors! We’ll see how the taxpayers really feel when the truth comes out down the road. And it will!!! Ask yourself one important question: Have the taxpayers of Mason City EVER been lied to or mislead about ANYTHING regarding this whole project since the beginning of the mall?
If you want to see the future…..research the past! It’s as clear (and predictable) as the sun rising and setting each day. Mason City needs some serious changes if it wants to be successful….starting with leadership and it’s loyal sponges!
You are obviously older M.C. taxpayer and have witnessed many leadership snafu’s over the years that have cost the taxpayers dearly! I also believe that history tends to repeat itself in “little chicago” as M.C. was labeled years ago!
I remember when the mall was in its planning stages our city leaders PROMISED that no taxpayer money would ever be used for the mall. Then they get rid of the successful management team that oversaw mall operations and stores began to leave. Next thing, mall is in deep trouble so the city buys it and turns around and sell it for a fraction of the amount the taxpayer paid for it to a known mall slum lord. He doesn’t pay property taxes and with no proof that he has yet paid them, the city taxpayer continues to make up the difference.
Now we come to Music Man Square, again a stack of promises that taxpayer money would not be used in the building or support of this memorial to Mason City’s favorite son and now the taxpayer will wind up keeping this “icon” afloat.
No matter how they present it, the taxpayer is now going to finance some developer’s pipe dream hotel and a remodel of Southbridge to fit the profiteers desires. Before it’s said and done the taxpayer will also be supporting youth hockey.
All these things were going put Mason City back on the map and now it’s never been closer to going down the drain. The bright side is that the profiteers are living quite well.
Thank you for sharing this accurate piece of history that many forget…or don’t know…..or won’t admit or talk about it!
with these changes I know the state will say no money to mason city project and give the money it was going to Mc to another project
You are right The State will be finally done with the BS Mason City is pulling and take everything away. and the City Council and Developer are to blame 100%
Do you have some kind of inside knowledge from the state?
Music man square, because the Meridith Wilson fan club keeps growing! Maybe ya can turn it into a mausoleum for Wilson fans…
And, Southbridge Mall still has not paid their property taxes. They (Ripoff Citzens Project) will keep changing the plans to confuse everyone into forgetting that the obligations have not been met for this deal to be approved and accomplished. You can wrap up a pile of horseshit in all kinds of pretty paper and bows but it still amounts to horseshit. That hotel is gonna love the view of a dead mall.
The property taxes in Southbridge are and HAVE been paid in full plus fees and interest.
Can you prove that they have been paid?….plus fees…with interest?
or are you “one of those smoke blowers”?
Tax liabilities are ALWAYS paid, with interest and fees. You are thinking tax liabilities are like unsecured debt where there is a speculative risk that they go unpaid. Tax liabilities are not unsecured debt. They are ALWAYS paid whether the property owner pays them or a third party pays them by purchasing the liability at tax auction.
The city, county, and schools have received every penny of property tax from the mall.
Your words are just “smoke”….. print your proof for ALL to see!
Dummy, the mall property taxes are 100% paid. Tax liabilities are not a risk to the city as going unpaid. What part of this don’t you understand?!?!?! You keep thinking tax liabilities are unsecured debt. They are not. Tax liabilities are ALWAYS paid!
You are a phony! Just because someone else pays the “unpaid” taxes to get huge interest on their money doesn’t cure the fact that the “mall owner” hasn’t paid his taxes. Your comments are all about confusing the discussion to make this boondoggle look good.
No matter what you say the “bullies” that promoted this project and got it passed are ripping the unsuspecting taxpayers of Mason City off and in the end this will be yet another Mason City failure!
BS!!!
Next week the plan of change again then the following week the plan will change again maybe we’ll do something different maybe we won’t does anyone know what’s going on I don’t think so
I call it a wise move, to sink additional funds into a property(music man square), that doesn’t generate enough revenue to pay its own bills. Maybe the city should consider giving grants to younkers to help with its liquidation. That would be on MC city council thought plain.
If it were run right, it would make enough money, but it hasn’t been run right since the day it opened, and it isn’t now.
The next big change will be to scrap the hockey rink, demolish the penny’s building and put in a parking lot.
This actually makes more sense then building a new museum.
I was thinking the same. Closer to the mall, since Younkers won’t need any parking any more, and tearing down the eyesore buildings, leaving the existing museum, sounds like a better idea. Not that any of it’s great, but this sounds like the best plan so far.